The Law of the Altar

Reading: Exodus 20: 22-26

"An altar of earth you shall make for Me", "And if you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone, for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it."

These verses are interesting aren't they? Do they make you think of all the grand churches and cathedrals we have made of hewn stone to honour the Lord? Perhaps they bring more glory to our builders than God? I'm not saying I don't love beautiful stone churches, because I really do. I just wonder where we lost track of the fact that God obviously loves his creation the way it is, and he does not feel it needs to be improved in any way.

This is an important lesson that has been forgotten throughout history. In the early years of Australian settlement you could only claim a piece of land if you 'improved' it - you built a house and cut down all the trees (great improvement if you ask me! not.) Others improved Australia by introducing rabbits and foxes. Even now, we often see land as better if it has some use to us- it is grazing land, produces some fruit or other product. This is not the way God sees things.

Of course, since man has now impacted the environment so much it certainly could use improving- but only to return it to a more natural and ecologically stable form.

I think the messages to take away from this are try to refrain from 'improving' things that don't fit your idea of how they should be just for that reason; and next time you get a chance worship God outside, on the altar of earth and unhewn stone- where He always meant to be worshipped.