Main scripture: Genesis 12:8-9 (NIV)
8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
Message
Many of us may be familiar with the story of Abraham’s calling by God, God called Abraham (Abram at that time) out of Harran, a town dedicated to a Canaanite moon-god, to a new land with the capacity to allow God’s grace and blessings to remain over him and all his offspring.
The altar mentioned in verse 8 is the second altar Abraham built for God and to understand the significance of this altar we must understand the place he was when he built this altar. In Scripture the physical place a man finds themselves in is often a sign of the place they are in mentally or even spiritually.
(Vs 8) ‘with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.’
· Bethel = Beth-El = House of God
· Ai = hā-'āy = heap of ruins
Abraham built this altar between the House of God and ruins! He did not wait until he was in a ‘better place’ or a better time but called on God’s name right where he was, with the faith God would answer and God did, God gave him direction and led him towards the Negev.
We have the privilege to call on God no matter how we are feeling inside, we may feel closer to the heap of ruins than to the House of God but God’s presence is able to meet us wherever we are. We have the privilege to call on the name of God. The one and only Holy Spirit is with us, dwells in us and even intercedes for us in prayer according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).
Moreover, we have Christ, the Son of the Living God who came to earth as our bridge to heaven, the way to our Heavenly Father. So why should we wait to call on God’s name? Why wait to seek direction? God is showing us there is no better time than now! God is available to us wherever, whenever we are. How amazing is that? How amazing is it that through Jesus Christ, you and I have access to the Father!
Whenever we pray in the mighty name of Jesus, we should be bold and firm knowing that through His great name God hears us directly, through His great and mighty name our life may feel like it is in the middle of ruins and God’s promise, there may be even times where the ruins are all we feel close to, but by the mighty name of JESUS CHRIST His power strengthens us and draws us back into the healing presence of God.
This passage teaches us God is available to us wherever we are, He is the all-seeing God and I know He will never ignore us or forsake us because He says so in His word and our God is not a man that he should lie. God has never uttered an empty promise and you sure will not be the first person He ever lets down. It is impossible. Look at His track record (The Bible)!
‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’- Hebrews 13:5
Encouragement
The most important thing Abraham did was not to sit and hope for things to get better, he made the step in faith, he put his faith into action and made the moves to talk to God:
‘There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.’ (vs 8)
‘he built’, he ‘called’, it took action from Abraham and God responded. Let us take faith today in this, brothers, and sisters in Christ, knowing even when we feel far from the presence of God, even when our Ai feels closer than Bethel, it only takes a step, an action, a prayer said in faith, knowing we have a gracious living LORD who takes mercy upon us, who truly loves us more than we could ever comprehend and that our God:
‘rewards those who earnestly seek Him’ -Hebrews 11:6
Let us seek Him with faith and confidence today! There is no better time than now.
May the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with us all to the glory of God the Father.
Amen
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