February Believers Magazine

ABRAHAM’S FOUR ALTARS
God” (Heb 11.10). Do we likewise? Where there is a
“tent” (home), there should be an altar. Abram built
a second altar, this time for prayer - “he called upon
(invoked) the name of the Lord”. This is the result
of exercise and weakness, of dependence upon
God. Such a spirit of prayer proves the power and
presence of God. Alas, we then read that “he went
down to Egypt” (vv.10-20), to escape the famine;
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10.12). Abram then makes
a selfish proposition to Sarah (vv.11-13); he was
prepared to put his wife in danger to save himself
“that it may be well with me” (v.13)! The expedition
into Egypt resulted in fear, falsehoods, and failure.
Let us beware of the world that Egypt typifies. Where
was his faith in God now?
God in His merciful providence overruled his
servant’s folly (what a comfort to us who often fail).
Abram was soon despatched unceremoniously by
Pharaoh. He retraced his steps to Bethel where he
pitched his tent and built his altar “as at the first”
(13.3-4). Similarly we have to return to the point of
moral or spiritual departure to learn by our mistakes
and be restored to the Lord. Abram repeated the
same prayer and again “called on the name of
the Lord”. What infinite pardon and pity there is in
that Name! It was a humble prayer of repentance
because forgiveness was immediately granted;
the memory of his former sweet communion was
revived. Have we strayed from the path of faith and
lost our focus? Let us “call upon the Name of the
Lord” (Jer 33.3).
An Altar of Peace (13.14-18)
Abram and Lot had acquired flocks and herds
and tents; strife and division broke out among
the herdsmen so that they could no longer “dwell
together”. Abram pleads, “Let there be no strife, I
pray thee, between me and thee…for we be brethren”
(cp Ps 133.1). Paul likewise pleads, “Let nothing be
done through strife, or vain glory” (Phil 2.3). Strife
often leads to separation, sometimes of necessity,
but how tragic among brethren, for “the servant of
the Lord must not strive; but be gentle to all men”
(2 Tim 2.24). Abram and Lot therefore decided to
separate. Abram nobly allowed Lot first choice of
the land, and what a fateful choice it proved to be.
The yieldingness and generosity of Abram diffused
the situation (what a salutary lesson in resolving
disputes) and he was rewarded by being given
further divine assurances that all the land within his
vision would be for him and his innumerable seed.
Thus Abram moved to Mamre (vigour) in Hebron
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(fellowship). He was now separated from Egypt, free
from strife, and enjoying complete security; hence
“he built there an altar unto the Lord” to enjoy
the peace and presence of God. May we quietly
spend more time in the divine presence “safe and
secure from all alarms”, and “be at peace” among
ourselves (1 Thess 5.13).
This supreme trial marked the
summit of Abraham’s faith.
An Altar of Provision (22.9-14)
This fourth altar is the most important of all - it was
for Abraham and it is for us. Note the emotional
pressure. As Abraham was building this altar on
Mount Moriah his heart must have been breaking,
for he was about to offer up to God his only beloved
son, not only to be slain, but to be burnt to ashes as
a burnt offering. He knew God must have Isaac, even
though he was the heir of promise, so he raised the
sacrificial knife “Accounting that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead” (Heb 11.19). But
what was thought to be a moment of death became
a moment of triumph - a substitute, a provision,
was found and Isaac was spared. Abraham’s faith
had been tried to the limit and rewarded: “God will
provide himself a lamb, for a burnt offering” (v.8);
the glorious type of Calvary, where God “spared not
his own son, but delivered him up for us all” (Rom
8.32). It has rightly been said that “God did not want
Isaac, He wanted the heart of Abraham”; Abraham
was really upon the altar, not Isaac! This supreme
trial marked the summit of Abraham’s faith. It had
been a long and eventful journey of faith from Ur
to Moriah, from idolatry to “worship…in spirit and
in truth” (Jn 4.24). Are we on the altar for God,
have we experienced our Moriah? Paul appeals, “I
beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service” (Rom 12.1).
But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay.
(John H Sammis)
It is no wonder that, under God, Abraham became
the founder of a nation, the friend of God, the father
of the faithful, and the fount of blessing to a lost
world; he was truly a patriarch, a prophet, a prince,
and a pilgrim. Concluded.