Abraham & his 5 altars

1. The altar by the oak tree at Moreh, near Shechem

Genesis 12:6-7, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 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.

The story of Abraham’s beginnings is not found in Genesis 12, but rather in Acts 7. Verses 2-5 said, and Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he lived in Haran, and said to him, Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.

Joshua states that Terah, the father of Abraham, was an idol worshipper. Joshua 24:2-3, and Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac.

It was God who appeared to Abram (Abraham) initially, not the other way around, despite Abram coming from a pagan background, as noted by Joshua. While it is uncertain whether Abram actively worshipped idols, his father Terah certainly did, and he originated from Ur, the primary city that worshipped the moon-god. It is noteworthy that Terah’s name is closely related to the Hebrew word for the moon, “yare’ah.” Additionally, when Terah relocated to Haran, he settled in a city that also worshipped the moon-god, despite the distance between Ur and Haran being roughly 590 miles (or 950 kilometers).

It is worth noting that God’s call was directed to Abram alone, rather than Terah. Although it was Terah who led the initial journey out of Ur, they only settled in Haran and did not continue to Canaan until after Terah’s passing. Terah’s primary objective was not to reach the promised land, but rather to find a more favorable location, as evidenced by their decision to settle in Haran. The exact timing of Abram’s first encounter with God in Acts 7:2 is unclear, as is the timing of Terah’s departure from Ur or his passing. Nevertheless, it was only after Terah’s death that Abram’s divine call was renewed, as recounted in Genesis 12:1, when Abram was already elderly at 75 years of age (as stated in Genesis 12:4).

Interesting to note, there are not many people in the Bible called by God when they were already old. Most were young, even still as children, such as Samuel, David, Samson, and many others. However, Abram was already 75 years old in Genesis 12:4 when he responded to God’s call, not when he was first called. Acts 7:2 shows that God had actually appeared to Abram long before, even while he was still in Ur. But Abram did not answer that call. Many years passed by until Terah took them all to Haran, and it is possible that they did head to Canaan, as Genesis 11:31 mentions. Perhaps Abram even told his father about God’s appearance to him. However, since Terah was the one who led them out of Ur, it was easily decided by him to halt and settle in Haran. Unfortunately, Abraham followed Terah’s decision. Then, more years passed by until Terah died, and only then God appeared to Abraham again. Maybe that’s why he had to wait a long time of 25 years, for Isaac’s promise to be fulfilled in him. If you procrastinate or delay in responding to God’s call in your life, do you believe that God is obligated to fulfill His promises to you right away? By persisting in this hesitation, you reveal a lack of faith in the One who summoned you.

When Abram finally arrived in Canaan after traveling approximately 404 miles (or 650 km) from Haran, as recorded in Genesis 12:5-6, he journeyed through the land and eventually settled in a location near Shechem. This place was situated at the oak tree of Moreh, where “Moreh” is frequently interpreted to refer to the owner of the land and the large oak tree (also known as the tarbantin tree). However, in this context, “Moreh” signifies a teacher or oracle. At the time of Abram’s arrival, Shechem was the central and busiest area of the region, serving as a hub of commerce and a gathering place for people. This same area became the site of Simeon and Levi’s (Abram’s great-grandchildren) vengeance when their sister Dinah was violated by a ruler, as recounted in Genesis 34. Moreover, in this vicinity, Jacob (Abram’s grandson) buried all the foreign gods that belonged to his group, as well as the earrings worn by his followers, beneath the big tree near Shechem, which was likely the same tree mentioned in Genesis 12:6.

God appeared to Abram there, as recounted in Genesis 12:7, and reiterated His promise, I will give this land to your descendants. In response, Abram built an altar to the LORD at that site, which marked his first altar dedicated to God, the One who had appeared to him.

An altar in ancient times was a symbol of sacrifice and submission to a Divine authority. The offering of a slaughtered and burned animal was a demonstration of faith and trust in Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament (OT), particularly in His promise of the coming Messiah. However, today, such acts are considered idolatrous in the Christian world. In Jesus Christ, the altar of sacrifice finds its fulfillment, as He became the one-time sin offering for all who believe in Him, as mentioned in Hebrews 10:14 and John 3:16. As a result, altars are no longer erected as places for offering sacrifices.

An altar in the Old Testament also represented a close and personal relationship between the individual who built it and the deity they worshiped. Similarly, in contemporary times, prayer and worship are depicted as an altar, as believers offer their petitions and thanksgiving to God. It serves as a tangible expression of their faith and devotion, reflecting their desire to connect with God and establish a personal relationship with Him.

Abram’s first altar represented an act of worship directed towards the One who had appeared to him, the One who had called him and given him His promise. It was a way for Abram to express his gratitude and respond to God’s call. The altar symbolized the beginning of a formal relationship between them, and this relationship was founded on God’s promise to Abram, as recorded in Genesis 12:1-3.

Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

• And I will make of you a great nation,
• and I will bless you
• and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
• I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse,
• and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

2. The Altar at Bethel

Genesis 12:8, 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. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

The word “move” in verse 8 has an interesting meaning in its original language. It refers to Abram’s retirement, … when he retired. In his old age, he retired to the mountains east of Bethel, which means “the house of God.” However, the place didn’t receive its name until Abraham’s grandson Jacob spent the night there and had a dream of seeing a stairway to heaven, with angels ascending and descending (Genesis 28:19). “Ai,” on the other hand, means “a pile of rubble.” The city was later destroyed by Joshua in Joshua 7-8. This place is approximately 30 km from the area of Shechem.

Abram pitched his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. This arrangement suggests that he built his life with the House of God on one side and his past on the other. In the original Hebrew, the word “east” (referring to Ai’s location) means “origin,” “past,” or “ancient times.” Interestingly, Abram built an altar there and called on the name of God. This demonstrates the importance of having an altar (an image of prayer and worship) in our lives, which keeps burning as we leave the past behind and journey towards the House of God for eternity. Abram’s altar shows his deep dependence on God, even in his old age, to guide him throughout his life’s journey.

Unfortunately, in the next verse (verse 9), Abraham continued his journey towards the south (Negeb). Verse 10 then describes how a famine arose in Canaan, and instead of turning towards Bethel, Abram went directly to Egypt. He should have turned to the altar he was building between Bethel and Ai, instead of going to Egypt. When a similar famine occurred in Isaac’s generation, Isaac did not go to Egypt but remained in the area, which was later controlled by the Philistines (Genesis 26). As a result of Abram’s journey to Egypt, Pharaoh gave him Hagar as a gift, along with male and female slaves, and much other livestock, in exchange for taking Sarai, Abram’s wife (Genesis 12:16).

It’s possible that if Abram had returned to Bethel instead of going to Egypt, Hagar and Ishmael may never have been part of the story. This could have had far-reaching consequences, including the non-existence of our so called cousins. It’s fascinating to consider how small decisions can have significant impacts on our lives and the lives of those around us.

3. The Altar at Bethel again, after back from Egypt

Genesis 13:4, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD.

After returning from Egypt, Abram went back to where he had been before (Genesis 12:8). Once again, he called on the name of God and restored his altar, making sacrifices to God. This demonstrates Abram’s commitment to his faith, even after his journey to Egypt. The distance traveled by Abram from Bethel to Egypt and back was approximately 218 miles (or 350 km).

In Genesis 13, we see how God separated Lot from Abram. Lot chose the best part of the promised land for himself, as described in Genesis 13:10. This caused Abram to leave the area and move to Mamre near Hebron, which was approximately 37 miles (or 60 km) from Bethel.

Genesis 13 shows a very difficult situation for Abram. Despite God’s promise of the land of Canaan to him, Abram lost the best part of it to his own nephew, whom he had brought along with him. This may have been due to Abram’s disobedience to God’s command to leave his kindred behind (Genesis 12:1). However, God used this situation to remove Abram from the area of Sodom and Gomorrah before their destruction, as described in Romans 8:28. If Abram had to leave suddenly, like Lot, he may have experienced significant losses.

4. The altar by the oaks of Mamre close to Hebron

Genesis 13:18, So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Abram built this altar to reconfirm God’s promise to him, which had been lost to Lot for the sake of peace in Abram’s household, as described in Genesis 13:14-17. Like Abram, when we experience difficult situations, we may feel angry and disappointed, and resentment can overtake us. However, in Genesis 13:14, God tells Abram to lift up his eyes, encouraging him to look beyond his present sorrows and to have faith in God, who never fails.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:8-11

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2

Thus, Abram erected an altar in Mamre, a place that also means “fat,” “fatness,” and “prosperity,” signifying a turning point. Genesis 14 tells of a war between the king of Chedorlaomer and the kings of Sodom. For Abram, this was proof of God’s favor upon him as he managed to retaliate against the defeated Sodom and take back Lot, his nephew who had wronged him. However, unlike most of us after winning a battle, Abram decided not to take the treasure of Sodom, as recorded in Genesis 14:22-24, displaying a different character.

For the sake of peace within his household, Abram let Lot take the best part of the land in Genesis 13. However, when he had the opportunity to avenge this, to regain it, in Genesis 14, he still chose not to take anything for himself, even though he now had the right to possess the land twice as much as before. First, it was promised by God. Second, he gained the land by winning the war. But he still continued to let it go. Abram understood that the treasures and riches of Sodom were causing the destruction of the land, and they had caused his nephew to betray him earlier. He recognized that this treasure contained a curse, not God’s blessing.

Genesis 15 begins with these words, fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward will be great. Here we see how Abraham’s faith became the righteousness for him, Genesis 15:6. Then Abram believed in the LORD, so the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. A faith which was born not just by a statement of I believe in You (verse 6b), but also because of his action to trust God who blesses him (Genesis 14:23). Yes, many times our behavior shows the state of our hearts which never lie than our mouths. Romans 4:9-12, that to Abraham faith was counted as righteousness. We need to learn like Abram to have our actions to match our words of faith. To have an act of faith in accordance with what been declared. So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead, James 2:17.

But it was also in Mamre where the story of Hagar and Ishmael took place, as recorded in Genesis 16. This was a mistake that Abram made in his efforts with Sarai to have a child, an action that God considered an insult and an attempt to help Him fulfill His promise. As a result, God did not speak to Abram for the next 13 years, as we can see when we compare Genesis 16:16 with Genesis 17:1.

When God repeated His promise of a child to Abram in Genesis 17, He did so at this altar in Mamre where He had appeared to Abraham once again. It was here that Abram’s name was changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:5) and Sarai’s name to Sarah (Genesis 17:15). God required circumcision as a sign of the promise to Abraham and all his descendants (Genesis 17:10-11). In Genesis 18, God Himself came to Abraham accompanied by His two angels. Abraham sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day and looked up to see three men standing in front of him. The promise of Isaac was mentioned here (Genesis 18:14), and later he was born in Genesis 21:1-3.

This altar in Mamre was a journey for Abram to come to know the Lord who was with him, leading to a transformation that changed his name, his life’s destiny, and his purpose. His name changed from “glorified father” (Abram) to “father of all nations” (Abraham). In Genesis 18:23-33, we see how Abraham interceded for the city of Sodom, praying as a father of all nations.

5. The Altar to sacrifice Isaac

Genesis 22:9, when they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Genesis 22 recounts the sacrifice of Isaac on the altar, which marked Abraham’s final altar. This was the altar where Abraham’s faith was put to the ultimate test, and he emerged victorious. While the Hollywood movie portrays Abraham crying out when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac in verses 2-3, the Bible simply states in verse 3 that Abraham rose early the next morning. Abraham did not display any regret, disappointment, or screams in response to the word he received from God in verse 2. In fact, verse 4 reveals that he walked for three days to Mount Moriah without wavering in his resolve. Abraham remained steadfast in his faith throughout this trial.

This final altar represented the highest form of worship that Abraham could offer to God. On this altar, he was prepared to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, as a burnt offering to create a pleasing aroma for the Lord (Leviticus 8:28, Numbers 29:2,6). It was also on this altar that Abraham’s faith lay, a faith that firmly believed that God would provide (Genesis 22:8, Romans 4:17, 18-21). Because of this belief, he was willing to let go of his own son and trust in the One who had promised him, I will make you a great nation. (Genesis 12:1, Romans 4:18).

An altar is only truly considered an act of worship when something is sacrificed on it. Often, our expressions of thanksgiving, praise, and worship come only from our mouths, lacking a real act of faith that stems from a sincere heart that believes. However, if we dare to offer everything on the altar, to let go, to choose Him above all else, to make Him the number One in our lives, then God, who tests the heart (Jeremiah 17:10, Proverbs 21:2), will find us like Abraham (2 Chronicles 16:9). And He will not only make promises but swear by them (Genesis 22:16).

Abraham’s altars

Abraham’s altars, and ours, are not only about responding to God’s calling (1), experiencing His provision (2), receiving His guidance (3), and returning to His promises (4). They are also a place where we can offer our entire lives as a sacrifice, to be consumed on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (Leviticus 1:17). We are called to lay everything on the altar, giving our all to Him, and trusting that He will use our lives for His purposes.

Amen