Rescue and Blessing
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we saw Abram and Lot separate because they had grown to big to fit in the same land with their flocks and all that they had. This was the first of a series of Abraham and Lot stories. Tonight we are going to look at the second of the Abraham Lot stories. This occurence stems out from the decisions that were made last week. The decision that was mad was that Lot picked the valley that Sodom was in and moved near to Sodom while Abraham went into what we know as the promised land. Lot had the choice here and God worked through it to accomplish his plan.
Here there is an issue of a war that breaks out in the valley where Lot resides and it leads to issues in his life that Abraham acts to save him. Abrahams actions require him to have faith that God was on his side, so before we go any further lets read this chapter.
In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, these kings 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). And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.
Then 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 they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.
Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.
After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
What an epic story! There are 4 kings against 5 and the 4 win! They plunder them and take them captive, the spoils of war. Then comes Abraham who confronts these 4 powerful kings who just defeated 5 and with his small force of 318 men he defeats them and takes back the people and the plunder.
As he returns the plunder they seek to make Abraham even richer but he turns them down, a true hero. Then Melchizedek the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and a priest of God most high comes and blesses Abraham!
Abraham the Warrior
Abraham the Warrior
Nowhere else is Abraham described as a warrior but based upon what happened here we see that he was a great warrior that led a mighty group of men.
This gives us a glimpse into Abraham a bit more. This story resembles many stories in the Old Testament where the people are outnumbered but that does not matter because they have God on their side. That is the beauty of this story, Abraham had to have God on his side to even stand a chance much less to be victorious.
This reminds me of a song from my falls creek days that had a line that said this; “I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind, the God of angel armies is always by my side”. This is the belief that Abraham had in this situation, he had no doubt about who was fighting for him so he had the boldness to go and rescue his nephew. This is a good uncle but even more so it is a man of great faith.
What could we accomplish knowing that God is on our side fighting for us? We could share the gospel with all boldness, we could stand and defend the faith without fear, we could have the courage to stand for what is right when nobody else will. This is how we need to go through life. Abraham never was looking for a fight, but this one came to him and he knew that God is with him.
Abraham the Blessing
Abraham the Blessing
In the end of this story we see a figure named Melchizedek come out and bless Abraham and bless God. Notice though what happens because of this, Melchizedek is blessed! Do you remember the promise to Abraham in chapter 12? Genesis 12.3
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
This is a clear depiction of this happening. Throughout his life this promise comes to fruition, people who bless Abraham get good things and people that are against him receive bad things.
Now I want to take some time to look at this man Melchizedek because he holds a prominent position in the story of the Bible.
Melchizedek
Melchizedek
Melchizedek is a figure that all we know about is found right here in Genesis but his name resounds throughout the Bible. Why is this? It is because he prefigures Christ.
When we look at the different types throughout the Bible we see a few characteristics. Before we get into these through I want to look at Adam, Adam was the king of the garden and he was also like a priest in the garden. He was commanded to work and keep the garden and those are the same words that describe what the priest do in the temple. The garden was the cosmic temple of Adam in which he was also a king. So Adam can be described as a priest king. Later Paul tells us that Christ was the new Adam thus connecting Adam as a type.
Jesus was the final prophet, priest, and king. These are the characteristics that are found within the Bible for the types of Christ.
Here in Genesis we see Melchizedek who is the king of Salem and a Priest, giving him two of the distinguishing marks that types tend to bear. There is also more to this though but first we want to look at two passages of scripture. The first is Psalm 110.4
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
Then this is quoted later in Hebrews 5.6
as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
Why is it saying that Melchizedek is a priest forever? It is because there is no genealogy. Of course he was born to parents and died, maybe even had children, but there is no record of this anywhere. This is why there is no date to his reign or to his priest-ship. This comes up a little later in Hebrews again in Hebrews 7.1-4
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
Now we do not have time to look through all of chapter 7 of Hebrews but it goes on and I would recommend you study it if you want to know more. I want to skip to one more verse Hebrews 7.22-25
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Melchizedek is a type that points to Christ and we can know that Christ gives us a better covenant than what we had before. This new covenant is what we receive and what we live in now. This new covenant is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So as we come to a close this evening I want to remind us of a few things. First is God fights for us, because of this we should fight for him knowing he is on our side. I want you to think about this right now, what would it look like for you to live like you know without a doubt this is true in your life?
I also want to remind you of what these stories are pointing us towards. They are all pointing us towards the coming of Jesus. This is that they are all pointing us towards the forgiveness of sins and for salvation. If you want to know more about this forgiveness then catch me or any other adult here after we are done and they would love to talk to you about it. You can even bring a friend.
The word of God does not return void, what is it calling you to tonight?
