The Altar: Mt. Pisgah (Numbers 23)

Offering

The story of the mountains of the Lord would not be complete without including Mt. Pisgah. In the book of Numbers, there is the story of two prophets, Balak and Balaam, who felt God was not hearing the prayers of His people. To get His attention, they climbed a mountain, Mt. Pisgah, and there erected seven altars. On these altars they offered seven burnt offerings. God did pay heed and was pleased by the offerings. In this chancel that altar itself becomes a symbol of the mountain for it is to remind us of those offerings. The top of the altar is composed of seven sections bolted together and the pedestal shows flames recalling the burnt offerings. The implication is of course that we must here in this place, in our time and in our way, also make offerings to God.