Nowhere does it say that Abram had to build an altar at Bethel. In verse 7 God speaks to Abram and promises to give the land in which Abram is dwelling to him. In response Abram builds an altar to the Lord. Then, in verse 8 Abram moves from where he is dwelling in verse 7 to the place between Ai and Bethel. Then, Abram decides, on his own, to build the alter at Bethel and call on the Lord. The Bible doesn't tell us any more about this event as to why Abram was calling on the Lord.
It is useful to note that act of setting up an altar an calling on the name of the Lord is not an insignificant event. Altars like this open portals into the heavenly realm and created places where heaven and earth meet. Two generations later, in Genesis 28:10-21, Abram's grandson Jacob, comes to the same place, spends the night, and has a dream of an open heaven with a ladder from earth to heaven with angels descending and ascending and the Lord renewing the covenant promise to Jacob to be with him and give him the land of Canaan.
No comments:
Post a Comment