Genesis 13:4

Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first

Abram’s journey to the place of the altar

I. HIS LOVE TO THE LAND OF PROMISE, WHICH ALL THE ATTRACTIONS OF EGYPT COULD NOT EXTINGUISH OR OVERPOWER.

II. HIS VENERATION FOR THE PLACE WHERE GOD FIRST APPEARED TO HIM. There may be in the journey of life many inviting scenes, many fertile spots, but there is no place like the place of the altar. From this spot nothing that Egypt and the intermediate countries could offer was able to divert Abram. He came back prosperous, but his heart was unchanged. Time is apt to wear out the sense of mercies. Many in their travels leave religion behind them.

III. HIS CONCERN WHEREVER HE WAS TO ERECT HIS ALTAR. Wherever we go we must take our religion with us.

1. As a public profession.

2. As keeping up family religion. Wherever he had a tent God had an altar. (T. H. Leale.)

The place of the altar

1. It commemorated Divine communications (Genesis 12:7).

2. It expressed a practical faith. He took possession of the land, not by issuing a decree, etc., but by thus acknowledging God.

3. It attested an unchanging piety. He had grown rich (Genesis 13:2) but did not forget God (Deuteronomy 6:10).

4. It denoted a wise householder’s forethought. At the first he built the altar near the tent (Genesis 12:8). Now he pitched his tent near the altar. Man’s home and God’s house should be contiguous.

5. But these old altars are obsolete. It was intended for sacrifice. “Henceforth,” etc., comp. Hebrews 10:26, and Hebrews 9:11. This sacrifice final. No altar now needed. As the altar was a place of meeting, so the word is now applied to Christian sanctuaries, which are--

(1) places of sacred communion;

(2) of Divine worship;

(3) of Christian fellowship;

(4) of neighbourly gathering. (J. C. Gray.)