Genesis 12:7, commentary and pictures

The Lord appeared to Abram at his first encampment in the promised land at Shechem and promised to give the land to his descendants, and in response Abram built there his first altar in Canaan to the Lord who had appeared to him. The promise came with no outward evidence that his seed would possess it, yet he met it with unquestioning obedience and confident trust that God would guide and protect him among idolatrous nations. Wherever he pitched his tent he set up the altar beside it as his first work, and when he moved on he left it standing as a witness where others learned of God and came to worship Him. By that altar he gathered his household for morning and evening sacrifice and prayer, establishing the pattern for all who love God to set up worship wherever they make their home. The promise was not fully met when Israel occupied Canaan, since Abraham himself owned no land there but a burial place, for it embraces the whole earth to be inherited by Abraham and his seed through Christ freed from the curse of sin.

Appearance, Promise and Setting

The Lord appeared to Abram at Shechem, at his first encampment in the land of promise, and promised to give the land to his descendants. There he built his first altar in the land in response to the appearance. The appearance strengthened his faith that God was with him, despite the presence of the Canaanites and their idolatry.

The promise that his descendants would possess Canaan was a naked promise, given with no outward evidence to support it. Abraham met it with unquestioning obedience and striking faith and reliance on God, fully and sincerely complying with the conditions on his part and confident the Lord would faithfully perform His word. He trusted that God would keep His word wherever He led, and went wherever God indicated duty. He passed through wildernesses without terror and among idolatrous nations with the one thought that God had spoken and would guide and protect him in obeying His voice. That same faith and confidence in hearing and obeying the one Voice above all others is what God's messengers need today to move onward.

Abraham raised his first altar to Jehovah in Canaan at Shechem, in the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. That act made the spot sacred through its link with the fathers, so it was later chosen for Israel's solemn covenant service. It is a beautiful valley of green fields dotted with olive groves, watered by brooks from living fountains and gemmed with wild flowers, lying between barren hills. There the lower spurs of Ebal and Gerizim form a natural pulpit, with every word audible from one mountain to the other and room for a vast assemblage.

The promise did not reach its full fulfillment when Israel occupied Canaan. Abraham himself owned no land there beyond a purchased burial place, and he, Isaac, and Jacob did not receive the promised inheritance. The promise includes the whole earth, which Abraham and his seed will inherit through Christ as an inheritance freed from sin's curse.

Altar, Worship and Witness

In response to the appearance, Abraham built an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him, and building an altar for worship was his first work wherever he pitched his tent and settled as a pilgrim and stranger in a strange land. Wherever he camped he set the altar beside his tent for sacrifice and worship, and when his tent was removed he left the altar standing, then repaired it and worshiped again when pitching his tent anew. The altars that remained marked the places where he had worshiped and stood as a witness and living testimony, so that the roving Canaanites who came to them knew who had been there. Those who had learned of God through his life came to the altar to offer sacrifice to Jehovah and to worship the living God.

By the altar he called his household to worship with morning and evening sacrifice and prayer, training his family to love and fear God. His altar is the example of offering God morning and evening prayers. The altar is the pattern for all who profess to love God to take Jesus with them wherever they go and to establish worship wherever they make their home. Parents and ministers need God in their households, and this requires a reformation that is deep and broad. Providing a place to meet and worship God must be made first of everything to show respect for His holiness.

Every house should now, in this time of fearful peril, be a house of prayer with its own family altar erected. Honoring the Creator of heaven and earth includes obeying the fourth commandment by finishing business before sunset Friday, preparing Sabbath school lessons from the beginning of the week, and giving Sabbath time to Bible reading, Scripture explanation, and prayer. Children are to pray for the guardianship of angels through the night. Parents should make a hedge about their children by prayer, praying with full faith that God will abide with them and that holy angels will guard them and their children from Satan's cruel power. Where God is worshiped and truest love reigns, morning and evening prayer ascends as sweet incense and His mercies and blessings descend like the evening dew, with earnest seeking bringing mighty working for the conversion of children, while a prayerless home brings sadness and its children show the neglect because the fear of God is not before them.