Gen 12:8 | KingComments | STEP | Abram’s life is characterized by a tent and an altar. He goes to the mountains, he seeks to be close to God. He pitches his tent between Bethel and Ai. His tent is a symbol of his pilgrimage. He is a traveler, someone who has no permanent residence and abode. He does not seek a place on earth. He expects the city of God ( ). His altar is a symbol of worship. A worshiper is a pilgrim and a pilgrim is a worshiper. The altar is for the LORD, and there he calls upon His Name (cf. ). To call upon the name of the LORD means to call Him by His name Yahweh and on that basis to approach Him in prayer and in worship. Abram honors God for Whom He is. He will have worshiped Him for the promises he has received from Him and of which he knows that they will be fulfilled by Him. By this God has among the Canaanites, who live in the land, a witness for His Name. “Bethel” means “house of God”. Thus in our time, the time of the New Testament, the church is called ( ). “Ai” means “ruin”. That is the actual situation of the house of God, the church. The Christian who is a pilgrim lives in the midst of the ruins of the Christian testimony of God on earth, while on the other side he tries to realize God’s thoughts about His church.

‏ Genesis 12:8

Abram: Tent and Altar

Abram’s life is characterized by a tent and an altar. He goes to the mountains, he seeks to be close to God. He pitches his tent between Bethel and Ai. His tent is a symbol of his pilgrimage. He is a traveler, someone who has no permanent residence and abode. He does not seek a place on earth. He expects the city of God (Heb 11:8-10).

His altar is a symbol of worship. A worshiper is a pilgrim and a pilgrim is a worshiper. The altar is for the LORD, and there he calls upon His Name (cf. Gen 21:33 ; Gen 26:23-25). To call upon the name of the LORD means to call Him by His name Yahweh and on that basis to approach Him in prayer and in worship. Abram honors God for Whom He is. He will have worshiped Him for the promises he has received from Him and of which he knows that they will be fulfilled by Him. By this God has among the Canaanites, who live in the land, a witness for His Name.

“Bethel” means “house of God”. Thus in our time, the time of the New Testament, the church is called (1Tim 3:15). “Ai” means “ruin”. That is the actual situation of the house of God, the church. The Christian who is a pilgrim lives in the midst of the ruins of the Christian testimony of God on earth, while on the other side he tries to realize God’s thoughts about His church.