Genesis 12:2

And you shall be a blessing

After Abraham built the altar between Bethel and Ai, he called on the name of the Lord. Abraham did not stay there for long but moved towards the South. Fast forwarding to Genesis chapter 13 we find out that Abraham acquired a lot of wealth and in verse 8, we see the character of Abraham. Abraham says to his nephew Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren”. What we learn here is that Abraham was a peaceful person. He did not want to get into strife with his nephew. When Abraham was called from Haran by God to the unknown land that God was going to show, he did not question God but simply obeyed Him.

During his journey to God’s call, he spent time thanking the Lord by building altars. Genesis 13:18 says, “Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord”. Mamre means vigor, strength and manliness. Hebron means fellowship. Here Abraham built the third altar. It is called the altar of peace. Through God’s peace we are strengthened. By this time Abraham experienced trials, protection and blessings from God. When Abraham left for Egypt to avoid the famine, he had to face the hardship of losing his wife Sarah to the Pharaoh. But after the Lord’s intervention, Pharaoh returned Sarah back to Abraham. Abraham learned not to fight or quarrel because he was walking according to the ways of God.

Abraham’s walk with God deepened as he was building the altars. A person who was an idol worshipper before God’s calling, and by the time he built the third altar deepened his relationship with God. Three times Abraham built an altar, thus becoming a blessing to God Himself. This is how we as born again believers need to walk with the Lord. Every place that we stop by even though an unworthy place our job is always to build the altar for God and offer praises to Him. Jesus ministry was similar to Abraham’s altar building. The Jewish people during the time of Jesus were far away from the ways of God. But because God loved them, He did not punish them to ruins. This is where our Lord Jesus setup His altar. The altar of cross. Right in the middle of chaos in Jerusalem. This altar of cross has become the focal point of every born again believer. If we choose this altar, then we too will become a blessing for God and in return God is going to use us to be a blessing to others. Our Lord Jesus became a blessing to His Father but also became a blessing to us by setting us free from our sins.

This is the true meaning of the two beams of the cross: The vertical beam of the cross represents, becoming a blessing to the Father in heaven and the horizontal beam of the cross represents becoming a blessing to our brothers and sisters and our loved ones. Let us all exalt the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is above all. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified for now and forevermore! Amen.

Maranatha!