Altars and tools

In Exodus 20:24-25, God gave Moses some instructions regarding altars. At the time God gave Moses these instructions, building altars was a common practice, as they were a part of most every religious system on earth. Various altars of one form or another have been discovered in many archeological excavations not only in Israel, but in most other countries of the ancient world as well.

The exclusive purpose of an altar in the ancient world was as a raised platform upon which sacrifices could be made to some deity. Though other things were sometimes offered as sacrifices upon altars, the most common offering was animal sacrifices. The animals would generally be killed, then laid upon the altar and burned. Its not surprising, then, that the word “altar” in the Hebrew language actually comes from a verb meaning, “to slaughter an animal.”

If you’re wondering what any of this has to do with us today, be patient! In the first chapter of Leviticus, God gave Moses specific instructions regarding the offerings His people were to bring. The word “offering” in the Hebrew language comes from a root meaning “to draw near.” Just as altars were understood to be places of offering, offerings were understood to be a method of drawing near to God.

The point of all this talk about altars and offerings in the ancient world is to establish the fact that an altar was not simply a mound of earth or stones, but a place of sacrifice through which people would draw near to God. When an animal was sacrificed, its blood was being shed to provide atonement, or appeasement for sin. And it was only after atonement was provided that forgiveness was granted, and the one offering the sacrifice could approach God. (See Leviticus 4 and 5)

When we think of altars in this light, this passage in which God gave Moses instructions concerning the construction of altars seems far more relevant. In this passage God made it clear that both simple earthen altars and altars built of stone were acceptable, but in verse 25 He gave a special stipulation regarding altars of stone:

“If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with cut stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.”

Not only was the building of altars a common practice in many parts of the ancient world, it was also common that such altars would be made out of elaborately carved stones. This was most likely done either as an attempt to procure greater favor from the particular deity to whom the sacrifices were made, or perhaps out of pride for one’s particular religion.

God’s insistence that his people not “use a tool” to make an altar was not just an eccentric and arbitrary command. He was making it clear both to them and to us that it is only because he has drawn near to us that we can draw near to him, and that nothing we can do can make us more acceptable to him. In fact, God made it clear that our attempts to use a “tool” of some kind to somehow have hand in the process of becoming acceptable to God will actually defile the altar.

The greatest altar ever was the cross upon which the “lamb of God” was sacrificed for the sin of the world. Nothing we can do can make this altar more or less powerful than it is, and nothing we can do can make us more or less acceptable to God that the sacrifice of Jesus had already done. If you’re still trying to help God out with this, let me suggest you put your tool down, and look up!