When we explore the account of Abraham’s life in Genesis, we discover four altars he built on four different occasions. I believe there is much we can learn from these altars that we can apply to our own spiritual journeys with Christ. For example, we discover the first altar that Abraham erected in Genesis 12:1-7. This account recalls Abraham’s call and the scope of divine blessing. Abraham arrived in the Land of Promise, and he was immediately faced with a problem – “the Canaanites were in the land.” The Canaanites were a cruel, corrupt, and callous people. Abraham had left the familiar and relatively safe environment of his country, kindred, and family for an unknown land that happened to be filled with a people (Canaanites) who represented all kinds of problems and threats to Abraham’s safety. This place of spiritual blessing, the Promised Land, is found amidst real threats. In a similar sense, new believers discover that faith in Christ has led them into a sphere where evil forces operate against them as followers of Christ (Eph 6:12), yet finding in this same sphere spiritual blessing and the ability to flourish in the Lord.
We discover that the Lord is with Abraham, “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him” (Gen 12:7). The Lord was with Abraham in the land, and a divine vision and voice welcomed Him there as God affirmed His promise to Abraham. Abraham’s fears were relieved, the promise was renewed, and Abraham was reassured. His response was to erect an altar of praise. What is biblical praise? Biblical praise is focused on the Lord, based on the truth of who He is as revealed through His word, not imagination, and is proportionate to our knowledge and experience of Him. The Hebrews writer offers this insight, “Through him (Christ) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God” (Heb 13:15). Every believer, like Abraham, needs to erect an altar of praise in their faith journey.
We note the second altar in Genesis 12:8-13 as Abraham progresses in his journey. We discover that Abraham pitches his tent between Bethel (meaning house of God) and Ai (meaning heap of ruins), perhaps signifying his devotion to God and how that devotion is intended to impact the world (worship and witness). We discover that he is a pilgrim as the Hebrews writer informs us, “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb 11:10). Abraham did not just pitch a tent, but he built an altar, “From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord” (Gen 12:8). This second altar Abraham erected was for a time of prayer – “He called upon the name of the Lord” (v. 8).
Immediately after this account, we read that Abraham goes to Egypt to escape a famine. Abraham then made a selfish proposition to his wife Sarah and was prepared to put his wife in danger to save himself (vv. 11-13). Abraham’s expedition into Egypt resulted in fear, falsehoods, and failure. It appears that Abraham’s trust in God wavers. God intervenes and delivers Abraham and Sarah from what could have been a genuine personal hazard. What does Abraham do after such an incident? We read, “And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord” (Gen 13:34).
Abraham retraced his steps to Bethel, where he pitched his tent and built his first altar to the Lord. We believers, too, need to return to the point where we are mindful and accept our security in Christ to learn from our moral and spiritual failures and be restored to the Lord. Notice that Abraham again “called upon the name of the Lord” (Gen 13:4). Every believer, like Abraham, needs to erect an altar of prayer in their faith journey. Whether seeking the Lord’s direction for our lives or needing to repent and ask for forgiveness (that is always graciously given), we need to erect an altar of prayer in our faith journeys.
Later in Abraham’s account, recorded in Genesis 13:1-18, we read that God has blessed Abraham and Lot extraordinarily with abundant flocks, herds, and people. Unfortunately, this leads to strife and division between Lots herdsmen and Abraham’s, making it unreasonable for them to continue to dwell together. Abraham and Lot decide to separate. Abraham graciously allowed Lot first choice of the land. We discover that the graciousness of Abraham diffused the situation and is rewarded by being given further assurances by God that all the land within his vision would be for him and his decedents. Abraham is free of the horrific situation in Egypt and the strife between Lot’s herdsmen and his own, so he builds an altar (Gen 13:18). Abraham built an altar to the Lord to enjoy the peace and presence of God. Every believer, like Abraham, needs to erect an altar of peace in their faith journey. We believers must invest more time in God’s presence to be mindful and enjoy God’s peace and company.
This next altar Abraham builds is found in Genesis 22:9-14. Abraham built an altar on Mount Moriah to offer his only beloved son to God – his son was to be an offering on the altar. Abraham, by faith, obeys God’s command to offer up his son of promise, Isaac. Isaac is Abraham’s heir of promise. Isaac is placed on the altar. Abraham raises his knife while believing “that God was able even to raise him from the dead” (Heb 11:19a). What was thought to be a moment of death became a moment of triumph – a substitute, a provision, was provided by God. As we read in Hebrews, Isaac was sparred, “Abraham considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Heb 11:19). Abraham’s faith had been outstandingly tested and rewarded. This altar was constructed as an altar of sacrifice but became an altar of provision. Every believer, like Abraham, needs to erect an altar of provision in their faith journey.
We discover in this account a glorious type of Calvary, where God “did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all” (Rom 8:32a). So then, “how will God not also with him graciously give us all things” (Rom 8:32b). Ultimately, we understand that God did not really want Isaac but Abraham’s heart. Abraham was really on the altar, not Isaac. As believers, are we on the altar for God? Paul challenges us to respond rightly to all God has provided for us in Christ in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1). When we come to Christ, we may begin by thinking we have laid ourselves on the altar of sacrifice but genuinely come to realize that it’s actually an altar of provision. Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can experience the ultimate provision of abundant life.
It is no wonder that, under God, Abraham became the founder of a nation, the friend of God, and the father of the faithful followers of Christ. Abraham was not perfect. He made mistakes, yes, and sinned. But, he faithfully turned to God. He built the altars of praise, prayer, peace, and provision. You and I should, in our spiritual journey as well. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!