Genesis 11:1-9
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
While studying for our Kid’s Church lesson for the following Sunday, I stumbled across this verse. I know I have read it many times, but it hit me like a ton of bricks (Get It!). Come, let’s make bricks, the Holy Spirit and a resource on the internet, noted that the people making the Tower of Babel were making their own bricks. What a visual that brings to my mind, people covered in mud and clay with straw being thrown into a pit, while constantly stomping up and down in thickening mire. The more they stamp and churn the more the more difficult the task becomes.
Have you been there, are you there now? That feeling when you get up to go to church or serve in a position, not for the pure joy of serving your Lord, but churning your bricks in the mud pit of obligation with a pinch of pride thrown in. Those pits are hard to get out of once you have tromped yourself a gigantic rut.
There is hope!
In Genesis [20:25], it says ‘If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it.
The Lord never asks for altars to be built by human hands. He has done all of the work. All He asks from us is to use His created gifts to present His Message. It is His altar, He provides the sacrifice, (Gen.22:9-12) all we must do is receive. No work of our own hands, just hearts with a heart for Him. When we are directed in the center of God’s Will, there is a freedom and joy that is totally liberating. Like a deep breath of complete rest.
Let us place our “All On His Altar” today.
Jackie Gillespie