“There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!” ( Psalm 43: 4).
Cattle keepers are different from agriculturalists. They live unsettled lives migrating to and fro where ever pasture happens. This lifestyle of theirs is also common these days to people who move through various cities and nations depending on where the next job is. And, in moving, of course people take what is dearest to them.
As a cattle keeper Abraham led a migratory life. Now wherever he moved it was clear there was something uppermost on his mind. When the Lord appeared to him at Sechem, and gave the land to him “So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him” ( Gen 12:7). And when he later moved up the land, “There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord” ( vv 8).
This habit of his continued on as later when he split with his nephew Lot, “So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord” ( Gen 13: 18). When he obeyed God to offer up his only son Isaac for a sacrifice, “Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood” ( Gen 22:9).
Altars we can say were very much part of Abraham’s life. They served for him a place to worship God, praise and also intercede for favor. While we can say we live in a dispensation where we know, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” ( John 4:24), this does not hinder us from identifying and having altars to serve as a point of reference in our walk with God, just as Abraham did!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I come to your altar of praise and thanksgiving, as I pray for your favour upon me and the work of my hands, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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04/05/2024 - 05/05/2024 All day“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your good is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua, 1:9 NKJV)
Self doubt is common to any life. Sometimes it can be a result of a challenge one is about to face. After Moses had passed on, Joshua knew he was succeeding a giant to lead the people of Israel to the Promised land. When someone succeeds a great leader there is bound to be comparison, a bit of which might be unfair and disheartening. As we see in this case, the mission was yet to be completed. If anyone, Joshua wouldn’t mind some encouragement.
Joshua would receive the encouragement he needed from God. He was assured that God Himself had chosen him to succeed Moses and take on the uncompleted task. God assured Joshua through His word that He would be with him. Joshua had had enough experiences to know that God’s promise was unfailing. After Moses sent out the twelve spies to explore the land the Israelis were about to invade, he and Caleb were the only two who believed that because of faith in God they could overcome the giants they saw (Numbers 13).
Today, any of us may be facing a task no less overwhelming from our experience as Joshua faced. Perhaps we have taken on a momentous office. We could be setting on a journey of undetermined length. Maybe there is a challenge that has just risen up from nowhere and we seemed all submerged.
The words God gave Joshua, his servant, should be of encouragement to us. Just as God commanded Joshua not to be afraid or dismayed, may we walk in that confidence.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today whatever task I face, I look up to you, and hold on to the words you gave Joshua, not to be afraid or dismayed, for you are with me, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
