TWO GODLY MEN

Genesis 14 is the recording of an ancient battle between an alliance of four kings against the joined forces of five other kings. After very significant victories against numerous enemies, the four kings turned their attention to the five kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela.  A battle ensued in the valley of Siddim. 

Once again the coalition of four kings was victorious and the victors “…captured all of the spoils of battle from the retreating forces of Sodom and Gomorrah—their provisions, weapons, and other supplies. Then they left. But before they left they took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother who lived in Sodom, prisoner along with all of his goods. [vs.11-12  All scripture references will be from The Voice Bible]

Now we understand why this report has been included in our Old Testament! 

“…one of the men who had escaped the battle went and found Abram…He told Abram what had happened…As soon as Abram heard that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he secured his own camp and then took 318 “…of his most reliable and best-trained men (all born in his household) and pursued the enemy.” [vs.13-14]       

 

“When he caught up with them, Abram divided up his men, surrounded the enemy, and attacked them during the night. He and his soldiers crushed the invaders and pursued any survivors… After the battle Abram recovered all the spoils the enemy had taken and brought them back with him. He rescued his nephew Lot and brought him back, along with his goods; there were other captives, too, including some women whom he rescued.” [vs.15-16]

 Then something interesting and mysterious happened. 

The priest-king of Jerusalem, Melchizedek, came out to meet him as well and brought out bread and wine for them. Melchizedek was a priest of the One whom he called the “the Most High God.” Priest-king Melchizedek offered a special blessing to Abram. 

King Melchizedek: May Abram be blessed by the Most High God, Creator of the heavens and earth.  Blessing and honor to the Most High God, who has clearly delivered your enemies into your hands!

Abram gave the priest-king a tenth of all of the captured goods he was bringing back with him. [vs.18-20]

Then Melchizadek asked Abram for the people he had rescued, but offered all the spoils to Abram! However, Abram had pledged before God not to take anything except the food that his men had eaten –

“That way you could never take credit for any wealth of mine.” [v.23]  He did, however, advocate for three groups of men who had joined him in this battle: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.  Abram asked that they be given an appropriate share of the spoils. 

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Here we have the intersection of two godly men! 

Abram is drawn into a battle because of the poor choices his nephew, Lot, had made.  He – apparently without delay – came to Lot’s rescue.  There is no reference to Abram scolding Lot.  Lot was family!  There was no choice to be made!  Abram’s response was immediate and decisive! 

Abram maintained integrity throughout.  He rescued those who were not part of his family; and then turned them over to Melchizadek!  In keeping a promise he had made to God, Abram refused to participate in the dividing of the spoils of the war.  Abram lived for God, and God alone!  His complete dependence was on God.  He didn’t want or need the wealth of the considerable spoils.  God was already meeting all of his needs!

Melchizadek is a mysterious character [mentioned also in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7].  He was a priest of “the Most High God.” [v.18]  He was also the king of Salem [which would later become Jerusalem]! 

This is a remarkable report that is one of many instances indicating that God was working in many places – in addition to the calling of the people of Israel!  Many questions remain unanswered:

o   Who was this Melchizadek?

o   Where did he come from?

o   Who made him a priest?

o   Why did Abram treat him with such respect – giving him “…a tenth of all the captured goods” [v.20]?

We can only marvel that God was at work using different threads in different places to introduce Himself to the people spread across the land! 

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QUESTIONS TO PONDER PERSONALLY:

·         Are we men and women of sole commitment to God as Abram and Melchizadek?

·         Are we dependent on God – and God alone – to provide for all our needs?

·         Do we make commitments to God, and then honor those commitments no matter what happens?

·         Do we come to the rescue of family members who have fallen into harsh situations or who have made poor decisions?

ABRAM IS ENCOURAGED

Genesis 15 is indeed an exceptional chapter!

It begins with Abram bringing somewhat of a complaint to God.  Essentially, he says (paraphrased):

God, You said I would be a great nation, but I'm getting old and still have no child.  If I were to die right now, my servant, Eliezer of Damascus, would be my heir!  

God - in His great patience - speaks to Abram:

“This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”  He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  [vs.4-5]

The next words are important! 

Abram believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.   [v.6]

Notice three things:

1. This is the first time the word "righteousness" occurs in our Bible!
2. No law had been given yet!   Abram's righteousness had nothing to do with the Law!
3. Abram hadn't been circumcised yet, which makes him the faith father of us all!

What happens next is both precious and VERY MYSTERIOUS!

God reassures Abram that He is going to give him (and his descendants) the land of Canaan.  When Abram questions this promise, God instructs him to bring a heifer, a goat, a ram (each three years old) along with a dove and a young pigeon.  Understanding an ancient covenant ritual, Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other... [v.10].

Then, Abram fell into a deep sleep as a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.  In this sleep, God whispered to him secrets about the distant future when Abram's descendants would become slaves in Egypt for four hundred years, but would then escape and return to Canaan!

Then it gets REALLY spooky!  Suddenly, a smoking firepot and a blazing torch appear and pass between the sacrificed animals!!!!!! 

God literally showed up!

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

[Hymn:  Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, 

by Walter C. Smith, 1824-1908]*

Here's the point of this captivating chapter:

God will come to us in our times of doubting with His reassurance and encouragement!  He will show up and remind us that His promises are TRUE!  We must trust His Word!  If we do - it will be counted to us as righteousness!  

*  This is a majestic hymn with a Welsh melody arranged by Van Denman Thompson in 1933.  There are three more verses.  The hymn builds to a crescendo in verse four where the angels veil their eyes from the presence of the Lord of Light!  Look it up and sing it;  I can't get through it without tears filling my eyes!

GIVE GOD A NOD WHEN MAKING BIG DECISIONS

This is the reporting of an event that took place over four thousand years ago.  God called a man named Abram to leave where he was and go to a new land named Canaan that God planned to give to him and all his family (even though Abram didn't have a family yet).  😂  God's stories are always SO unpredictable. 

When Abram left on his journey of obedience, he took with him his wife, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot.  They had some interesting things happen to them during their adventurous travels through the ancient near east.  But God was with them and enriched them so that both men became prosperous with livestock, silver and gold.  

But, as time passed, their number of flocks and herds and menservants and maidservants became quite large.  Quarrels broke out between their herdsmen and also the Canaanites and Perizzites also living off the land.  

Abram, being the elder of the two - and also the one God had called - went to Lot and suggested that they split up due to the size of their entourage.  Being a man who lived to please God, Abram gave Lot the opportunity to choose where he would go.  Abram simply said, "If you go to the left, I'll go to the right;  if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."  [Genesis 13:9 (NIV)]

Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)  So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:  Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.  Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.  [Genesis 13:10-13 (NIV)]

Many of you are familiar with the end of this story.  Lot's choice landed him in an immoral valley where sexual sin became so horrible that God sent a storm of fire and hail to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah!  This happened AFTER Abram had to come and rescue Lot and his family from a coalition of kings that raided the valley and took Lot hostage along with his family!  

When Lot made his initial decision, we find no indication that he consulted God.  He simply chose what looked the best and would make his life the easiest.  His decision turned out to be DISASTROUS!!!!!!

What looks best from a human standpoint may not always be best from a divine perspective!  Doesn't it just make sense - especially if you consider yourself a Christian - to consult God at points of major decision-making?  In other words:  PRAY!  Ask God to direct your steps and give you wisdom.  Say something like:  "Lord, help me to make a decision here that will honor You and increase my sphere of influence for You!" 

You might just save yourself some grief and have a godly impact on some people's lives that would otherwise have gone without the touch of His grace!