Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. (Ex 20:24)

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In the Old Testament altars were considered sacred. We often read of the patriarchs building altars to the Lord. But why? Altars were used for many reasons. 

• Altars were a place of sacrifice and atonement. (Ex 20:24)
• Altars were places of worship. (Gen 12:7-9)
• Altars were used for prayer and to call upon God. (Gen 26:25)
• Altars were a place of encounter. (Gen 35:7)
• Altars were a place of forgiveness. (Mt 5:24)
• Altars were markers of the miraculous to remember the works of God. (Josh 4:6,7)
• Altars were a place for memorial. (Josh 4)

In Joshua, the Israelites moved one step closer to occupying the promised land, but something was in the way–the overflowing Jordan River. (Josh 3:15) Around harvest season, the Jordan River typically flooded the banks. Many theologians also believe the snow would melt off the nearby mountains and drain into the Jordan. It is expected to have risen at least 15 feet above the normal sea level. 

The priests were instructed to carry the ark of the covenant and lead the people into the Jordan to cross over. The minute the priests entered Jordan, the waters would part and they would walk on dry ground. Doesn’t this sound familiar?

Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River!  Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.  The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.” (Josh 3:11-13)

After Joshua leads the people to the other side, they are instructed to build two altars. One would go in the middle of the Jordan River, the other twelve stones would be in a pile on the other side of the Jordan where they camped. God had a special reason for this. 

Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. (Josh 4:21-23  also see Josh. 4:6,7)

This is the memorial altar. The stones served as a witness to another miraculous act of God. I can imagine fathers and mothers testifying of how God split the sea for them and they crossed over on dry ground. This generation who crossed the Jordan River with Joshua was not the same generation who passed through Egypt with Moses. They had never seen God part the Red Sea. God is a generational, covenant-keeping God. What He’s done for one generation, He can do for another. He parted the Jordan and the Israelites walked through on dry ground. He then instructed them to build an altar to remind the people of what happened that day. Then, He goes one step further and instructs, “When your children ask what this means, tell them what I did.” The altar of remembrance is not just about you. Your altar is for your children, and generations to come. What God has done before, He can do again. 

This verse became personal to me during a very hard time in my life years ago. One family member began to backslide. Another renounced the faith. I lost my job, developed sickness and needed medication, and our car broke down beyond repair. My husband lost his job and with it our health insurance. Someone I love battled mental illness and suicide. I was completely overwhelmed. Praying and pressing in became harder and harder. One day I was trying to pray and found no words or strength. I lay face down on the floor and just cried my eyes out. Then the Lord spoke clearly and said, “Get up and repair your altar!” This was a clear charge from God and I had a choice. I could stay on the floor in self pity and lament, or I could be obedient. 

That word refreshed me and led me on a long Bible study on altars. As I studied the different purposes of each one, the memorial altar came alive. God was reminding me that what He did for me, He could do again. What He did for me, He could do for my children. You and I have history with God, but when we are facing trials and suffering over extended periods of time, we tend to forget it. We need to remind ourselves of who God is and what he’s done. God healed me supernaturally from years of suffering from terrible migraine headaches. Couldn’t He do it again and heal my heart condition? Yes, He could and He did! In my early walk with God I ran from Him, and He was waiting for my return. He healed my backslidings. Couldn’t He do it for my family? Absolutely! 

I had to remind myself that God never changes. He is still as faithful now, as He was when I first gave my life to Him. He will continue to be, because that’s who He is. His faithfulness even extends to generations. 

The Hebrew word for remember is zakar. It means to recall, bring to mind, and make mention. It is also a verb, meaning it’s an action. Remembering begins in the mind, but encourages action. We are to share what God has done for us. When we do, we are testifying. If God did it for me, He can do it for you too.

Years later, I am facing difficult situations again, and I found a reminder. When my son was younger he used to collect rocks. He found a rock he liked and we built an altar…not literally. He wrote on his rock, everything God has brought him through. This was his reminder. Now that he’s older, he can recount all on his own the faithfulness of God and answers to prayer. (This is a great activity to do with your little ones or grandchildren.)

God promises that when we build Him an altar, whether it’s worship, prayer, or encounter, we cause His name to be remembered. When we cause His name to be remembered, He will come and bless us with His presence. (Ex 20:24)

If you are facing trials today, suffering, or anguish, build Him an altar. Although we do not construct literal altars today as they did in the Old Testament, the principles can very much still be applied to our lives daily. The altar of sacrifice was finished at Calvary. Jesus Christ was offered as the Lamb of God. He was the perfect one, offered once and for all in our place. Jesus was the sacrifice; the cross was his altar. We believers are instructed to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. (Rom 12:1) Every other altar has spiritual principles that we should practice.

If you have been a Christian for some time and find yourself having a difficult time praying, or entering his presence, let’s repair the altar.

Have you been feeling in a funk? Put some worship on. Get alone with God and repair your altar of worship with songs of thanksgiving, praise, and adoration.

Has your prayer life been waning? Remember what Jesus said, “Go to your prayer closet and shut the door.” Get alone with God and call upon the name of the Lord. Repair your prayer altar. If you are able to, do it as a family. Make it a family prayer altar. 

Are you having trouble forgiving someone who has wronged you? Maybe you need to “leave it at the altar” and go and if possible be reconciled.If we want forgiveness, we must be able to give forgiveness. That is biblical.

Every time God answers a prayer, record it so you can share with someone. When you share you stir your faith and encourage others. This is your memorial altar. Remind yourself (zakar) of who your God is. The eternal, unfailing One. I love Psalm 103; it’s a beautiful Psalm of praise causing us to remember the works of God. Read it, meditate on it, and stir up your faith once more. What God has done for you, He can do again! He can do it for your family too! Oh Lord, would you do it again?

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (Ps 103:1-5)

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)