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AM Bethany : Footsteps of Faith : Lesson 3

Text: Genesis 12-13
29 September 2018

ERECTING ALTARS ALONG THE WAY

1. Altars were allowed to be erected before Temple worship was established

2. Laws concerning the erection of an altar (Exodus 20:22-26)

THE FIRST ALTAR ABRAM SET UP

1. Location

a) Shechem (Genesis 12:7)
b) Entering into the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7)

2. Reasons
Not stated

THE SECOND ALTAR ABRAM SET UP

1. Location

a) Bethel on the west
b) Ai on the east (Genesis 12:8a)

2. Reason for erecting an altar

a) He built an altar to the LORD (Genesis 12:8b)
b) And called on the name of the LORD (Genesis 12:8c)
c) In response to God’s word to him (Genesis 12:7)

3. Returning to this altar

a) (He returned) to the place of the altar which he had made there at first
(Genesis 13:4a)
b) And there Abram called on the name of the LORD (Genesis 13:4b)

THE THIRD ALTAR ABRAM SET UP

1. Location

a) Terebinth trees in Mamre which are in Hebron (Genesis 13:18a)
b) And built an altar there to the LORD (Genesis 13:18b)

2. Reasons

a) To call upon the name of the LORD
b) In response to God’s Word to him (Genesis 13:14-17)

LAWS CONCERNING ERECTION OF ALTARS
(Exodus 20:22-26)

1. No idols
(Exodus 20:22-23)

2. An altar of earth
(Exodus 20:24)

3. An altar of stone
Unhewn stone
(Exodus 20:25)

4. No steps
(Exodus 20:26)

FUNCTION OF THE ALTAR

1. Man’s part
To offer sacrifice
(Exodus 20:24)

2. God’s part
In every place where I record My name, I will come to you and I will bless you
(Exodus 20:24)