The Call of Abraham – Part 2 – Abram, the Journey Begins – The Altars –

The Call of Abraham
Part 2

Abram, the Journey Begins
(Genesis 12:4, 5)

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:4)

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12:5)
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By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)

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FAITH is the First Step in the Journey of the Call of God

  Faith sets us on a journey that we cannot see. Our tomorrows are hidden in the shadows of faith. It is the hand of faith that guides us. God knows all the yesterday’s, todays and the tomorrows of man. This hand of faith is seen in Galatians 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. The fact that I am crucified with Christ can only be accomplished through faith, for it is through faith, that I am given the power of life IN Christ Jesus through the gift of faith for I live by the faith of Jesus Christ. He is the Author of my faith, and the Finisher and Completer of my faith.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

   There are many hidden truths in Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews. The Spirit of God in Hebrews 11:8 begins the life of faith in Abram. Faith is eternally linked to the call of God. Faith is the silent voice that quickens the heart, renews the soul, and gives new life to the spirit within. Again, we need to pay attention to verse 6 of Hebrews 11 that without faith it is impossible to please God. Man cannot find faith unless God presents faith to man as the call of God. The opposite of Hebrews 11:6 is found in 2nd Thessalonians 3:2 that not all men have faith. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
   This article of faith, this substance as a tangible article, brings us into the UNSEEN. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith as an article opens our eyes, heart and soul to the UNSEEN. We are transformed by faith in the hand of a Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus. In the New Testament the manifest image of the invisible God is presented to us in the image of the MAN Jesus Christ. It is this image who came to replace Adam with heavenly things in the name, Christ Jesus, in whom we have the anointed One with the oil of gladness.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)

   These are two facets of His glorious name of which there are many other facets. As the MAN Jesus Christ, He would bear the full weight of sorrow and grief and the sin of the whole world. He would vicariously become the Lamb of God as a sacrifice for sin. As the MAN Christ Jesus, He is the heavenly MAN, the anointed on the throne with His scepter of righteousness that upholds His finished work on the cross of Calvary. As He walked the world without blemish, without and within, as the MAN Jesus so, now we have a MAN in heaven without blemish, and without spot. He, Himself, is the purity of God’s righteousness. Faith (as an object) has to lay hold of Christ, for it is He who is worthy of that faith.
   Man has a difficult time with the invisible God Jesus Christ because ALL men live in a tangible world. This is why mankind prefers the tangible idols of gold and silver, stone and mortar, and wood and clay. At the top of the image of Nebuchadnezzar, there was gold, but the image in the land of Shinar was frail by the clay that was mingled in. Man has always been subject to his own false gods, for there is an inbred enmity that Adam brought into the world that turns the heart of man against the true God of heaven and earth. It is easy for mankind to design or to fantasize a false god, for it brings his fantasies to its own level of sin. This is the truth that in all the false gods of man, man has the power over his false gods, however, man (in his unbelief) is still subject to the God of heaven and earth.
   Faith is the gift of God. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8) Here again, we see that faith is the object that leads us to grace. This does not deny that grace is also the gift of God. What we see is that faith brings us to grace, and again, for without faith it is impossible to please God.

● But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
● So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

   Now to Abraham was the word given from the mouth of the Lord of glory, the manifest image of the invisible God, the Lord Jesus Christ. This image of the invisible God appeared to Abram while he was still in Mesopotamia and through the gift of faith Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. (Genesis 15:7)

   These two verses inform us a lot about faith for we have God reminding Abram that he came OUT of Ur of the Chaldees by faith. Wait a minute . . . I don’t see that! Well, Abel’s faith began BEFORE he offered the more excellent sacrifice. Enoch’s faith began BEFORE he pleased God. How does one please God? Through following the gift of faith one can please God. (Hebrews 11:6) We also have the path of faith given to us in Romans1:17. . . from faith to faith. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. The Lord of faith also increases our faith as we walk from faith to faith. Faith is a hard object, and this is why it is a gift of God. Man cannot reason out faith. Man cannot acquire faith except it is gifted to him by God. It can be as small as a mustard seed. It can also be a great stone cut out of a mountain crying Grace, grace unto it.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. (Zechariah 4:7) CLICK HERE for Zerubbabel. 

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God Calls out ‘Grace, Grace’ in the Journey of FAITH
through The Spirit of Grace

   In Zechariah Chapter 4, God reveals the UNSEEN in a marvelous manner. He reveals the Glorious Stone (which is Jesus Christ) bringing grace and truth to mankind brought out of heaven’s glory and then cut off by man, but then, God rolls back the stone and Christ is revealed as the resurrected Man crying Grace, grace unto the world. To His disciples, He instructed them to take that message of grace to the whole world. All the men and women of Hebrews Chapter 11 were given as examples of the empowering faith of God that the child or children of faith can discern others of like faith. In the record of Hebrews 11, we have the purity of faith, and the purity of the Spirit of grace. We have been warned, and the world has been warned not to despise the Spirit of grace.

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)

   This is the same Spirit of grace who has been sent down to comfort us and to lead us into all truth. The Spirit of grace is the Author of the book of Hebrews. He has brought the word of God to us and preserved it for all these centuries and even millenniums, God has never needed man to preserve His word. Since the beginning, God has been giving progressive revelation to mankind. He began with the Pentateuch by the pen of Moses, then He took His people into the lands by Joshua, then the Judges and Samuel, the kings, the prophets and the psalms, constantly giving man MORE light, but man loves darkness. Lastly, He sent the Heir of all things. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2) This Son of glory, the Son of His love, was revealed to mankind and the Spirit of grace, the Comforter, who is leading us into all truth is now here to glorify the Son of God.
   We have progressive revelation even in the New Testament. The entire prophetic book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is progressive revelation. The entire word of God is settled in heaven forever. LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89) Then in the next verse, 90 in the Old Testament, we see more about God and His word. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. Here is where faith comes in. It is God who is faithful. He is the One who KEEPS His word, but FAITH is the catalyst that causes the heart, soul and spirit to trust the very word of God. Faith allows us to see within the pages of Scripture the UNSEEN. As we have seen from Scripture, we are not born with faith. It is a GIFT from the ONE who holds and IS faith which enlightens us to the purity of the word of God. In Psalm 119, verse 140, we have the purity of the word of God. Thy word is very pure: therefore, thy servant loveth it. (Psalm 119:40) Now the faithful to Christ can take confidence in the purity of the word of God for Christ as the Eternal Word of God has put His seal of purity upon the word of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2)
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)

   This sequence in John Chapter 1 reveals a mystery of the fabric of the Godhead both within their INVISIBLE realm and the manifestation of the Son of God as the Authority and Author of the Word of God. There are more mysteries in the word of God then in the entire SEEN universe. When God unfolds these mysteries to the child of God, who is diligently seeking God’s goodness in the word of God, it is like looking through the eye of the most expensive telescope or even the Hubble spacecraft. Mankind cannot find the mysteries of this great creation for these mysteries are hidden; however, God has written a book and has revealed ALL His mysteries within the word of God. But man refuses to seek the mysteries of God through His word. There are still many mysteries even inside of man himself that so-called science has not yet discovered. Science cannot describe the soul, nor the spirit that is within mankind. Science doesn’t have a clue to the invisible that is ALL around them. They like to use the word ‘discover,’ when man cannot discover a thing unless and until it is revealed by God. A good example about man’s discovery’s: how many times have you heard man say that ‘man discovered fire.’ Man did not discover fire. God showed Adam and Eve fire twice. Once: in the sacrifice of the lambs, and the second time was when the flaming sword kept them from returning to the garden. God has revealed the fires of heaven to mankind.
   Twice it is mentioned in Ezekiel 28 that Lucifer, BEFORE his fall walked upon the stones of fire in heaven on high. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Ezekiel 28:13) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:14) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (Ezekiel 28:15) By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:16) God not only revealed the mystery of fire to Adam and Eve, but now in our age, He has revealed the hidden things of God to us. That which was from the beginning, is NOW in our presence.

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The Journey of FAITH
and the Mysteries of God in the UNSEEN and SEEN Worlds

   In Psalm 139, God gives the very thoughts to man. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17) In Philippians 2:5 the Spirit of God enlightens us with the mind of Christ. Yes, IT IS GOD who gives thoughts of Himself to the ones who have submitted themselves to the mind of Christ. These thoughts NEVER stop coming, great is the sum of them in the secret places of the most high. Do you want to discover (as so many are willing to overlook) the mysteries revealed in the word of God?
   In Psalm 139 we see our soul in the lowest parts of the earth BEFORE we were conceived. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (Psalm 119:15) It is in the lowest parts of the earth that we find The Great Creator of all things working and designing each and every fiber of our being. As He designs our being, He KNOWS all our parts, and He writes them in His book. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 119:16) This verse goes with Hebrews 11:3, Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Are you still with me? We come from the UNSEEN. We are brought forth by the word of God. We are brought into a world of the SEEN. In all the history of mankind, we are ALL separate individuals in God’s creation. Everyone has their name and the substance of their being written in God’s word as a record of every person born of a woman.
    The mystery of the SPARK OF LIFE is held by God, and at the instant of our physical birth we are made known unto this world by the energizing quickening FORCE of LIFE. But God has KNOWN us, even in the lowest parts of the earth. Through the natural birth, as a descendant of Adam, we come into this world with a tarnished soul and overthrown by sin, so, God, again in the mysteries of His creation, HAS to create within us a NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST JESUS.

   In this process, He RESTORES our soul so that we can walk in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23) Man cannot understand these things without the Spirit of Christ. In our new birth as the children of God, we have one God and Father of the invisible. We have one Savior, the Son of God, Jesus Christ in the invisible. Yet, we walk in the SAME spirit of faith as Abram. All the children of faith, throughout time, have known that it is our God who holds our breath, and His finger is on every beat of our heart. The Spirit of God confirms the truth of the WORD OF GOD within us so that we can say, ‘Thy word is true from the beginning‘. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. (Psalm 119:160) In this segment of Psalm 119 called RESH, the psalmist cries out because of his afflictions as he meditates on the God of his salvation. Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes (Psalm 119:155). Through the eyes of faith, the psalmist sees the wicked who have refused the salvation of God, and in their darkness, salvation is kept from them. As the psalmist lived in the world of the wicked, so through the pages of time, the wicked are KNOWN in EVERY generation. By the Spirit of God, Paul wrote of the wicked in the book of Galatians. Chapter 1, verse 4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. This verse has NOT changed, and it is still relevant and contemporary in our age and day. In our present evil world, EVIL and wicked men abound. As Paul declared in his age and day, of a present evil world, TODAY each and every child of God is called to walk in this present evil world and to KEEP themselves unspotted from this evil world.
   As Abram walked with the God of glory, we ALSO have come forth in a world of idolatry and wickedness. In John’s first epistle, he declared the habitation of the wicked of this world is unified in the wickedness of this world.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1st John 5:18)
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1st John 5:19)
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1st John 5:20)
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (1st John 5:21)

   As Abram walked through this world, there were no great cathedrals that he could attend. There were no religious services of the masses that he could find refuge in. He walked ALONE with God through a world of idolatrous torment. Everywhere that Abram looked was the idolatry of man, but through FAITH, Abram had SEEN the invisible God. This world is no different from the world of Abram. It is STILL a present evil world filled with all forms of the wickedness of mankind. BUT, through FAITH, one can walk with God, and please God, thus, God allows that person to SEE the invisible image of Christ in one’s heart, and mind, and soul. The Christian (who is born of the Spirit of God) is instructed to keep themselves UNSPOTTED from this world, and to walk in their journey through the holy word of God.

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The Journey of Abram’s FAITH
Parallels Every Journey of Faith

   As Abram left Haran, notice this that he left the place of death. We have two elements of death: Haran was where Terah, he that is earthly, was buried, and to show the far-reaching hand of death, we are reminded of the father of Lot: Haran in his death. God is showing us two phases of our own death. We DIE to our old man that the NEW man may live in Christ Jesus, and we also see that when we have finished our course and the race that is set before us, we will lay down our bodies in the place of death in Haran. When we become a child of God we become part of the UNSEEN, and the new creation in Christ Jesus belongs to a new world of righteousness. FAITH is the supporting factor that leads us from Haran (death) into the land of Canaan.

As a side note: Nahor, Abram’s brother did not leave his habitation in Ur of Chaldees. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (Genesis 11:26) Now these [are] the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. (Genesis 11:27) He remained in the land of idolatry without God.   

   Later in the history of Abraham, Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for his son Isaac, who was born as a supernatural seed. The servant returned bringing a supernatural bride for Isaac. Do you see how God works? Each and every member of the bride of Christ has been called OUT of this present evil world of wickedness filled with idolatry to be part of the Body of Christ, to share the eternal glories with the Son of God. The Master reveals the work of the Holy Ghost through that servant of Abraham to GO INTO the wicked idolatrous world and find a bride for Isaac, who was born of the Spirit. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. (Galatians 4:28) But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (Galatians 4:29) We will return to this subject later when the journey of the bride begins, but for now . . .  End of Side Note.

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The Journey of Abram from Haran into Canaan

   So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:4) Abram goes into the land of Canaan. Notice in Genesis 12:5, the words of the Holy Spirit. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12:5) This was definitely a new venture into the FAITH of Abram. We should remember that Abram was seventy-five years old at that time. Today, if God asked you to follow Him and obey Him at the age of seventy-five when Abram left Haran, would you say, I am too old. Here is the fountain of youth that Juan Ponce de León failed to discover. Out of weakness, or old age, God can make you strong in the Lord. Abram still had many battles to face in overcoming the wicked of the world. Also notice that God informs us that the Canaanite was then in the land. Who were the Canaanites? They were the descendants of Ham. They were the chief instigators of idolatry and wickedness . . . and they were IN the land, and over and over throughout the history of the seed of Abraham, we are reminded that the Canaanite WAS IN THE LAND. The Canaanite has fought against giving up their self-claimed territory to God. Man is denied the possession of the earth by God. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1 proclaims God’s RIGHTS of ownership. There is no other claim of ownership of land. Man lost the right of dominion over the world, when Adam brought sin into the world.
   The Canaanites had claimed possession of the entire territory and when Abram CAME into the land, God transferred the illegal Title Deeds from the Canaanites to the legal Title Deeds to the seed of Abram. However, the Canaanites disputed the rights of the land throughout the entire history of the seed of Abram and the nation of Israel. But it is no different today. Every country has a name; every city and hamlet are possessed by legal deeds and rights of mankind. You see, even at this day, the Canaanite is still in the land.
    The dispute that first took place in heaven between God and Lucifer, was over the RIGHTS of GOD of possession. Lucifer was a merchant of merchandising; he had claimed things there were not his to claim. Although Lucifer lost the battle of ownership in heaven when he was cast down to the ground, he continues the battle over the ownership of the earth.
    The Canaanites were tools of Satan to deny the RIGHTS of God to give the land to whomever He would, which was the seed of Abraham. Even in our age, the spirit of the Canaanite lives in the ILLEGAL territory falsely called ‘Palestine.’ They are the continuation of Lucifer’s fight against the seed of Abraham. This battle will continue until the LORD Himself comes to possess His land, and He will declare for once and for all that The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
    As we move into the realm of Christianity, Christianity was NEVER given a land, Christianity was NOT given a material world, Christianity is a mystery. It is a spiritual existence within an evil world, not to possess the earth, but through the preaching of the gospel, CONDEMN that which denies God and ejects God’s possession of the earth. We have no permanent dwelling on this earth. We have a spiritual house, which is in heaven. All the turmoil of religion, paganism, philosophy, intellectualism, and spiritualism of the devil are still attempting to claim ownership of the earth for themselves.
    . . . . and into the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12:5) Abram CAME into the land . . . NOT ‘WENT’ BUT CAME’ . . . The Spirit of God carefully plants the correct phrase and the perfect word every time! Think! Why the word ‘CAME’ and not the word ‘WENT?’ I will leave you to ponder on the spiritual significance of ‘CAME.’
   Hebrews 11:8 informs us that, By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Notice how this verse ends . . . Abram went out, not knowing whither he went. This is the realm of FAITH. It is following the footprints of FAITH WITHOUT KNOWING where we are going but always knowing the presence of the Lord and His guiding hand through FAITH.

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The First Altar in the Land Built by FAITH
Through God’s Perfect Order

   The continuation of the Canaanite in the land is the witness to us of the never-ending battle of Satan against the children of God. This was a BIG land as Abram passed through as a stranger. At Sichem on the plain of Moreh surrounded by the Canaanites God appeared a second time to Abram.

● And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. (Genesis 12:6) And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. (Genesis 12:7)
● Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? (Deuteronomy 11:30)

    I remind you again that the Canaanites where the descendants of Ham. Out of Ham came the one world system of Nimrod, and the tower of Babel. God interrupted this system by confounding their language and scattering the nations. However, the Canaanites still existed. If you go back to Genesis 10:15, you will see the beginning of the descendants of Canaan.

And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, (Genesis 10:15)
And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, (Genesis 10:16)
And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, (Genesis 10:17)
And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. (Genesis 10:18)
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. (Genesis 10:19)
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations. (Genesis 10:20)

    The Canaanites, at the time of Abram, were a huge clan of many tribes under one title called the Canaanites. They possessed the land of Canaan establishing a territory consumed with idolatry, and into this land of many gods came a stranger by the name of Abram. The LORD appeared to Abram a second time. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. (Genesis 12:7) It was there that the LORD, through Abram, established the worship of ONE GOD the POSSESSOR of heaven and earth. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:8)
   This was THE FIRST ALTAR SINCE the altar of Noah in Genesis 8:20. And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. This altar of Abram came after the second appearance of the LORD. This altar was built of stone, not bricks made by man. It was on THAT altar that those stones felt the heat of the sacrifice. This first altar constructed by stones endured the flames from the burnt offering and was an example of the TRUE STONE which is Christ.
   Let us follow the altar. In 1st Samuel 6, we have the supernatural LORD working behind the scenes moving the enemy of Israel, the Philistines in the land of Gaza, to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. (1st Samuel 6:14) The men of Bethshemesh offer a burnt offering on a great stone . . . ONE GREAT STONE. In verse 18, it is called the great stone of Abel. The Spirit’s link back to Abel is to reveal the continued sacrifice, the more excellent sacrifice, since the foundation of the world and showing the one tried Stone through history which is Christ, truly, the Great Stone of all the redeemed.

● And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. (1st Samuel 6:14)
And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD. (1st Samuel 6:15)
● And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. (1st Samuel 6:18)

   We know that the God of creation is capable of keeping the stone of Abel through the flood, and placing it IN the field of Joshua, and remember that Joshua means Savior. These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. (Numbers 13:16) Joshua was of Bethlehem, a Bethshemite. The Holy Spirit of God places all the dots for us to connect . . . The GREAT STONE of ABEL . . . THE ARK OF THE LORD WAS SET DOWN. . . IN THE FIELD of JOSHUA (the Savior) . . . OF BETHLEHEM. All this fits in with Hebrews Chapter 9, for it closes this way, that Christ shall appear a second time without sin unto salvation. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)
   In 1st Peter 2: 6 -8, we find the perfect stone that completes the mystery of the Stone of Abel.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1st Peter 2:6)
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1st Peter 2:7)
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1st Peter 2:8)

    Back now to the land of Canaan – and Abram, heir to the promises of God. This first altar in the land is mentioned but NOT described. However, since the LORD is so articulate concerning the altar of sacrifice, we have to believe that THIS altar was made and described by the God of glory. Abram did not build an altar on chaos, but the construction had to speak of His eternal purpose, for God knows the end from the beginning, and the beginning to the end. So it is therefore no great thing for God to show and to describe the altar and the proper order of the stones, and how many stones would be needed to build this altar. Biblical history is so interesting because it paints a picture of mankind from his beginning to the present. Thus, God, knowing the history of man, interjects epics in the history of man to show past, present and future truths.

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. (1st Kings 18:30)
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: (1st Kings 18:31)
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. (1st Kings 18:32)
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. (1st Kings 18:33)
And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. (1st Kings 18:34)
And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. (1st Kings 18:35)
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. (1st Kings 18:36)

   Through these verses, we see an eternal formula for the altar and the divine sacrifice. The Holy Spirit takes us back to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob revealing the twelve stones for the altar according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. Although Jacob was still in the bowels of the earth (Psalm 139) when God appeared the second time to Abram, the all knowing God of glory, provided a specific plan and a unique purpose in the first altar that Abram built. As the Tabernacle in the days of Moses, all the details were given to Abram: the twelve stones, the wood in perfection order, and the bullock cut into pieces and laid upon the wood. In 1st Kings 18, God revealed a set order according to His determinate counsels and foreknowledge. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)

—–◆—–
The GREAT CORNERSTONE of FAITH
and THE ALTAR in the Journey of FAITH

   From the beginning, the Godhead saw the end. Yes, the cross was before the Son of God, from the beginning. As Christ laid the foundation of the world, He also in Himself laid the cornerstone of salvation IN Himself as the Lamb of God. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) It is the book of life of the Lamb SLAIN from the foundation of the world. The cornerstone of salvation IS the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Author and the Finisher of all FAITH. And the only way that we can receive the righteousness of God is by the FAITH of the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. FAITH is the foundation of righteousness, which is IN Jesus Christ.
   In Romans 9, verse 30, the Spirit of God informs us that there is a righteousness IN Christ which is of faith. What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. In Hebrews 11:7 Noah became the heir of the righteousness which is by FAITH. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. This gift of faith is the key that opens the door of righteousness which is IN the Lord Jesus Chris for through FAITH He is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1st Corinthians 1:30) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1st Corinthians 1:31) As the Creator, the manifest image of the Son of God was the beginning of the creation of God. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14) In this claim of His creatorial role, He backs it up, for He is the ONLY faithful and true witness of God. He is the Author of the beginning. For in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the WORD was God. He makes claim to all creation, past, present and future. And these sayings are true from the One who is all truth, for grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY faithful One, and He is the TRUE WITNESS of God.
   As God is Spirit, (John 4:24) it was GOD IN the beginning who manifested Himself in an image of the invisible God. Before Hebrews 1:3, Christ stood in the darkness and through the word of His power, CALLED the worlds into existence. His voice of truth created out of darkness all the wonders that we see today. He is the One who gave Light to all of God’s creation with the words, Let there be light, and there was light. He saw that the light was good because that Light was a reflection of His glory and would be a reflection of His glory throughout the whole world as long as time existed. In the fullness of time, when Christ came into the world, He expressed of Himself as the LIGHT of the world, and that ONLY HE had the power to call men out of darkness into His marvelous light.

● As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)
● All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)
● That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (John 1:10)

   In John Chapter 1, Christ came unto His own, the nation of Israel, with all the authority of the seed of Abraham and the descendant king David. Christ was their Savior, and they would not receive Him. He came as a Light unto man that the whole world may know Him, yet the world knew Him not because man in Adam loved the darkness and hated the Light, who was Christ. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:20)    As the Light is the substance of FAITH so darkness is the substance of evil. In the days of Abram, he was surrounded by the darkness. There was a spiritual wickedness and darkness over the entire land of Canaan. But Abram had seen the LIGHT of the glory of God and he traveled by FAITH IN that Light. As he built the altar, we find a second time in the book of Genesis that man called on the name of the Lord. The first time was Enosh, the son of Seth, when man began to call on the name of the Lord.

—–◆—–
The TWELVE STONES of the Altar
Eternally Memorialized in the Promises that God Gave to Abram

   God established His everlasting care for the nation of Israel through the twelve stones of Abram’s altar. As Abram offered a burnt offering, which would be consistent for the nation of Israel for it spoke of the great burnt offering on the cross of Calvary, who was the Lord Jesus Christ. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2) When we follow the theme of the twelve stones, we will find that in the days of Joshua, as he prepared the people to enter into the land when they crossed over the Jordan river that God prepared an everlasting memorial for the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob.

● And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. (Joshua 4:3)
● Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. (Joshua 4:7)
And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. (Joshua 4:8)
And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day. (Joshua 4:9)

   Twelve stones were set at the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant. This was a unique situation. These were not just twelve random stones. Joshua chose a man from each tribe, and that man CARRIED his stone on his shoulder as a symbol of God’s everlasting care for the nation of Israel. Even today, there would be no nation of Israel if they were not under the care of God. World opinion has never been in their favor. Nevertheless, God neither slumbers nor sleeps as He broods over the nation waiting for the grand day when He will come and receive them unto Himself.
   The twelve stones on the bank of the river Jordan would be a reminder to the children of Israel of the great day when in God’s care they crossed over the Jordan. The twelve stones out of the Jordan and placed in the land signified that Israel as a whole, had been gathered together IN the land to fulfill the promises that God made to Abram. The twelve stones that were placed IN the Jordan were the fulfillment of God’s promises in a futuristic manner when God will claim Israel OUT of the great tribulation. He will raise her from beneath the waters of sin and establish Israel as His beloved upon the earth. In these two groups of stones born on the right shoulders of every man from his tribe signified God’s continuous care through the history of Israel. Although Israel is set aside at this present time, God is STILL working behind the curtain of history to fulfill each and every prophecy that was given to man. In these twelve stones we have the visible on the banks of the river Jordan and we have the invisible beneath the cold waters of the Jordan waiting for the touch of the God of glory as He would fulfill all righteousness. God is able not only to keep Israel but to keep each and every child of God from falling. In the last epistle in the Bible, the epistle of Jude, God reminds us of His faithfulness to each of His children.

● Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 1:24) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:25)
● And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:19) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:31)

   May we rest in our FAITH in the words of John the Baptist as he spoke to the priests and Levites by the river Jordan as he was baptizing the people of Israel.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (Matthew 3:8) And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Matthew 3:9)

   Throughout Israel’s history, when a child asked their father, ‘what meanth these twelve stones?’ it was repeated in their ears that, these twelve stones represent the nation of Israel on the day that God brought them over the Jordan into the land. Man may forget, but God never forgets. As the Lord Jesus is the faithful and true witness He is also the UPHOLDER of all the promises of God. Also, in the statement of John the Baptist, we see the work of the invisible God behind the curtain of history calling His elect both Jew and Gentile out of the dark human existence of sin. Here the same God of glory that appeared to Abram is the same God of glory that will raise up children through the foundation stone which is the Lord Jesus Christ. The beginning of the creation of God upholds the twelve sons of Jacob in the blessing of Abram or Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When God declared out of Abraham that He would build a great nation, the Lord saw the complete history of that nation through Isaac, through Jacob, through the sons of Jacob, through the kings of Israel and all the suffering that the nation would endure because of their disobedience.
    Think of it . . . what is revealed through the twelve stones on the bank of the Jordan. God KEPT those twelve stones through millenniums. The nation of Israel couldn’t even keep their national sovereignty, for at that point they were under the iron boot of Rome. They had no sovereign government. They were a failed nation under the complete control of another nation: Rome. Yet, God was still keeping a remnant for Himself. Again, we need to be reminded that these twelve stones represented the twelve sons of Jacob . . . that, He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
   In our contemporary age of computers and AI, it is possible to overlay great epics of history one on top of another to give us a transparent history of mankind. From the beginning when God spoke the worlds into existence, He saw this great historical panorama. He saw the seconds, and the minutes and the hours. He saw the days, the months, the years. He saw the centuries and the millenniums and He also saw ALL the works of man. Because we are temporal people we cannot step into the UNSEEN, it is our physical bodies that restrict us in this temporal world, and because we are temporal people it is difficult for our minds to understand our God who sees all and knows all and has presented all that is good for mankind. And yet, man, because of sin, cannot comprehend the God of the invisible. When God spoke to Jeremiah in 1:4-7, he informed Jeremiah that He knew him while he was yet in his mother’s womb, and before Jeremiah took his first breath God had already appointed him as a prophet to the nations.

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (Jeremiah 1:4) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5) Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. (Jeremiah 1:6) the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. (Jeremiah 1:7)

   Jeremiah was the perfect example of the truths found in Psalm 139. Again, read verses 13-18 and also read a very overlooked portion of Scripture that is found in John 1, verse 6. John the Baptist was a man SENT by God, as God KNEW Jeremiah before he was in the womb, so also John was a man marked by God for a specific purpose. It was John’s glory to introduce to the world the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the whole world. All these men were surrounded by the great gift of FAITH. Even Moses was SENT by God, for in Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews, we read that as his parents looked upon their child, they saw that he was a proper child. The world would call Moses a child of destiny, but the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 11:23 shows us that the parents of Moses exercised FAITH, for the verse begins with the words BY FAITH, then there is a pause and the Holy Spirit takes another breathe and then we see that when Moses was born of God he was in the same camp as Jeremiah and others of faith. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. (Hebrews 11:23) His godly parents saw that Moses was a proper child. We also understand that the Spirit of God hovered over the life of Moses. It was God hiding Moses from the present evil world so that wickedness could not touch him. Hiding Moses in the house of Pharaoh, his enemy, and blinding Pharaoh to the presence of a Hebrew in his own house. This is the work of the Holy Ghost when He places you where your enemy cannot see you, even though you are in his presence.
   As John the Baptist said, God is able to raise up children to Abraham . . . from these twelve stones. How reassuring this is to the Christian. Hebrews 11 gives us all the facets of FAITH with different men and women, of different times and spheres. Their FAITH eclipses the history of mankind because they were called out of the darkness through FAITH into God’s wonderful life in Jesus Christ.

   When Elijah first viewed the altar that had been torn apart and the stones scattered, he knew the condition of Israel that they had wandered away from the Law and precepts of God. Those scattered stones spoke of the heart of the nation, thus, God sent His prophet to show His faithfulness. Elijah was a man of FAITH, and in that faith he took those twelve stones and placed them in perfect order. I believe they were set in the perfect order of birth as they represented the oldest to the youngest. Each one of those stones symbolized each of the sons of Jacob according to their final reckoning in God’s view.

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (Revelation 7:3)
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:4)
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. (Revelation 7:5)
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. (Revelation 7:6)
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. (Revelation 7:7)
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. (Revelation 7:8)
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7:9)
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (Revelation 7:10)

   In Abram’s altar, the God of glory saw the twelve sons of Revelation 7 with the seal of God showing the foreknowledge of HIM in their foreheads, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Notice the seal of God is NOT ON their foreheads but IN their foreheads. This is NOT a mark of the world, but the mark of the Spirit within. Within their foreheads is the presence of the golden mitre and their lives are captivated by Holiness unto the Lord. All hundred and forty and four thousand are sent by the God of glory. These hundred and forty-four thousand are symbolic of God’s Israel. They have come to be a witness of the truth, but we must remind ourselves that the Canaanite is still in the land. But there will come a glorious day when the spirit of the Canaanite will no longer be seen in the house of the Lord.

Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 14:21)

   All the world of evil and wickedness will be expelled from the house of the Lord. Jerusalem will be that holy city unto the Lord of glory. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Joel 3:17)
   The twelve stones by the river Jordan and the twelves stones beneath the waters also speak of the heavenly promises that were given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The heavenly Jerusalem is a city of purity where God will not allow any defilement into this heavenly city, which is referred to as ‘the mother‘ of all the redeemed. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)

● And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)
● Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:15)
● But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)

   Well, I know that some have left the path and are headed home . . . but for YOU who are called by His name . . . He who is anointed with the oil of gladness, the tried Stone, the polished Stone, the foundation Stone, the Stone most precious, the Jasper Stone, the Head of the corner, the beginning of the creation of God, the great I AM, within . . . I Jesus . . .

● I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
● Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56)
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (John 8:57)
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)

—–◆—–
Those who Previously Journeyed from
FAITH to FAITH
KNEW the REALITY OF FAITH

    The reason for spending time on the altar of Abram is to enlighten you, the reader, that these men understood the need of their own soul. They had been instructed by the God of glory so that they would not remain ignorant of the path of truth and grace. Although God had given promises to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, heirs of the same promise, in verse 10 of Hebrews Chapter 11, they LOOKED for a city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. How could they LOOK unless they were told of the great city and KNEW that city could be found and that the builder of that city was the beginning of the creation of God. There is much truth to be found in the actual belief of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in what they saw and in what they understood by FAITH. In verse 13, the promises of God were a reality of their FAITH, for the Spirit of God informs us that having seen the promises afar off and were persuaded of them . . . well, who persuaded them? The words out of the mouth of God persuaded them, and they embraced those words and as us, confessed that they strangers and pilgrims on the earth. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)
   Although Abraham completely understood the promises of God, his heart was NOT in the land, but in the heavenlies for he desired a better country, that is a heavenly country. Wherefore, God is NOT ashamed to be called their God. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob understood that God had prepared for them a city, and that those promises were heavenly and in some ways more real in the hearts than the earthly promises to the seed of Abram.
   What is unlocked in Hebrews Chapter 11 is the very understanding of the knowledge of God by ALL these men and women of FAITH. The Knowledge of TRUTH and FAITH did not begin with the New Testament. Knowledge of TRUTH and FAITH began with the beginning of the creation of God, Jesus Christ.
   The altar of Abram had twelve stones. Those twelve stones had an unlimited future. The altar that Elijah rebuilt had twelve stones, one for every son of Jacob. The twelve stones beside the river Jordan, and the hidden twelve stones beneath the cold waters of the Jordan were ALL prepared to reveal the Son of righteousness with healing in His wings. When Christ came to the Jordan to be baptized to His own death on the cross, John forbad Christ’s request to be baptized.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (Matthew 3:13)
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (Matthew 3:14)
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (Matthew 3:15)
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16)
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17)

    John desired to be baptized BY the Lord of glory, BUT this was NOT the purpose of the Lord, A lot took place at the Jordan where John was baptizing. First, the twelve stones on the bank were revealed; thus showing the EXACT spot that the nation of Israel PASSED over Jordan in the days of Joshua. It was at THAT EXACT spot where Christ proclaimed to John that it was up to them to fulfill all righteousness . . . : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
    John the Baptist, as a witness of the Old Testament, being the LAST PROPHET of the Old Testament and Christ, the rising sun of the New Testament, were joined together to fulfill ALL righteousness. In the foreknowledge of God, John was SENT . . . for both his father and mother were descendants of Aaron, the first high priest of the nation of Israel. It was John, through his genealogy who had the right to be the high priest. So, what do we have before us? We have the high priest of the earth in John the Baptist, and we have the High Priest from heaven in Melchisedec (Hebrews 7)  the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ represented the Ark of the Covenant, for IN HIM would be established (by His death upon the cross and His shed blood) a NEW COVENANT of grace and truth as we see in Hebrews Chapters 9 and 10.
  Here was the Lamb SLAIN from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) Christ was there to fulfill ALL righteousness. He entered the waters of Jordan at the EXACT place where the feet of the priests stood as they held the Ark of the Covenant. That was in the days of Joshua, but, now, a greater than Joshua was there. It was needful for Christ to identify with ALL of Israel: past, present and future by placing His feet on the twelve stones BENEATH the waters of the Jordan as a FULFILLMENT and ASSURANCE of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. How many times does God see these three names and the promises given to these three individuals? Here within the cold waters of the river Jordan, ALL the promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were fulfilled yesterday, today and forever. How many times in the Old and New Testament does God draw these three men together through His eternal promises by FAITH.

Side Note: The Three Names of the Men of Faith
Twice in the New Testament: Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob
●And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11)
●There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out. (Luke 13:28)
The only difference being the word AND placed before the name of Isaac.
Five times in the Old Testament: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
● Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. (Deuteronomy 1:8)
● Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:5)
● Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin: (Deuteronomy 9:27)
● And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet. (2nd Kings 13:23)
● Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, [so] that I will not take [any] of his seed [to be] rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them. (Jeremiah 33:26) (Galatians 3:16) ◆ End of Side Note.

—–◆—–
The CALL of FAITH
to the Author of ALL FAITH
in the Journey of FAITH

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)

   In Hebrews 11:8, it is BY FAITH that Abraham was CALLED. In our contemporary age, the world church of religion has negated the CALL of God. They have replaced it with church membership. The altar of God has been replaced by a pulpit of brass, and FAITH has been replaced by the collection plate. It is the darkness of the heart of man that has twisted the knowledge of God into a temporal existence in the emptiness of man’s philosophy of a God that man cannot comprehend. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:37) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
  There is neither enough gold nor silver, nor precious stones to acquire peace with God. The turmoil and the thundering and the tempest of sin has placed an impregnable wall between God and mankind. There is ONLY ONE precious Stone, the polished Stone, the foundation Stone, the jasper Stone, the head of the corner of the foundation, and this STONE is the God of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ. O altar, O altar . . . .
    These twelve stones of the altar of Abram have a direct connection to the twelve stones, the foundation stones of the city of our God. The first stone is a jasper stone, and in this stone, we see the righteousness of God in its purity, that there is no blemish without and no blemish within. This jasper stone symbolizes Christ Himself upon the throne of His righteousness as the purity of LIGHT and LIFE. The jasper stone is also the head of the corner, the foundation stone.

● And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; (Revelation 21:19)
● Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)

   As we read the two epistles of Peter, why do you think Peter centers ALL things IN Jesus Christ? Peter does NOT take a position of preeminence over the Church of God. Instead, he presents to us the precious STONE which is Christ.

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1st Peter 2:3)
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1st Peter 2:4)
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1st Peter 2:95
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1st Peter 2:6)
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1st Peter 2:7)
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1st Peter 2:8)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1st Peter 2:9)

   Peter was in complete obedience to the gospel SENT down by the Holy Spirit of God GIVING CHRIST the PREEMINENCE, and rightly so, for Peter was obeying the command of the Lord . . . Feed my sheep.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16)
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

   When reading the two epistles of Peter, there is NO evidence that Peter thought more highly of himself nor exalted himself above Christ. Peter’s doctrine of Christ being the Cornerstone of the Church was given purposely so that man would NOT hold Peter higher than he actually was. Peter was one of the twelve apostles, ALL twelve were given the SAME commission, to go into all the world and to preach the gospel. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2nd Peter 1:16) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (2nd Peter 1:17) It was Peter’s eyes that beheld the majesty of Christ on the holy mount.
  It is man and his organizations that have NO spiritual life within who always desire the preeminence and the chief seats at the table. They must have the first seat on the bus, and they desire the praises of man from man in a false humility and this station in life betrays their own darkened souls. In Matthew 12:30, the Lord draws a line in the sand, as Moses, He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Isn’t this simple verse easy to understand? We get the same understanding in Colossians 1:18 that Christ should have the preeminence in ALL things. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. In the second part of Matthew 12:30, we see the scatterers, the deceivers, and the disputers of grace and truth. We also see a formula that NO MAN can gather without the true Stone which is Christ. We live in a world of scatterers who draw men and women to themselves and to their organizations and to their religious philosophies, thus scattering seekers and those of faith AWAY from the Person of Christ.
  There is NO name in the entire universe, in all of creation that is more precious to God the Father than the name of JESUS. The entire Bible has been given to lead us to ALL the glories of the ONE and ONLY SON of GOD, the Lord Jesus Christ. The simple hymn, ‘Take the World, but Give Me Jesus,’ expresses the heart of all of the true redeemed. It is Christ who is our song in a dark sinful world. When Abram beheld the Lord of glory, the God of glory, the glory in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, there before Abram was the beginning of the creation of God.

—–◆—–
The PURPOSE of the Altar Between Bethel and Hai
and the Altar at mount Moriah

   This second appearance of the God of glory to Abram was around the altar. The altar of sacrifice is introduced, and we see in the life of Abraham a progressive revelation that God was revealing to Abraham as he walked from faith to faith, God gave Abram a broader vision more than the world itself. There was the image of the invisible standing before Abram. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. (Colossians 1:15) First, we have the APPEARANCE of the invisible god. Then we have an earthen altar of STONE to reveal the need of man and to embrace ALL the promises of God IN Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. To those of FAITH today, as we study the life of Abram, it expands our knowledge of John 8:56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
   Abraham REJOICED to see the fullness of time, to see the Lord’s day, to understand the work of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. You just do not build an altar without knowing its course and purpose. This was an altar of SACRIFICE, and one had to understand the PURPOSE of that SACRIFICE. As we later see with Isaac and Abraham on mount Moriah, the altar, the wood laid in perfect order, and Isaac was bound and placed on the altar. As Abraham raised the knife, a voice called out of heaven . . . Abraham, Abraham. CLICK HERE for the four altars built by Abraham.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:10)
And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. (Genesis 22:11)
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. (Genesis 22:12)
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:13)
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. (Genesis 22:14)
And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, (Genesis 22:15)
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: (Genesis 22:16)
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Genesis 22:17)
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:18)

   God stayed Abraham’s hand and loosed his son and provided a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. But Abraham already knew the purpose of the altar at mount Moriah. It was there that Abraham saw the full tragedy of the sin of man, for he was bearing the burden IN his own heart with the son of his love. Isaac, which was a foreshadow of the Son of God on the cross of Calvary in the VERY spot on mount Moriah where that altar stood in the days of Abraham. Because Abram had built three altars prior to mount Moriah, he understood the price of the offering of the Lamb. How do we know that it was a lamb at that first altar? We know because when Isaac and Abraham ascended to mount Moriah, Isaac asked his father, But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (Genesis 22:7)
   This man of FAITH offered his first sacrifice on the altar between Bethel and Hai. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, [having] Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:8) Bethel is known as ‘the house of God,’ and Hai is known as ‘a heap,‘ or ‘ruin.’ So, therefore, Abram’s first altar was built BETWEEN the house of God and ruin. This man of FAITH offered his sacrifice as seeing Him who is invisible. Even in this world today, there is no other God of glory then the image which is Jesus Christ.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2nd Corinthians 4:4)
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. (2nd Corinthians 4:5)
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2nd Corinthians 4:6)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2nd Corinthians 4:7)

   Abram’s sacrifice was just as excellent as Abel’s sacrifice for both these men of FAITH SAW the day of the Lord and understood the FULL impact of the gift of God to the race of Adamkind. The Lord proclaimed in John 9:5 that He was the Light of the world. The Holy Ghost proclaimed in John 1:4 that Christ brought both Light and Life to man because man was dead in trespasses and sin. The life of our Lord Jesus Christ was to illuminate the heart, soul and spirit of man; to reveal to man eternal life in Jesus Christ, but man loves darkness and hates the light. Not only did Christ come to give eternal life (John 3:16) but in His Person HE IS the POWER of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) The Lord Jesus was bold to say, in the power of His endless life that He had the power to lay down His life and the POWER to take it again. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:18)
   In these verses, the word power is mentioned twice in verse 18 to show the true witness of God and Christ IS the true witness of God. (Revelation 3:14) In Hebrews 7:16 it is Christ who has the power of an endless life bringing in that He is the FULLNESS of the GODHEAD bodily. (Colossians 2:9) Through the Spirit of His endless life He has the POWER to IMPART that endless life to those who believe in Him, and free them from The Law of Sin and Death. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) We have this treasure, which is Jesus Christ, hidden within our vessel by His Spirit. Also, we should consider 2nd Corinthians 5:1-9.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2nd Corinthians 5:1)
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (2nd Corinthians 5:2)
If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (2nd Corinthians 5:3)
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2nd Corinthians 5:4)
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (2nd Corinthians 5:5)
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (2nd Corinthians 5:6)
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2nd Corinthians 5:7)
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2nd Corinthians 5:8)
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (2nd Corinthians 5:9)

   Once you understand the progressive revelation of God in Scripture, and you see the Lord Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our FAITH, then the Holy Spirit opens the pages of Scripture through both the Old Testament and the New Testament to the very glories that are IN the Lord Jesus Christ.
   As that first altar of Abram stood between Bethel and Hai, even in the placement of that altar in Genesis 12:8, we have the story of the cross. Man is seen as a heap of ruin, Hai, and the only way that man can get to the house of God (Bethel) is through the altar, which is the cross. Paul explains this from the very center of his heart in Galatians 6:14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Do you understand that it was because of our individual sin and the sin within us from Adam that it was needful for Christ to suffer? Man was in total RUIN (Hai). The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ was to cleanse the heart, restore the soul, and quicken the spirit of man through the new birth. The Scripture that we have in our hands reveals the Son of God upon the cross between heaven and earth (Bethel and Hai) to accomplish the cleansing of our soul, to renew our heart and to give us the Spirit of life eternal that is IN the God of glory, Jesus Christ.

Amen and Selah.

© Copyright – Michael Haigh
Published on May 21, 2025 @ 1:30 PM (EST).
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)