February Believers Magazine

ABRAHAM’S FOUR ALTARS
“Unforgettable peaks”
The word “altar” in Scripture means a place of
slaughter and sacrifice, where blood was shed and
death took place; it symbolised acknowledgement
of, approach to, and appreciation of God, in other
words “worship”. The word first occurs in Genesis
8.20-22, where Noah sacrificed “clean” animals
as burnt offerings to express his worship and
a “sweet savour” arose to God. Altars had
to be unpretentious and unembellished
with human workmanship, but
marked by utter simplicity to facilitate
and encourage men to seek God (Ex
20.25; Acts 17.25; Ps 65.4). No
doubt altars were used from the
days of Abel, who first brought an
offering by divine instruction. The later
altars for the tabernacle and temple
had to be constructed strictly according to
divine design. They all foreshadowed the person
and sacrificial work of Christ. The altar teaches us,
in type, the importance of daily communion with
God on the basis of the precious blood of Christ.
These four altars mark the unforgettable peaks of
Abraham’s spiritual experiences in the pathway
of faith. We can identify with his experiences and
learn valuable lessons as we stumble along the
same route of faith.
An Altar of Praise (Gen 12.1-7)
This reminds us of Abram’s (later changed to
Abraham, 17.5) call, and the scope of divine
blessing. Abram is not only the subject of blessing,
but the medium of blessing to “all families of the
earth” (vv.2-3); one of the most important time
marks in human history. Without conditions, this
covenant has been ratified and will be completely
fulfilled; note the divine purpose, “I will”, pronounced
four times (vv.1-3). Abram arrived in the Land of
Promise, at “Shechem” (shoulder) in the plain, the
lowlands of “Moreh” (instruction); the meanings
suggest vitality and vision. This was just what Abram
needed, having left country, kindred and family for
an unknown land; he had “forsaken all” in faith
(Heb 11.8). He is immediately faced with a problem
for “the Canaanite was in the land” - a cruel, corrupt
We also
“have an
altar”.
February 2014
R Dawes, Lesmahagow
and callous people. Abram and his company would
be very vulnerable in this hostile environment. How
like young believers discovering that faith has led
them into a sphere where evil forces operate (Eph
6.12), yet finding that it is a sphere full of blessing
and spiritual potential.
However, the Lord was with Abram in the land
and a divine vision and voice welcomed
him there: “And the Lord (Jehovah, the
Eternal) appeared unto Abram, and
said…” (v.7); thus all his fears were
allayed. The promise was renewed
and Abram was reassured. How good
is the God we adore!
He had already been unconditionally
blessed, but now God says, “Unto
thy seed (i.e. Christ, Gal 3.16) will I give
this land” (v.7). How does Abram respond to
the grace of God? He lifted his voice in praise,
“and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who
appeared unto him”. Mark the principle - praise
is ever focussed on the Lord Himself, based on
revelation, not imagination, and is proportionate
to our knowledge and experience of God. No altar
could be raised in ungodly Ur or Haran, but only in
the Land of Promise, the place of divine blessing
and in the simplicity of faith. We also “have an altar
(Christ Himself), and “By him therefore let us offer
the sacrifice of praise to God continually” (Heb
13.10,15).
An Altar of Prayer (12.8-13)
Note Abram’s progress - he removes from the
lowlands (the plain) to a mountain (v.8), the higher
ground of faith so to speak. May this be our desire:
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground”. Here faith
found a new perspective (have we?); he pitched his
tent between Bethel (House of God) and Ai (heap
of ruins), signifying duty to God and duty to the
world - worship and witness. The “tent” and the
“altar” now characterised Abram, and he became
a pilgrim, moving from place to place: he “passed
through” (v.6), “he removed” (v.8), he “journeyed”
(v.9), he settled nowhere, for “he looked for a city
which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is
ABRAHAM’S FOUR ALTARS
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