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"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." Psalm 95:6

Text: Exodus 24 : 5

INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE MAKING OF AN ALTAR

The children of Israel gathered with a great sense of awe as they watched Moses put together the altar of worship. Perhaps Moses briefed them concerning the worship that would be offered to the Lord. As they watched the altar taking shape perhaps these words came to mind.

“An altar of earth you shall make for Me,
and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings,
and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen…
And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not
build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it,
you have profaned it.”
EXODUS 20:24-25

INVOLVEMENT OF THE YOUNG

Moses did not prepare for this special worship of the Lord on his own. Wisely, he involved the youth.

“Then he sent young men of the children of Israel,
who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings
of oxen to the LORD.”
EXODUS 24:5

1. Who were these “young men”?

The Levitical system had not been set up yet! The worship that Moses was offering belonged to “patriarchal” age. There no priestly system was necessary.

Who could these young men be? Perhaps these young men were of the tribe of Levi. It is even possible that they could have been Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron, since they were especially mentioned by the Lord Himself (Exodus 24:1). Perhaps this opportunity to be involved served to give them a glimpse of the Levitical ministry.

2. Why were the young men involved?

The making of the altar was no easy task. Stones had to be put together to form an altar. Twelve pillars were erected to represent Israel! Then there was the question of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings. Just how many oxen Moses utilized is not known. Could he have used 12 oxen to represent all the tribes of Israel? Whatever the case Moses would need the strength of the younger men to assist him in this worship.

Perhaps there was another reason why he involved people of the younger generation. If they were involved, they would feel for themselves the excitement and joy in the heart when worship is offered to the Lord. As they worked alongside Moses, they would have been given precious instruction concerning the different elements that made up worship. Their understanding would not have been as enriched if they had not been involved! The younger generation must always be given every encouragement to be involved so that they too may possess the “faith of their fathers”.