Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Genesis 13
Genesis 13
“Building Altars”
We saw Abram receive a blessing and a promise from God in the last chapter. God promised him an amazing future based on the relationship God has with Abram, a relationship that is based on Abram worshipping God. So, Abram built an altar to God …
Genesis 12:7
“So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him”
Genesis 12:8
“There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD”
Then Abram blows it in the end of chapter 12 when he goes to Egypt, and lies about Sarah. This is where we pick up in chapter 13. And, what is the first thing Abram does in this Chapter?
Genesis 13:4
“…and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD”
Vs. 5-13
So, now we see Lot and Abram are going to go in two different directions. The quarreling happens between workers on both sides of the family. The decision is made that Lot will pick where to go, and he does. He decides to go live near Sodom. Obviously, the bible will tell us in the next six chapters that it was not a great choice, but we will deal with that then.
The part that I find interesting in this chapter is that Abraham, immediately goes back to building an altar.
Genesis 13:18
“So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD”
In this section of Genesis, I see that Abram has learned a valuable life lesson. Abram knows that he is called to worship God. It is his purpose, it is what is most important, it is all that matters to him at this point. Worshipping God is of highest priority to Abram.
Abram builds altars when life is good, and when life is bad. He does the same in times of plenty, and in times of hardship. Abram knows that no matter if he is obedient or disobedient, he can call on God. So, Abram builds and altar.
The word “altar” occurs 75 times in the books of Genesis and Exodus. God wanted to completely instill the idea that worship was most important, as God led our early fathers of the faith back to Himself.
Luke 4:8
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
“Building Altars”
We saw Abram receive a blessing and a promise from God in the last chapter. God promised him an amazing future based on the relationship God has with Abram, a relationship that is based on Abram worshipping God. So, Abram built an altar to God …
Genesis 12:7
“So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him”
Genesis 12:8
“There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD”
Then Abram blows it in the end of chapter 12 when he goes to Egypt, and lies about Sarah. This is where we pick up in chapter 13. And, what is the first thing Abram does in this Chapter?
Genesis 13:4
“…and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD”
Vs. 5-13
So, now we see Lot and Abram are going to go in two different directions. The quarreling happens between workers on both sides of the family. The decision is made that Lot will pick where to go, and he does. He decides to go live near Sodom. Obviously, the bible will tell us in the next six chapters that it was not a great choice, but we will deal with that then.
The part that I find interesting in this chapter is that Abraham, immediately goes back to building an altar.
Genesis 13:18
“So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD”
In this section of Genesis, I see that Abram has learned a valuable life lesson. Abram knows that he is called to worship God. It is his purpose, it is what is most important, it is all that matters to him at this point. Worshipping God is of highest priority to Abram.
Abram builds altars when life is good, and when life is bad. He does the same in times of plenty, and in times of hardship. Abram knows that no matter if he is obedient or disobedient, he can call on God. So, Abram builds and altar.
The word “altar” occurs 75 times in the books of Genesis and Exodus. God wanted to completely instill the idea that worship was most important, as God led our early fathers of the faith back to Himself.
Luke 4:8
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
