The Book of Genesis describes the patriarchs building seven altars to worship God. The first two instances are found in chapter 12.
In response to God’s promise, Abram built an altar.
(1) 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 (Genesis 12:7).
The second altar was constructed between Bethel and Ai.
(2) From there he moved on 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 invoked the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:8).
Later in Abram’s journey, God reaffirmed His promise of the land and the patriarch built another altar.
(3) Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 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 (Genesis 13:17-18).
The most difficult altar that Abraham ever constructed was the one where he was willing to sacrifice Isaac.
(4) When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood (Genesis 22:9).
God told Isaac that He would bless him and make his descendants numerous because of Abraham’s faithfulness. In response, Isaac built an altar.
(5) From there he went up to Beer-sheba. And that very night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham’s sake.”
So he built an altar there, called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well (Genesis 26:23-25).
After a tense reunion with his brother Esau, Jacob, relieved that they had parted peacefully, built an altar.
(6) There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel – God, the God of Israel (Genesis 33:20).
Despite Jacob’s flawed character, God remained faithful to his promises, graciously protecting and meeting with him. Recognizing this grace, Jacob built another altar.
(7) As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities all around them, so that no one pursued them.
Jacob came to Luz, that is, Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel,
Because it was there that God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother (Genesis 35:5-7).
Why, Where, and How of Altars
Since Abraham built the first altar, our spiritual fathers and mothers have continued this practice.
These altars have taken many forms: a quiet space in the home, a closet adorned with pictures of family, friends, and missionaries, a peaceful spot in the garden, or even a quiet walk in the park.
These are some examples of where altars can be. Now, let’s consider why people build them.
Our culture idolizes celebrities—athletes, entertainers, or politicians. Most people would jump at the chance to have even a brief personal conversation with one of our heroes. If we had the opportunity, we’d talk about it to everyone.
Consider, then, the greatest Being of all: God himself. The patriarchs built altars to meet with him, to worship him, to thank him, and to seek his guidance and help. Shouldn’t we do the same?
I believe prayer is more like art than mathematics. Mathematics follows strict rules, like two plus two always equaling four, while art allows for much greater flexibility and personal expression.
Below is a method that works for me. However, my intention isn’t for you to adopt my specific approach, but rather to encourage you to discover your own personal way of connecting with God.
The goal is to cultivate your unique experience of worship, prayer, love, devotion, and seeking guidance and help.
My current approach to connecting with God begins with studying a passage of Scripture. I’m currently reading through sections of the Psalms and the prophet Jeremiah. After reflecting on these texts, I use them as themes for my morning prayers.
After praying through the Scripture passages, I listen to a 15-minute prayer on YouTube, using this time to commune with God.
This practice has been effective for me. As I listen and agree with the words and phrases of the prayer, I feel a deeper connection with God.
Before bed, I gather all the concerns weighing on my heart and bring them before God in prayer. Then, I listen to another YouTube prayer, using the time to commune and connect with Him.
I trust that He is aware of my needs and actively working in the world to glorify his name and establish his kingdom.
I understand that some readers of my blog aren’t retired and don’t have as much free time as I do for prayer. You’ll need to adapt your prayer practices to fit the demands of your life.
I once suggested to a young mother with three small children that her best prayer time might be simply communing with God while playing with her children. Each person must discover their own way to connect with God.
Ultimately, the important thing is that we do it. Let’s find an “altar” in our lives and hearts where we can commune with the King of the Universe, our dearest friend.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Genesis 12:4-9 on YouTube today.
Real Voices 