Genesis 12:4-9: Building Altars to the Lord

Introduction

Thus far, there has been an interesting emphasis on the act of building in Genesis 1-11. Just as man is given two options in life, to worship the Lord or to worship self, so also have we seen these two modes of worship expressed in the first account of Genesis. Back in Genesis 4, we saw a stark difference between the offering of Cain and that of Abel. As you remember, both offerings were acceptable and permitted sacrifices in the Old Testament. However, Cain’s lacked one element, namely, atonement. Abel’s offering was pleasing unto God because he offered from his flock and their fat portions (Gen 4.4-5).

When Cain murders Abel, he is pushed eastward, the direction of exile, expulsion, and enmity as it relates to God. His first action is not an altar of atonement in seeking the forgiveness of his sins; rather, it is self-exalting in building a city which he fashions and shapes after the likeness of his firstborn son, Enoch (Gen 4.17). In a similar manner, the same had been conducted by the people of Babel (Gen 11.1-9). Their intention was to overthrow the purposes and sovereignty of God in hopes of becoming “like God,” the same temptation manifest to Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen 3.5).

In contrast, however, three individuals have stood out as those whose primary aim, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism explains, “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” First, as stated above, was the sacrifice of Abel. The next, would be the altar built by Noah in Genesis 8:20-22. Noah had, from a human perspective, every right to find shelter and sustenance for his family after the detrimental effects of the Flood. Yet, his first and chiefmost aim was the glorification of God.

The text which we are looking at this morning has another individual who received the promises of God by faith, who responds to the sovereign grace and mercy of God through the act of building an altar, Abram. Abram built an altar to a God whom He had not known for over 75 years, who had merely spoken to Him a command, and whom He had not seen. Yet, Abram, like the goal of Christians, is to walk by faith and not by sight.

Thus, we will look at two primary points in the text. First, obeying the Lord (vv. 4-6) and second, worshipping the Lord (vv. 7-9).

For the doctrine, we are going to look at saving faith, as articulated by the Westminster Divines from Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 14. And as usual, we will look at the important part of God’s Word and how we apply it to our own lives in the usefulness of building altars to the Lord.

(1) obeying the Lord (vv. 4-6)

(2) worshipping the Lord (vv. 7-9)

Doctrine – The Nature of Saving Faith

Application – The Usefulness of Building Altars to the Lord

(1) obeying the Lord (vv. 4-6)

Genesis 12:4–6 “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.”

As a whole, the text is very straightforward. In fact, many highly technical commentaries do not have much to offer on the specifics of the text. Therefore, more time will be spent later on how to apply the passage to our own lives. Nonetheless, there are some important elements from the Hebrew Scriptures.

John Calvin once wrote concerning the nature of saving faith and justification, in response to the counter-Reformation Council of Trent, “It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone: just as it is the heat alone of the sun which warms the earth, and yet in the sun it is not alone, because it is constantly conjoined with light.” This is expressed quite clearly in the life of Abram.

In Genesis 12.1-3 the Lord speaks to Abram and in verse 4 he goes. Faithful obedience unto the Lord becomes the resounding chorus of Abram’s life as one who was obedient until death. Though Abram’s life would ebb and flow with obedience and disobedience, we still see the evidence manifest of one who is justified. In fact, Abram’s obedience would become a blessing to all of those who travel with him, even Lot. Later, as the dispute between lands occurs between Abram and Lot, Abram gives to his nephew, his lesser so to speak, the better plot of land.

One potential point of contention brought to us in the text is in verse 5, where we are told Abram took “the people that they had acquired in Haran.” To the modern ear, slavery is an abominable practice and indeed it was certainly an injustice done to an entire people group hundreds of years ago. However, slavery in the Old Testament did not have the same domineering effect upon the people. Slavery as we are told later in Deuteronomy, would be an opportunity for people to pay off debts and to even become part of the people of God.

As Abram passes through the land, he is brought into the land of Canaan. It is curious as to why the Lord would bring His people upon the doorstep of their enemies. Again, it does not seem man’s perspective that Abram is the correct choice for the promises. His wife is barren and he travels to a land of enemies. Yet, this is to show forth the sovereignty of God that He alone is faithful to His promises. When everything else seems to go against the promises and purposes of the Lord, He still ensures it comes to pass. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Thus, Abram responds in an act of worship.

(2) worshipping the Lord (vv. 7-9)

Genesis 12:7–9 “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. 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.”

Debate within the modern church often centers around the issue of worship. Rather than turning to what God explicitly or implicitly states in the Scriptures, man would rather form and fashion a god to worship according to their own desires. Hence, many find distaste in singing of Psalms or hymns because it is not “modern” enough. True worship is dedicating oneself to the Lord and calling upon His name, as clearly portrayed in verses 7-9. In fact, as Calvin writes, “Religion has truly its appropriate seat in the heart; but from this root, public confession afterwards arises, as its fruit. For we are created to this end, that we may offer soul and body unto God” (John Calvin and John King, Commentary on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 354.) Calvin is stating that the gift of faith given to Abram finds its center in the heart but finds its expression outwardly in the fruit. Since we were created to worship, we are to give body, mind, and soul to the Lord as our spiritual worship.

Abram travels to the location known as Shechem. This seemingly insignificant town would have great significance in the life of the early church. In fact, we looked at this last Sunday evening in relation to Christ and His interaction with the woman of Samaria. In the Pentateuch, as Israel stood in preparation to enter into the land, the tribes were separated and placed upon two mountains, Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal. Upon Mount Gerizim, after crossing the land, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Isaachar, Joseph, and Benjamin would stand and proclaim the blessings to the people (Deut. 27.12). On the opposite side, upon Mount Ebal, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zubulun, Dan, and Napthali would declare the curses.

The mountain of curses would be the very place where the Levites would set up their altar of sacrifice. Only through sacrifice – which in the Old Testament pointed toward Christ – is man able to be reconciled unto God. Shechem lay in between these two mountains. On the one side was the mountain of blessing and the other was the side of curse. The place in between the mountains, the low valley, would be Abram’s spot for true worship unto the Lord. How do we get from the mountain of curses to the mountain of blessing? Through an altar of the Lord. The greatest altar ever built was the Cross on Calvary where God reconciled unto Himself those who were born in Adam, fallen in Adam, unable to come to God by their own workings and obedience, and who are brought over to the true mountain of God, the place of blessing, by Christ.

Now Abram had the blessed experience of not only hearing from the Lord but the Lord appearing to Him. In Scripture, when we have instances where the Lord appears, it is known as a theophany from the Greek word for God (θεος, theos) and the word for appear (φαινω, phaino). This was a distinct privilege of Abram to be blessed by the Lord’s appearance.

Not only that, but in this theophany, the Lord reconfirms the promises that He gave to Abram. You can imagine Abram had traveled for an undetermined amount of time, through the harsh desert wasteland, the potential danger of wild animals, and yet, he did so by faith. Now, the Lord, out of his marvelous and magnificent grace reconfirms the promises to Abram. This promise is confirmed despite Abram’s peculiar situation. Remember, Sarai is barren. How then would this promise come to pass? More to follow in the coming chapters.

Abram’s faith naturally leads to obedience which then leads to worship. Twice in this passage we see Abram building an altar to the Lord. Throughout the Old Testament, the building of an altar was typically a response to a theophany, or God’s self-manifestation. The altar is a shrine or dwelling place of God (Vos, BT). The act of building an altar is, in a way, sacramental. The altar is the place of sacrifice. It is a visible representation of God’s act in reconciling man to Himself.

As Abram continues, we are told he pitches his tent between Ai and Bethel. Bethel referring to “the house of God.” And there as well, he builds an altar of worship unto the Lord. We are likewise told of one additional fact, Abram calls upon the name of the Lord. This is where we get the word “invocation.” To invoke, or to call upon the name of the Lord is to invoke the covenantal name of Yahweh. It is an act of praise for all who God is, steadfast, immovable, unchangeable, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Hence our liturgical worship is the same of Abram’s, calling upon the name of the Lord to remember His unfailing promises.

Abram builds altars to worship and follows the dictates of the Lord. And this is precisely due to the fact that the Lord Himself called Abram. The gift of faith that is bestowed to Christians who receive and rest upon Christ is the same gift of faith delivered to Abram. Thus, we transition to the nature of saving faith from Hebrews 11.8.

Doctrine – The Nature of Saving Faith

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Debate still continues around the nature of saving faith, whether it is a free gift of God by His sovereign mercy, or, whether it is a choice of the individual alone. Often, we confuse the categories of faith and works, believe and obedience. Yet the Scripture is clear that faith is given by God due to the fact that true saving faith in Him is contrary to one’s own nature.

(1) The Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth

Man is not naturally inclined to believe in the Lord. Though the heavens above declare His handiwork, man still rejects the truth about God in exchange for self-centered, idolatrous worship (cf. Ps 19.1-2; Rom 1:18-32). Thus, in order for man to act rightly, his inner disposition and constitution must be changed. This is precisely what was so profound in Jesus’s interaction with Nicodemus. He declares that it is absolutely necessary to receive be born again prior to seeing or entering into the kingdom of God. So also does Christ emphasize the work of the Spirit in regeneration. In John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”” Man must necessarily be reborn, born in Christ through the Spirit, in order to believe in the Lord. As WCF 14.1 states, “[saving faith] is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts.”

Though we do not see the inner workings of the Lord’s sovereign purpose expressed so clearly in the life of Abram, we know these to be true. Abram was not seeking the Lord. He was a pagan and an idol worshipper. No where are we told that Abram was rationalistically deducing that the Lord exists through Abram’s personal experience or by looking to nature. No, the only reason why Abram believed is that the Lord implanted upon his heart genuine saving faith which brought him into closer communion with the Lord.

(2)The Benefits of Spiritual Rebirth

WCF 14.2 states, “the principal acts of saving faith are, accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.” Abram accepted, received, and rested upon the Lord for his salvation. And in that, we see just how the benefits of Christ were applied to him as well, as everything in the Old Testament fore-signified Christ (WCF 7.5). Abram’s justification was declared in Genesis 15:6 “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” To be counted, or reckoned, is forensic and declarative language used. Abram was also working through sanctification as a reality in Christ but a process in this life.

Like many of us, Abram receded back into his sinful ways. Twice, he rejects the Lord’s ability to save him from his enemies by lying about Sarai, his own wife. Abram decides to take matters into his own hands by sleeping with Hagar in an attempt to achieve the promise through his own efforts. Yet throughout these life lessons, Abram is marked by obedience and faithfulness unto the Lord. In fact, Abram did not even see any of the promises, yet through the work of the Spirit in the process of sanctification, he did so by faith, and entered into eternal life. Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

As WCF 14.3 concludes, “This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory; growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.”

Application – The Usefulness of Building Altars to the Lord

How do we faithfully worship the Lord? We do it by obeying the Lord, sacrificing unto the Lord, and depending upon the Lord.

Use 1. Obey the Lord thy God (Gen 12.4)

Thomas Watson writes, “God commands nothing but what is beneficial … To obey God is not so much our duty as our privilege.” Obedience is a rejected concept in modernity. The hyper-individualistic focus on man’s decision is catechetically taught in culture and school. Yet the Lord requires obedience. Not as a way to gain salvation but as the fruit of one who has been converted. In fact, we are told in 1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” Yet in order to obey, one must have a changed heart.

[1] Obeying with a new heart

Thomas Goodwin makes a great point that “Judas heard all Christ’s sermons.” Meaning, merely hearing the words of Christ without a change of heart is merely mental ascent to truths with no grounding. In verses 1-3, Abram was called. Shortly thereafter, Abram does what the Lord requires of him. “So Abram went, just as the Lord had spoken.” When the Lord speaks, obedience is to be what follows. However, this is unnatural in the disposition and sinfulness of man. Man, by nature, does not automatically obey. Even though the Lord has spoken through creation, via general revelation, and in His Word, via special revelation, man still rejects the clear witness of the Lord God.

The prerogative of mankind is not to obey but rather to disobey. Remember how Adam was given explicit, direct revelation from God to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil lest he die (Gen 2.15-17). Instead of obeying, Adam listened to the lies of the serpent. In the same manner, the moral law which is written upon the heart of all man requires personal and perpetual obedience. Hence Paul writes in Romans 2:14 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.”

How then does Abram obey? Is it of his own constitution and will? Most certainly not. It is solely through the power of the Spirit working in Him that produces such obedience. Again, as the author of Hebrews reminds us in Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” What do we know of faith? Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” God gifted Abram the faith to believe in the Lord’s salvation and provision thereby acting in true obedience.

[2] Obeying despite hardships

Abram travels to Shechem even though the Canaanites live in the land. Anyone who has read Genesis 10-11, knowing the Canaanites were great enemies of the people of Shem and Japheth, why would the Lord throw Abram into the hands of these depraved men. Has the Lord betrayed Abram? Does the Lord truly not care what happens to Abram and his household? Certainly not.

In fact, as Calvin notes, “it was profitable for him to be accustomed, by such discipline, to cherish a better hope” [John Calvin and John King, Commentary on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 352.] What other way for the Lord to build trust in His servants than to throw them into the land of the enemy only to show them through His great love and providence that He is sovereign over all aspects of their lives? So also does the Lord throw His children into particular situations which may seem as though they offer harm and danger but in fact are full of spiritual prosperity and blessing.

Is this not the aim of Paul in Romans 8:38–39? He writes, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Even though Abram was thrown into a land full of enemies, the Lord is still with him. In fact, the Lord as the Good Shepherd is the one not only leading us through the valley of death but also preparing a table for us in the midst of our enemies. Obeying the Lord is a great privilege and duty because only the Lord is able and willing to protect, guide, and bless His own. Naturally, true, faithful, and genuine obedience can only necessarily lead to worshipping the Lord.

Abram’s obedience blessed those around him. In verse 5, it is explained that Abram brings Sarai, Lot, and all of his servants with him along with his possessions. A few members in the congregation are privy to what is known as “PCS season”, referring to a permanent change of station, where military families are uprooted to another base somewhere around the world. In essence, this is Abram’s PCS from the land of Haran to the land of Canaan. You can imagine the complexity of traveling with a large group of people and possessions and the difficulties they would encounter.

Christian obedience looks similarly. Though we are not necessarily called into a particular land, but we are called to serve and obey the Lord in difficult environments. Christ Himself served in His homeland and His people by birth and heritage, yet how often are we told that they try to kill him? How often is He rejected and cursed? In fact, Christ’s obedience to the Father and His service was so great that He laid down His own life. As He says in Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

[3] Obeying to remember the blessing

Obedience is the natural fruit that follows the root of faith. Faith always has actions that follow. If you say, “I have faith that my car will start but never put the key in the ignition, is that true faith?” If you say, “I have faith that my parachute will open but never jump out of the plane, is that true faith?” If you say, “I love my spouse, but never show affection, physical or emotional, can you really say that is true love?” We have a concept in our natural life for the category of faith, and actions always necessarily follow.

Yet sometimes people tend to act as if obedience unto God’s Law is merely an Israel problem and not that of the church. Nothing is further from the truth. Obedience to the Lord is a fruit springing up from the root of faith. And that obedience is a great blessing to us. The more we conform to the image of Christ, the more we see the outworking of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. How do we build altars to the Lord? We do it through obedience with a new heart, despite hardships, and remembering the blessing.

Use 2. Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God (Gen 12.7-8)

Puritan William Gurnall once wrote, “Sacrifice without obedience is sacrilege.” It seems contradictory that we looked previously at 1 Sam 15.22 and the Lord requires obedience over sacrifice. Sacrifice here is to be meant as expressed in Romans 12:1–2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Just as the altar was the centerpiece of worship for Abram so also is presenting our bodies as a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God part of our spiritual worship.

Abram sacrificed everything to obey and follow the Lord. We are likewise called to do the same. Our entire being is to be devoted to the Lord. To present your body as a sacrifice is to declare to the Lord, “Here I am, use me as you will, O Lord.” It means that we accept the will of God over our own will. Many of you are called to work at a specific job, or study at a specific school. Like Abram, the Lord calls you to a place of wandering, a place amidst enemies of the Cross, and a place full of sin. Yet, you have the great privilege of seeing that area of your life as a place of sacrifice. Imagine if your perspective merely changed in light of the Lord calling you.

To sacrifice unto the Lord means we must also give up the things that we hold so near and dear to our hearts. What was the issue with the religious piety of the rich young ruler? It actually wasn’t that he kept the entire law of God. Instead, it was that he was unwilling to sacrifice the one things he held so dear to his heart, money (Luke 18:18-30). The Lord calls us to sacrifice our financial resources for the building of His Church. Just as we are told in 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

To sacrifice unto the Lord also means we must give up time we may rather spend on frivolity for the sake of the Lord. Sunday is to be solely devoted to the Lord. Often, we treat Sunday as the world does, an extra day to do the things we desire rather than what the Lord desires. Honoring the Sabbath and keeping it holy requires sacrifice, which is a great privilege and duty.

To sacrifice means we sometimes must give up all things for the sake of the Gospel. Think about the sacrifice of missionaries. Often they give up the safety and comfort of their own homes and family to pursue the Gospel calling in their lives. They go, like Abram, into a land of unknown. They go with family, not knowing what lies ahead. Yet they sacrifice unto the Lord knowing that He is always faithful.

Sacrifice all to the Lord because Christ sacrificed all for you. The principal root of our spiritual worship and sacrifice to the Lord is because of what Christ Himself has done on our behalf. I love how the author of Hebrews ties together faith and obedience with the recognition of Christ’s faithful obedience. Hebrews 12:1–3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God that you may show forth the fruit, but this necessitates that we are dependent upon the Lord.

Use 3. Depend upon the Lord thy God (Gen 12.8)

Abram was not in dependence on his own efforts or strengths, but on the Lord’s alone. Remember the nature of Abram’s calling. He was called to forsake family, fame, and freedom. In forsaking family, we were told in Genesis 12:1 “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”

In terms of fame, Abram was to leave the reputation of his father’s inheritance and household for the sake of following the Lord. To leave household is to deny your reputation. This is precisely how we are to depend upon the Lord. To forsake the reputation of our inheritance on earth for the sake of the heavenly inheritance in Christ. Christ reminds us of the cost in Mark 10:29–31 “Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.””

Abram had no other option than to depend upon the Lord. You also have no other option than to depend upon the Lord. Why do we depend upon Him and why is that a necessity? Listen to His promises:

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”” The Lord says to the people, do not be afraid of the unknown land you are about to enter into. Do not be afraid, rather depend upon the Lord. Why? He will never leave you nor forsake you.

This is reconfirmed by Christ Himself in Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” You can depend upon the Lord because He is always with you. Friends may fail you, but He is always with you. Family may fail you, but He is always with you. Work, or employment, may fail you, but He is always with you. School may fail you, but He is always with you. Do not depend upon your own strength; instead, depend upon the strength of God the Father who called you, God the Son who redeemed you, and God the Spirit who works in you.

In Genesis 12:4-9 we have looked at two primary points in the text. First, obeying the Lord (vv. 4-6) and second, worshipping the Lord (vv. 7-9). For the doctrine, we emphasized the doctrine of saving faith from Hebrews 11:8. In light of that, we concluded with the usefulness of building altars to the Lord, in obedience, sacrifice, and dependence unto the Lord thy God. May the Lord add His blessing unto His own people to His own glory and may the word of Christ dwell richly in your hearts.