Exodus 20.24–25: Altars of earth and stone (Day 68)

Pray

Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.

Read

Exodus 20 Luke 23 Job 38 2 Corinthians 8

Daily Reflection: Exodus 20

After the terrifying display of God’s power and holiness that ends with the giving of the Ten Commandments, these last few verses of Exodus 20 are remarkably undramatic. An altar of earth seems nothing special. It is not ornate or valuable in itself. Is this really ‘good enough’ as a place to offer sacrifice to the God of fire, smoke and thunder? Similarly, if the Israelites decide to use stone to build an altar, it should not be specially cut or carved. A pile of rocks taken from the wayside will do well enough. This seems too casual a way to honour the Lord who ‘made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them’ (v. 11, NRSV).

Perhaps there is a clue in verse 24: ‘in every place where I cause my name to be remembered…’. The Israelites are a nation on the move. God expects to meet them in many different places on their journey to the promised land. When they build altars and offer sacrifices, it will be an important way for them to acknowledge him in each new place – but they will then leave the piles of earth and stones behind and continue in the way that he is leading them. To spend time and effort beautifying their altars will mean becoming too settled, too focused on permanence.

In our worship, are we sometimes tempted to get settled in one place, carving and decorating a permanent altar, when God is really calling us to leave the roadside altars behind and follow him on the journey? His promise is, ‘In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.’ Can we trust him, and keep moving?

Pray

Lord God, we want to give you the best of ourselves. Help us to worship you in spirit and in truth, always following where you lead.