The Altar

"That is why we said, 'Let us get ready and build an altar — but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.' On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no share in the Lord.'


"And we said, 'If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord's altar, which our fathers built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.'

 Joshua 22:26-28
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The tribes were concerned that, without some visible sign of unity between the people of the two sides of the Jordan River, future generations might see conflict between them. The altar, patterned after the altar of the Lord, was to remind these people that they all worshipped the same God. Often we need to be reminded of the faith of our fathers. What actions demonstrate to your children your reliance on God and remind them of what he has done? Take the time to establish family traditions that will help your children remember.