Exodus 27:1-6

Here in Exodus 27 we are going to read verses 1 through 6 and this is concerning the altar of burnt offering. But notice the number of times that it mentions bronze being used.

Bronze was used in constructing the outer shell of the altar of burnt offering as a type to represent severe judgment and righteousness. The sacrifice of the animal substitute pictured the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner. Now, the bronze covered the acacia wood of the altar that was beneath the surface. The wood represents, in a sense, the humanity of Christ that in itself might not be able to stand fiery judgment. The bronze represents the strong character and righteous judgment of the Eternal God.

The combined picture shown here is the strength of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ combined with His humanity. This bronze or brazen altar was a type of Christ dying to make atonement for our sins, meaning that the acacia wood being His humanity and able to be burned up physically. But the outer protection of the bronze on the outside was the Holy Spirit being able to protect Him against all spiritual matters. Acacia wood would have been consumed by the fire from heaven if it had not been overlaid with the strong bronze covering, nor could the human Jesus have withstood the wrath of God if the divine power had not strengthened Him.