Planted

Abraham was a real altar builder.

Sometimes, it was the first thing he would do, upon arrival at a new place.

(Unlike us, the first thing we do is we plug in our phones)

Isaac, I believe, built two altars, if we include the one that he was almost barbecued on.

And Jacob.

I have always considered him more suspect,

the kind of guy who goes to church on Sunday morning,

then swindles the preacher that afternoon.

But today I see that after 20 years away from home,

Jacob quietly built an altar in Shechem.

He gave it a name even that Hebrewless Marcos could understand

—El Elohe Israel—God, the God of Israel.

I think Jacob is telling us he has truly experienced God.

He is no longer the supplanter.

He has been planted.