What was the brazen altar?

Answer

During Israel’s forty years of wandering in the wilderness, God commanded the people to construct a movable structure—the wilderness tabernacle—as a place of worship where He would come and dwell among them. The brazen altar, also known as the “brass” altar, was a bronze structure where the burnt offerings of animal sacrifices were presented to the Lord.

The brazen altar was a portable construction and the largest among the tabernacle’s seven pieces of furniture. Positioned in the outer court of the wilderness tabernacle «And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. », (Exodus 40:6), the brazen altar stood as the most prominent and imposing object in the court, impossible for any worshiper to overlook upon entering.

The brazen altar was also referred to as “the altar of burnt offerings” «and the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. », (Exodus 30:28), “the altar of God” «Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: Yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. », (Psalm 43:4), and “the altar of the Lord” «And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. », (Malachi 2:13). Constructed from acacia wood and covered with bronze, it measured 7.5 feet square by 4.5 feet high. At each of the altar’s four corners was a horn-like projection, made of one piece with the altar. All of the uten

Sides of the altar were made of bronze as well. The instructions God gave for the brazen altar also included a grating or network of bronze probably placed within the hollow center of the altar to hold the wood and sacrifice as it was being burnt. Two poles used for carrying the altar were overlaid with bronze and inserted into bronze rings at the altar’s corners (Exodus 27:1-8).

Once the brazen altar was consecrated, whatever touched it became holy “Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.”, (Exodus 29:37). The Israelites made daily sacrifices to God on the brazen altar “Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.”, (Exodus 29:38). As the first priests began their service at the tabernacle, fire from the presence of the Lord consumed the sacrifice “And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”, (Leviticus 9:24). According to Leviticus 6:13, the fire of the altar was to be kept burning at all times. The horns of the altar were to be covered with blood at the consecration of the priests (Exodus 29:1,10-12;Leviticus 8:14-15;9:9) and on the Day of Atonement “And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar.”.

The altar round about.”, (Leviticus 16:18).

All the elements of the wilderness tabernacle pointed to God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah. By instituting each worship ritual, God was teaching His people the fundamental principles of salvation. The brazen altar—where Israel’s priests offered substitutionary animal sacrifices for the sins of the people—vividly illustrated the basics of atonement for sin.

Sin was atoned only by blood sacrifice. The brazen altar, always ablaze and covered in blood, remained open to accept the guilt of any Hebrew person who desired to approach God. There, the guilty sinner would offer another life, an innocent one, in his place.

The brazen altar was prominently positioned in the courtyard of the tabernacle. It was, indeed, the first thing encountered upon entering the courtyard. The message was clear: we cannot come into the holy presence of the Lord without first going to the place of sacrifice where atonement is made for our sin. The altar’s location revealed that approaching God or receiving His presence’s benefits necessitates addressing our sin problem first. Later, Jesus would declare, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6;cf: 10:9). This ancient altar unmistakably foreshadowed Calvary, emphasizing the significance of Christ’s crucifixion, the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:1-18). Access to God is only possible when we approach Him through the perfect, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s shed blood.

Bronze is frequently linked with judgment in the Bible (see Numbers 21:9;Isaiah 60:17;Revelation 1:15).

Revelation 1:15). Bronze is harder than gold and silver and better able to resist heat and fire. In Deuteronomy 33:25 and Jeremiah 1:18, bronze symbolizes endurance. The bronze altar foreshadowed the reality in Jesus Christ, who bore our judgment and had the power to endure God’s holiness. Only Christ could endure the cross without being consumed by God’s wrath and judgment flames.

The altar, as the place of atonement, reminded worshipers of their sin and need for cleansing from guilt. It pointed ahead to the arrival of Christ, in whom the entire sacrificial ritual would culminate.

The holiness and righteousness of God were evident on the brazen altar. It was where sin was judged and its penalty paid. The brazen altar paved the way to God, offering His mercy. Everything touching the brazen altar was sanctified. Jesus Christ is our brazen altar: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness” «who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. », (1 Peter 2:24, NLT).