Build An Altar Unto The Lord
Altars are places which reveal where people’s hearts are. An altar can be built to worship anything, so what you build it for says something about you and what you reverence. In Genesis 13:8-18, Abram (later called Abraham) built an altar unto the Lord. It was a place that he would meet with God, worship God and sacrifice to the Lord. Abram built this altar as his response to the covenant blessing that God established with him. I pray that you would build an altar of worship and sacrifice unto the Lord as your response to the blessings and covenant of salvation you have received from Him. Amen
So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9) Abram observed that his and his nephew’s (Lot) workers who were tending their herds and flocks were quarreling with each other. The root of the problem was the vast size of both Abram and Lot’s livestock, that were all trying to feed in the same area. Abram proposed a solution that would eliminate the quarreling and provide ample land for both he and Lot’s herds and flocks. Even though Abram could have rightfully exerted his choice over Lot’s, He gave Lot the choice of the land he would go and settle in. Abram would go and settle in land that was in the opposite direction from Lot.
Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. (Genesis 13:10-13) Lot selfishly chose to go to the plain of the Jordan because he saw the lushness of the land and availability of water. It was likened to the garden of the Lord. He settled near the city of Sodom, which the scripture said was wicked and sinning greatly against God.
The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13:14-18) In contrast to Lot who exhibited selfishness and chose to settle in a place of sin and wickedness, Abram received a confirmation of God’s blessing for him. God loved Abram’s selflessness in offering Lot the choice of land that God had promised to Abram. God also saw Abram’s dedire to avoid further quarrel with Lot. The blessing God promised was that Abram and his offspring would receive the land as far as he could see. Additionally, God promised that He would make Abram’s offspring more numerous than anyone could count. Abram’s response to God’s blessing was to build an altar there to God in Mamre.
Abram trusted God’s abundance and didn’t take the view that he was losing anything by offering Lot first choice of the land he would settle in. Even though Abram was older and Lot should have deferred to him, Lot selfishly took the most fertile land for himself. But because of Abram’s trust in God, he had an eternal view, and he valued sought peace with Lot over quarreling about something that was really inconsequential in the long run. Lot chose lush and fertile land based on what he saw with his eyes. Abram chose to trust God based on his faith (evidence of things unseen) in the Lord. Lot ended up living in a wicked place filled with sin. Abram received a confirmation of God’s promised covenant blessing and built an altar unto the Lord. Have you built an altar unto the Lord as a response to His blessings? Do you have a place where you regularly meet with God and worship Him? God saved us and set us free, not to mention the many other blessings He’s given us. People build altars of worship to many things (politicians, entertainers, money, etc.). Maybe it’s time to build an altar unto the Lord…. and truly worship Him!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
