an altar by the oak

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7

In Shechem, at the oak of Moreh, Abram built an altar believing the call and promise of God. Implicit with an altar are two practices of obedience: sacrifice and thankfulness. This first altar built by Abram as he embraced the nomadic call to walk the heighth and breadth of Canaan shows his trust in God.

At the altar sacrifices would have been made. The text does not say that any were, but the first readers of Genesis knew altars were where animal sacrifices were made to atone for sin. Abram built an altar recognizing his need as a sinner for God to forgive him. Thus an altar points to the cross.

Abram also built an altar to praise and thank God. Thanksgiving offerings would have been made to God there. At the altar Abram would have been grateful to God for His covenant care and promises. There Abram would praise God for His provision and guidance. Altars for Abram meant worship, just as a cross for us calls us to worship our Savior.