As you go through the life of Abraham, it is clear that he built few altars that has some spiritual significance. As we stop at each altar let’s learn from Abraham to be an altar-builder.
1. The altar of promise Genesis 12: 5-7
Moreh means Instruction
The first ‘altar moment’ involves two dynamics directly related to our experiences.
a. An altar of promise – “to you I will give this land…”
b. An altar amid adversaries – “and the Canaanites were then in the land
What are the promises God made to you? The answer is to seal the promise of God’s altar. What is fixed in place at the altar with God will find solidity when it later comes and attaches.
2 Timothy 1:12
2. The altar of intimacy, Genesis 12:8
Bethel means House of God
Abraham’s second altar is equally demonstrative of a stabilizing step in faith’s progress. It took place at an altar of familiarity, of growth in intimacy
Notice, Abraham’s “calling on the name of the Lord”
Proverbs 18:10
3. The altar of no return, Genesis 13: 3, 4
Bethel means House of God
Ai represents the things of the world
Abraham has made a trip to Egypt.
Except for the marvelous grace of God, the trip was a sad commentary on Abraham’s fear and weakness. But he Lord retrieves him through a show of intervening mercy [Genesis 12:10 –20], and when it’s over he’s not only come through, he comes out magnificently!
This altar is an altar of no return; it’s the time and place that Abraham puts down a stake – “I am here where God meant me to be, and there’s no wandering ever again!”
4. The altar of possession, Genesis 13: 17-18
Hebron literally means confederacy, league or alliance.
The altar of possession is that action by which Abraham is coming to real and practical terms with a general – until – now promise
It is one thing to have a given promise and to have a possessed promise
1. Confirm our acceptance of the implication of promise
2. Commit our life to the pursuit of the fulfillment of the promises.
