Abraham  

Man of Faith

Genesis 12 – 14

In the first 11 chapters of Genesis, we were introduced to four crucial events in Earth's history. Namely, the Creation, the Fall, the Flood and the Tower of Babel. We learned that three of these events were directly initiated by God and one, the Fall, gave us the story of God's deep involvement at that historic turning point in the human race when he intervened as both Judge and loving Redeemer. Now, in the rest of the book (12 - 50), we will be introduced to four very important people in God's past dealings with our fallen human race. Namely, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. This entire second section centers around the Abrahamic Covenant as it was given by God to Abraham and then passed down to his descendants. In chapter 12, we have God’s general promise to Abram. Then, in chapter 15, we will see how God formally made it into an irreversible, unconditional and all important covenant that has affected all of mankind down to our present day.

As we study this section, it would be helpful to ask ourselves, "Why is this chapter or event recorded here?" or "Why did God put this account at this point in the narrative?" At times, we may struggle to see how the pieces fit. But, in the end, it will present us with a beautiful picture of the will and ways of God as he has related to these four men who he chose to be vessels of the revelation of himself to all mankind.

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12:1-4

" Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran."

     Perhaps the first thing to notice here is how often God chooses his people from the most unlikely places and under the most unlikely circumstances.

Abram and his family were just a family of ordinary old idol worshipers down at Ur of the Chaldees on the Persian Gulf. We read in Joshua 24:2b-3 ...

"Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.’"

Abram was a fellow from a heathen home who married their half sisters. When God called him, he was living in Haran with his father and their extended family. They had moved there from Ur. Ur was a great cultural, intellectual, linguistic and wealth center of its day. Modern geometry has its roots there. When Terah, Abram’s father, took the family to Haran, it must have been like moving from New York City to a little burg in Wyoming. But, there in Haran, Abram received his call from God. Immediately, he obeyed and moved out as God had instructed him. In doing so, he was moving from that which was security for him away to that which was unsecure ... into the unknown ... simply because God told him to do so. That kind of obedient faith is rare and a beautiful thing to see.

     The second thing I would have us notice here is that God often leads his chosen people into hazardous and very insecure places.

It is in the hard places, the insecure places, the dangerous places and the unknown places that God’s children really get to know him. For example, when Jesus recruited his disciples, he told them, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19). Wasn’t that a wonderful call? But, do you know where he immediately led them? He led into a storm. And, had they not obeyed and followed him, they would have missed out on one of the most amazing displays of the power of their God and his Word that has ever been seen by the eyes of men. More importantly, they would have missed out on the beginning of the unveiling of who Jesus Christ truly was. Mark's account of it says...

"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’" Mark 4:39-41

So it was with Abram as well. By faith, he obeyed, moving out of Haran at the Word of God. Subsequently, he found himself in many a tight spot and insecure circumstances. However, in those places and circumstances, he got to know his God. Was it worth it, Abraham? I’m sure he would tell us, "Absolutely!?"

Here in opening verses of chapter 12, we have four great promises that God made to Abram when he called him to himself. Later, they would be formalized into the Abrahamic Covenant. Let’s look at them. God said:

            1.  I will make you a great nation. At this point in time, Abram had no children. In retrospect, we know that God did exactly as he promised but Abraham didn’t know that. Yet, he believed God and from Abraham has descended the Jewish people, a great nation, as well as all the other Arabic nations.

            2.  I will bless you and make your name great. Most people in our world today know who Abraham was. The entire Jewish, Christian and Islamic world hold him up as a key figure in their religions. Again, in retrospect, we can see that God has been true to his word.

            3. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. Two illustrations of how this promise has worked itself out in history are found in the Bible books of Esther and Obediah. In the book of Esther, an Assyrian named Haman plotted to have all the exiled Jews in Assyria killed. He also built a gallows to hang Mordecai, the central Jewish figure in the book. Remember what happened? Esther the Queen (a Jewish girl) interceded for her people and Haman the Assyrian ended up being hung on his own gallows! God's promise to Abraham ... was worked out in shoe leather. Again, in the book of Obediah, we see what happened to the Edomites who made the mistake of cursing God’s people, the Jews, as they were being carried away captive by the Babylonians.

May I chase a rabbit here for a moment? Do you think that this promise is still in effect? It is. A promise is a promise and the book of Romans says that the gifts and calling of God cannot be revoked (Rom.11:29). Look what happened to Hitler. You know, I truly believe that a major reason for the blessings that our own nation has experienced also finds its source in this promise to Abram. Since our founding as a Christian nation, we have had sympathy for and have offered a friendly hand to the Jewish people. This is a natural thing for us Gentile Christians since our roots are entwined with those of God's Jewish people. Our Savior was a Jew and our salvation is tied to his New Covenant with his Jewish people into which we Gentile believers have been grafted (Rom.11:11-25). Currently, the enemies of the Jews are numerous and vicious. But, mark my words … God will deal with those enemies. They are touching the "apple of his eye," you see. And, God will be true to his word to Abram. As you have it in Zechariah 2:8-10...

"For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. For surely I will shake my hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the LORD."

            4. In you, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Don’t you wonder what Abram must have made of that promise? Surely he wondered, "What did God mean by that … and how will he do it?" Again, in retrospect, we know that God was speaking of the wonderful blessing he would send to all mankind when he would send his Son, Jesus, born from Abraham’s seed, into the world to open the door to God’s great salvation to every person in every nation on Earth. One resulting fulfillment of this promise is seen in the amazing event at God’s throne in Revelation 5, where we read...

"And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." Rev.5:9-10

May I ask a question, dear saint? Are you really into the promises that God has given to you like Abram was into the promises that God gave to him? As you have it in II Peter 1:2-4...

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

Each one of us believers in the Lord Jesus Christ has personally taken hold of at least one promise of God. Namely, the one which says, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts16:31; John 3:16). But, that was just the beginning of entering into his promises to us. Do you know any others? Have you tucked them away in your heart? Do you cherish them and is  your hope placed solidly in them? As the famous hymn puts it...

"Standing on the promises, I cannot not fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God!"

There are two very important principles here in this regard.

     First, it is vital that each child of God know what the promises of God are. They are all right there in the Word of God. Find them. Memorize them. They are there for you.

     Second, to experience and have real victory, each child of God must act upon the promises God has given them. This is where the men are separated from the boys. Here lies the great difference between a babe in Christ and a mature saint. Mature believers know the promises of God and they stand upon them.

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12:5-8

"Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD."

Driven by the remembrance of God’s command, promises and the Shikinah glory he had seen in Haran after the death of his father, Abraham took Sarai and Lot his nephew and departed from Haran for parts unknown. He had no idea where God would take him. He simply moved out in obedience. Beautiful, is it not? As you have it in Hebrews 11:8...

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Real faith is a wonderful thing. It always demonstrates itself, by the way, by ... obedience. The book of James speaks of a sham faith that acts in the opposite. I like to call it, "lip service faith". It always lacks follow-up with good works and obedience. As you have it in James 2:17-20...

"Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"

Abram’s faith was the genuine article. It was demonstrated by his obedience in leaving Haran. And notice, the minute Abram moved out in obedience to the Lord, God appeared to him again. Very often, it isn’t until we untie from everything and move out in obedience that God appears to us and gives us further direction and the comfort of his presence with us.

As soon as Abram moved out in obedience, he received another great promise from God. The Lord appeared to him again and told him, "To your descendants I will give this land." Wow! Later, this promise too was embodied in a formal covenant was then re-iterated to Isaac and then Jacob and, again, to all the people of Israel under Moses. Later still, it was imparted again to King David in the Davidic Covenant.

I get the impression that the land of Palestine belongs to the Jews, don’t you? However, their actual possession of it has been quite another matter. They lost possession of it through disobedience and sin and the rejection of their God and Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus). And, they will never fully possesses it again until they repent and turn back to that one and only true and living God and acknowledge him. Their God is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Then, He will bring them once again into their land of promise that they may possess it forever, never to be uprooted and displaced from it again (Psalm 10:20-22; 12:11-12; 53:6; 102:13-22,28; 106:45-48; Isaiah 27:6, 12-13; 30:19; 35:8-10; 43:5-7; 51:11; 54:7; 60; 61:1f; 66:19; Jeremiah 12:14f; 16:15; 23:1-8; 30:1-11, 17-24; 31; 32:37-44; 33; 51:5; Ezekiel 28:25-26; 34:11-31; 36:8-11, 22-38; Hosea 2:14-23; Amos 9:11-15; Zechariah 8).

One more thing here, notice Abram’s response to this new promise of the land that he received. Immediately, he built another altar and worshipped. Again, this was the outward response of his inward belief in the word of God that had just been given to him. Everywhere this man, Abram, went, by the way, he always had his tent and his altar. Worship was a big part of Abram’s life and a bedrock expression of his faith. So it also is with all who truly believe in and love the Lord.

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12:9-20

"So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, ‘Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, "This is his wife"; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.’ So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels. But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, ‘What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, "She is my sister"? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.’ So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had."

The Bible is full of history. So, it always tells it like it was. It doesn’t gloss over flaws, mistakes and sins. It just faithfully tells us the story. Abram made a good number of critical missteps that are recorded here in chapter 12 and we are given some insight into just what God had chosen to work with when he called Abram. This incident began when a famine came upon Abram’s home in Canaan. I believe that God sent it. Have you noticed that God refines the faith of his children through trials? Peter says that this process of refining our faith is like gold being refined in a furnace. As you have it in I Peter 1:6-9...

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls."

Abram was a man of great faith who had seen the glory of God. Yet, like all of God’s children, he was far from perfect. He still resorted to his own thinking and schemes to deliver himself from his troubles. Sound familiar? He was not all that different from you and I, was he? We all have a long way to go, don’t we? Yet, how well our Lord knows us! So he allows us to learn and grow by sending trials into our life so that our faith, being more precious than gold, can be refined. Ultimately, it is going to turn out for our great good and be found to praise, honor, and glory at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Worried about his life and safety, Abram concocted a plan. He would go down to Egypt to supply his needs and he would instruct Sarai, his wife, to say she was his sister so Abram could avoid any unpleasant situations and possible danger to himself while they were down there. Now, when did God tell Abram to leave Canaan? He didn’t, did he? Remember, when Noah stayed inside the ark for nearly two months after the door had already been opened? God had told him to get on board the ark and Noah was not about to leave it until God told him to do so. Abram stumbled in this regard. He just up and left the place where God had told him to be. There then followed a series of disasters. He had to concoct a half truth …which was a whole lie. He lost possession of his wife to Pharaoh. He was found out, and called on the carpet by Pharaoh.  Abram was then thoroughly humiliated, embarrassed and then unceremoniously expelled from Egypt. Did he learn anything? We will see.

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13:1-4

"Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South (Negev). Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD."

Abram returned to the place where he had stepped out of the will of God. It is often an axiomatic principle that, before a child of God can go on in his walk with the Lord, he must first go back to where he left the will of God in the first place. This is the basic principle behind First John 1:9.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

First John, by the way, is a book that is all about fellowship with God. It teaches that our fellowship and walk with God is broken when we sin. When that happens, God has turned his back on us. Rather, we have turned our back on him. The road back is, like Abram, by returning to where we left our Lord in the first place. We do that by simple confession of that which we allowed to turn our backs to God and break our fellowship with him. By humbly confessing of our sin, like Abram, we return once again to the place where we went astray and our great and gracious Lord is always there to welcome us back into fellowship with Himself. His arms are always open to his children ... never, never closed.

Abram was instructed to go to a land that God would show him. He went and arrived there. God said, to your descendants I will give this land. Abram was never told to leave that special place of promise. But, he looked at the circumstances and left on his own. The hardship of famine was enough to cause him to step out of the will of God and leave the place where he was supposed to be. Now, he had to return to the place where he should have been all along. Upon his arrival, immediately his fellowship with God was restored at the altar at Bethel. Dear saint, are you where you belong spiritually or otherwise? No? Then go back where you belong. God is waiting for you there.

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13:5-11

"Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. So Abram said to Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.’ And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other."

Here, we get another good look into the character of this man Abram. Although he was rich, he was generous, peace loving and not at all materialistic. Jesus said, You cannot serve God and money (Matt. 6:24). First John 2:15-17 says...

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

We are also given a good look at the character of Abram’s nephew, Lot. Although Lot is cited in II Peter 2:7, as a man of faith ... his personal walk with God exhibited a great deal to be desired. His treatment of his Uncle Abram demonstrated this in no uncertain terms. Lot had become rich because of Abram, yet he didn’t acknowledge it for a minute. He was unthankful and self-centered. He was a carnal man, like many Christians today. As you have it in First Corinthians 3:1-3...

"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?"

Lot took sides with his own herdsmen in the problem over the grassing of the flocks. I can picture him storming into Abram’s tent in anger and indignation, can't you? But, Abram’s response was mature and spiritual. "OK Lot, I know how we’ll solve this problem, you just chose whatever land you want and I’ll just take whatever is left." Isn’t that amazing? Yet, this solution fit Lot to a tee. He exercised his choice immediately. Notice that Lot’s decision was made solely on the basis of appearance and personal advancement. He didn’t bother to consult the Lord nor seek the advice of Abram. Lot saw; Lot chose; Lot moved out. Shortly, we will see that his decision resulted in his becoming a prisoner and, ultimately, losing everything that was dear to him. He was like the fellow who rushed out to buy a new Cadillac and then, as he gleefully drove it off the lot, got run over by a garbage truck! Lot’s decision was based on greed and the lust of his eyes rather than the searched-out will of God. This pattern led him into one disaster after another. That’s always the way of a carnal lifestyle. And, make no mistake about it, it is a life-style. Carnality is a chosen life-style. So also is that of the spiritual man. It too is a chosen life-style. By choice ... we believers live out our lives as carnal people or spiritual people. It’s just that simple. These two life-styles are outlined for us in I Corinthians 2:14-3:3.

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13:12-18

"Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD. And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: ‘Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.’ Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD."

Right off, we find a hint here that the end result of Lot’s selfish decision was not going to be a good one. Lot had moved himself and all of his family and servants into the middle of a spiritual cesspool! Furthermore, he had left the real source of prosperity in his life. Namely, his relationship to his Uncle Abram who was constantly being blessed by his genuine and humble walk with God.

Proverbs 13:20 says...

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."

First Corinthians 15:33 says...

"Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’"

Unfortunately, the deliberate breaking of these basic principles would play themselves out in very disastrous ways in the life of Lot and his family. Down in the lush plane, Lot was surrounded by wicked people. He made his home in Sodom, a city that was scheduled for judgment. Meanwhile, as he probably continued to congratulated himself on his shrewd decision, Abram was being visited and blessed by the living God. There is no doubt who the real winner was.

God appeared again to Abram and told him to look around in every direction. Then, God said, "Everything you see I give to you and your descendants ... forever". In addition, God promised Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the ground! Then, the Lord invited Abram to go on a walking tour of his possession. "Everywhere your foot trods is yours," is yours, God said. Some promise, aye? Some gift, aye? I’m reminded of James 1:17...

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

So, again in obedience, Abram began to walk, moving everything on down to Mamre where he built an altar there unto the name of the Lord.

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14:1-12

"And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar. And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed."

The next trial of the faith that came into Abram's life was war. It began when four city-kings invaded Abram and Lot’s homeland. I’m reminded of the story of David that says that, at the time of year when kings go out to battle, David stayed home, which got him into trouble with Bathsheba. Apparently, it was that time of year in Abram’s country. So, four invading kings came into the valley where Lot lived. Five kings from the plain went out to defend against them but they lost the battle and, our text says, many fell at the slime pits in the Valley of Siddim (a site probably appropriate to their sins). In the end, Lot was taken captive along with all his family and all of his possessions.

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14:13-16

"Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people."

Notice that Abram was no lightweight when it came to battle. The text says that 318 of his servants were trained warriors. Nevertheless, he was probably far outnumbered by the four kings who had taken Lot captive and who had defeated a long list of kings in the area as well as all the kings of the plain. Abram, however, by the providence of God, had the advantage of being tipped off about the whereabouts and condition of the enemy and devised a clandestine plan of attack. Abram seems to have been no lightweight in military strategy. His strategy was one of surprise combined with coordinated nighttime raid on the camp of the invaders. And, God gave him the victory. Make no mistake about it, Abram’s success in battle would have had to be supernatural. David’s words to Goliath come to mind here...

"This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." I Samuel 17:46-47

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14:17-24

"And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.’ But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, "I have made Abram rich"; except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.’"

We come here to another very important and key person in Scripture. Namely, a priest/king from the city of Salem named Melchizedek. His name means "king of righteousness" and the name of his city, Salem, means "peace". Salem, would later become Jerusalem. It says here that Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High God. This is the first recorded priesthood in the Bible. It is important to note that this priesthood existed prior to the Levitical priesthood that would be established much later by the Law of Moses. The Bible says that Melchizedek is a type or picture of Christ. Like Jesus, he was both a king and a priest and he reigned from Jerusalem as our Lord will also do one day. Furthermore, Melchizedek had no recorded birth or parents nor any recorded death. He simply steps forth here on the pages of Scripture and then disappears. This quality of having no recorded beginning nor end strengthens his suitability to be a type of Christ, a point also made in Hebrews 7.

Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek from the spoils of war he had just captured when he rescued his nephew, Lot. And, in doing so, Abram demonstrated the superiority of the Melchizedek’s priesthood to that of the later Levitical priesthood that would be established under the Law of Moses. How so? Well, the book of Hebrews makes the point that Levi, (the father of the tribe of Levi who later became Israel’s priesthood) in effect ... was himself paying those tithes to Melchizedek since he was, at that time, still in Abram’s loins! Let’s take a moment to read about the importance of this as laid out for us in Hebrews 7:1-10...

"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him."

Now, the Lord Jesus Christ was appointed to this very priesthood by his Father. Therefore, he is a Melchizedekian priest. As you have it in Psalm 110:4-5...

"The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of his wrath."

Hebrews 7:11-14, builds on this truth.

"Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’"

Jesus is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Therefore, dear saint, you and I are also priests of this same order ... since we are in Christ. Did you know that you were a Melchizedekan priest? As you have it in Revelation 1:5-6...

"...and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us kings and priests (Lit.: a kingdom of priests) to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

One last note here, notice that Abram refused to take any of the spoils from the battle for himself. He was highly protective of the fact that his prosperity was from the Lord alone and no-one else.