Chapter 30
Let’s face it, we all stink! And no, I’m not talking about the kind of stink that comes from bad decisions or questionable life choices—I’m talking about the biological stink. We’re all a little Pepe Le Pew on the inside. There are plenty of reasons for it: sweat, bacteria (the natural kind, and the “helped along” kind thanks to poor hygiene), diet, hormones, health conditions like diabetes, infections, liver or kidney issues, clothing, smoking, or even some medications. So, yeah, there are a lot of ways we can become walking, talking stink factories.
But here’s the good news! The USA alone has about 5,000 to 6,000 different brands of smell-good products to help us combat our daily stench. From soaps to perfumes, wipes to deodorants—you name it, we’ve got a solution for everything. Let’s be real: we stink, we know it, and most of us just want to cover it up. Personally, living in Texas with summer fast approaching, I’m very grateful for this.
Which brings us to the next problem: what actually smells good? That’s where it gets tricky. What smells amazing to me might be a total turn-off for someone else. Smell is subjective, isn’t it?
Maybe that’s why I love this chapter so much. Want to know how personal our Father is? He tells us exactly what He likes. Yep, there’s a deep spiritual meaning behind the oil and incense mentioned here, but let’s be real—I also think He likes it because it smells good to Him and to us. It’s kinda cool to see something as simple as this in the Bible.
The Alter of Incense
1 “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high–its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding–two on each of the opposite sides–to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law–before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law–where I will meet with you. [The only other alter in the Tabernacle was the Alter of Sacrifice in the courtyard. It was made of brass/bronze and symbolized judgment of our sins. (Jesus that came in the flesh) This alter, smaller, is made of gold, symbolizing the purity and holiness of God. This alter also represents Jesus now in heaven.]
7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. [Just as the marks on Jesus hands and feet are still there in heaven. A constant reminder of the price he paid for us.] It is most holy to the LORD.”
[Incense is a picture of prayer. We see this even in the Book of Revelation 8:3-4. Prayers, communication with God, is a sweetness to the Father. Thus, the ministry at the altar of incense speaks of how God’s people should continually come to him in prayer. In the Tabernacle it demonstrates how our High Priest, Jesus, also is in constant intercession for us.]
Atonement Money
11 Then the LORD said to Moses, 12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom [the need of redemption, (paying a price for freedom)] for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them. 13 Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. 14 All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the LORD. 15 The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives. 16 Receive the atonement [the process of making amends or repairing a wrong. An acknowledgement of being wrong.] money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives.”
[Beyond the practical use of the money for maintaining the Tabernacle, it had a deeper symbolic meaning. Everyone gave the same amount, showing that everyone needs redemption. This equal contribution represents that all people have sinned, no matter how big or small the sin. In God’s eyes, every sin leads to the same result: death. No matter your wealth, status, or position, all are equally guilty and in need of redemption. This was a way of recognizing that everyone needs saving.]
Basin for Washing
17 Then the LORD said to Moses, 18 “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the LORD, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”
[As the Alter symbolizes the great sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, this basin of water speaks us as the continual cleansing after salvation. How do we do this? By the continual washing with the water of the Word of God. (Ephesians 5:26) This is not a washing to salvation, as Jesus reminded us as he washed his disciples’ feet, that those who are bathed need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. (John 13:10). This reminds us that it is important that we be willing to shed the “dirt” of the world, and allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us in order to draw closer in our relationship with God.]
Anointing Oil
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, 23 “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus, 24 500 shekels of cassia–all according to the sanctuary shekel–and a hin of olive oil. 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. 26 Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, 27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.
30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. 31 Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. 32 Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. 33 Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from their people.’ ”
[If this was a perfume, the name on the label would be: “Holy Spirit”]
Incense
34 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices–gum resin, onycha and galbanum–and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD. 38 Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.”
[This is the incense spoken of earlier in the Chapter. It illustrates the wonderful smell to God that all sincere prayers to Him hold.]
