TOPIC:"Building an Altar In the Home"
"...and there built he an altar unto the Lord" (Genesis 12:7)
As I look at the television, listen to the radio, and read the newspaper, I have come to the conclusion that our country is in a moral mess. There are many symptoms to substantiate this truth. The horrifying crimes, the innumerable divorces, the gross immorality, the high rate of abortions, the acceptance of homosexuality, and the almost unbelievable neglect of God's Holy Word. Certainly the Apostle Paul was not overstating it when he declared that we live "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" (Philippians 2:15, NKJV) or as Phillips renders these words "in a warped and diseased world." The world is sick and in desperate need of the Great Physician. As Jesus Himself declared: "They that are whole have no need of the Physician, but they that are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17).
Isn't it just possible that the American family is missing something that is found in our text. That something is the altar and all for which the altar stands. For let us never forget that the building of altars had a prominent place in the life of Israel as a nation. There are approximately 400 references to altars in the Word of God. Quoting from the Life Application Bible: "Altars of worship were used in many religions. But for the people of God altars were more than places of sacrifice. Altars symbolized communion with God and commemorated notable encounters with Him. Built of rough stones and earth, they often remained in place for years as continued reminders of God's protection and promises."
Remember, in those days God's people had no Bible and few religious traditions to learn from. As a matter of fact, the Old Testament was written over a period of one thousand years, from approximately 1400 to 400 B.C. The first five books of the Old Testament, called "the books of the Law," were not written by Moses until about 1400 B.C. So God had to start from scratch and teach His people how to worship Him. He gave special instructions about the building of altars in chapter 20 of Exodus as God wanted to prevent idolatry from creeping into their worship. The list of those who built altars to God is amazing - Noah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Balaam, Saul, Elijah, David, Solomon, and Ezra. What a list! But nobody built more altars than Abraham. On four different occasions he built altars to God and in Genesis 13:4 he returned to the altar he had built at Bethel.
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