Title: IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS

Focus: Abram’s rescue of Lot brings into focus the future fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to Abram and his descendants. For Abram encounters someone greater than himself—someone who foreshadows Christ, our high priest and King.

Function: to urge the people to focus their lives on Christ, the Lord, and to learn from Abram to serve the Lord with all our heart.

Text: Genesis 14:1-24 (Hebrews 7:1-10)

I remember playing a game with our oldest daughter when she was a little child. She would come to my office and get me for lunch. We would walk down the church’s parking lot toward the parsonage, and the sun would shine on us in such a way that both of us would cast a shadow ahead of us. And that’s when we could play the game: I would stop and tell Jessica to step on my shadow. Since I was bigger and could easily make a big step, my shadow would always be just a little bit ahead of her. Jessica loved chasing my shadow.

But the best part was the end of our game. For after a minute of chasing my shadow, she got tired. And then I would lift her up and take her in my arms. And then we would laugh together because at that moment she was holding onto the reality. She no longer was chasing the shadow of her dad; she was holding her dad—the real thing. Chasing shadows could be fun. But holding onto the real thing was the “cat’s meow.”

The Bible provides us with many shadows that point to future realities. Some of God’s promises, for example, often take a long time to come to fulfillment. Living by God’s covenant promises feels like chasing shadows. And just as chasing shadows can wear us out, so living by faith in God’s promises can be challenging and wearisome.

Once in a while, however, God gives his people a foretaste, a glimpse of the reality of the shadow. That’s also the case today. Abram’s rescue of Lot brings into focus the future fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to Abram and his descendants. For Abram encounters someone greater than himself—someone who foreshadows Christ, our high priest and King. And that encounter brings delight and laughter to Abram and God’s people as they continue their journey of faith.

Today, I invite you to enter the story of Abram’s rescue of Lot. I want you to cherish the “nuts and bolts”—the features of this story, for they lead us to Christ Jesus. And I will urge you to focus your life on Christ, the Lord, and to learn from Abram to serve the Lord with all your heart.

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Let’s begin by asking a simple question: Why this story? For centuries—from the days of Abram to the days of Christ to our own days, God has kept this story before his pilgrim people. Why? What formative message does God convey in this story that Christians should pay attention to this strange tale of warrior kings, of a fighting and conquering Abram, and of what appears almost like a phantom high priest and king named “Melchizedek”? What’s going on here? And why should we pay attention? What is this story about?

The answer to those questions comes to us as we explore three features in the story. Feature # one: Take note of the kings and the King. The land of Canaan—which God has promised to Abram—is subject to a number of foreign kings. These kings rule over cities and towns and some major countries. They fight for dominance, and they exact taxes or tribute from those they dominate.

Four of these kings live in far-away places, all the way in Iraq and Iran. There’s the king of Shinar—(Amraphel). There’s the king of Elam (Kedorlaomer). There’s the king of Goiim (Tidal); and there is the king of Ellasar (Arioch). They form an alliance and decide to go to war against five kings who live in cities and regions found in the land of Canaan. Their names are Bera—King of Sodom; Birsha, King of Gomorrah; Shinar—King of Admah; Shemeber—King of Zeboiim; and one more king whose name is not mentioned—the king of Bela (a city also called “Zoar”). These five Canaanite kings are sick and tired of paying taxes to the other four kings. So, they rebel and they start a war.

Four kings against five—a total of nine kings with tongue-twisting names. And did you notice? The inspired Bible writer mentions these kings twice by name and by their city or territory. Why all these names? Actually, there are 10 kings mentioned in the story. There is Melchizedek—his name is mentioned too, and he is from Salem—the city of peace. This Melchizedek—the last mentioned king stands out in the story. He is the real King in the story. Nine names are mentioned, but one name stands out.

The names of the nine kings mentioned twice in the story are all names that do not tell us anything about their personality or character. Rather, the Scriptures connect their names with the city or territory they govern. Listen: Amraphel—king of Shinar; Arioch—king of Ellasar; Kedorlaomer—King of Elam. Bera—king of Sodom. And so on.

But the last king mentioned in the story has the name “Melchizedek”—his name means: “King of righteousness.” And he is king of Salem. This man’s name commands our attention. For when you enter his presence, you stand in the presence of greatness.

Ten kings; ten names—one stands out. Nine kings appear with swords in their hands (Lachem—which is Hebrew for “warfare”—is on their hearts and mind; one comes with bread and wine (Lechem—which is Hebrew for bread) is on his heart and mind. Nine kings with curses on their lips and hatred in their hearts; one with a blessing on his lips and peace in his heart. Ten kings; ten names—one stands out. Pay attention to him; for you are standing in the presence of greatness.

Feature # two: Abram recognizes Melchizedek’s greatness in the promised land. In the story, Abram acts magnificently: the moment he hears that his nephew, Lot and his household, are taken hostage by the warring kings, Abram pursues them. Heroically, and by military calculations, foolishly, Abram fights the world powers of his days—and by the grace of God Most High, Abram ‘beats the tar out of them.’ Lot is free; the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah are free. And Abram and his allies may savor the bounty of victory, for all the loot and plunder are theirs to keep by right of victory in warfare. Now this insignificant foreigner called “Abram” is a great man in the eyes of the Canaanites. For Abram has defeated their enemies.

The shadow of God’s promise of land and offspring to Abram was with a view that they would be a blessing to the nations around them. Surely, we see already a fulfillment of that shadow in Abram’s rescue of Lot and the citizens of Sodom.

But note the story: when Abram comes close to the city of Salem, he meets “Melchizedek” and it is Melchizedek who, in the name of God Most High, blesses Abram. Only the greater one can bless the lesser ones. Listen: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram is standing in the presence of greatness.

And Abram recognizes Melchizedek’s greatness. For what does he do? He gives Melchizedek a tenth of all his belongings. Both, Melchizedek and Abram serve the Most High God, who is the source of Abram’s blessing. But God’s blessing to Abram comes through a king who also functions as high priest. That king is “Melchizedek—the King of righteousness; the King of the city of Salem, of “peace.” Pay attention to this King!

Feature # three: Melchizedek foreshadows Christ, the perfect high priest. Listen to the writer of Hebrews: (7: 2)“…his name means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace.’ Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.”

Clearly, the inspired writer of Hebrews helps us to see Melchizedek as a shadow pointing to Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God.

Melchizedek—the king of Salem is in the service of God Most High. He appears on the scene of history at a very critical moment—at the time when God is making a covenant promise to Abram, at a time when Abram is journeying by faith, chasing the shadow of a promise, struggling to live by faith. It is God reaching out to Abram through Melchizedek. And Melchizedek, who embodies righteousness—as his name suggests—is a figure that helps Abram to see the fulfillment of God’s promise far into the future.

It is as if the eternal Son of God—the Lord Jesus Christ—shows up in human form to Abram. And for a very short time, Abram sees and treasures in his bosom the promised Seed who would bring peace to the world, and who would become a blessing to the nations. Pay attention to this King, for Abram’s encounter with Melchizedek is a “God-thing.”

Nine kings are flexing their authoritative muscles; Then God shows up in Melchizedek—the king of righteousness. It will happen again centuries later: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” And a baby shows up: his name is “Jesus.”

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,” so says Scripture, “during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” Abram is in the presence of greatness. God-in Christ—the King of Righteousness par excellence—is showing up.

Take another look. Melchizedek recognizes a kindred spirit of righteousness in Abram. Abram is a man of faith. And God credits his faith as “righteousness,” says Scripture. Melchizedek welcomes victorious Abram and offers him not only a blessing from God Most High, but also bread and wine (Lechem). Centuries later, the Son of Righteousness called “Jesus” offers his followers not only a blessing of peace, but also bread and wine, saying, “Take, eat, drink, remember and believe….”

And as Abram takes hold of the shadow portrayed in the bread and wine offered by Melchizedek—the shadow of God’s promised inheritance and perfect peace, so we today take hold of God’s promise of eternal life and shalom as we eat the bread and drink the cup. Abram is in the presence of greatness. God-in-Christ—the Bread of life—is showing up.

Take another look: If you still wonder who Melchizedek is, remember Jesus. Melchizedek embodies righteousness; he blesses and offers peace to Abram, and he does so right there where centuries later stood a cross. And on that cross hung the eternal Son of God in the flesh—the Lord Jesus—offering himself to God as a Lamb, thus bringing peace to all who come to him.

And while the whole world is watching this King of righteousness dying on the cross, atoning for our sins as a true “Melchizedek,” a pagan Roman soldier recognized that he was standing in the presence of greatness, and he cried out “This man was the Son of God”; “this man was a righteous man.”

It was in Salem that Abram met Melchizedek; Centuries later, in the days of King David and beyond, pilgrims of faith would come to “Jeru-salem” to worship God, and they encouraged each other saying: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Again, centuries later, it was in Jeru-salem that God’s Son, Jesus,” our high priest and King gave himself for us, so that we may become the righteousness of God, and so that we may have peace with God today.

Pay attention to this story. For Abram’s rescue of Lot brings into focus the future fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to Abram and his descendants. And learn from Abram to serve the Lord with all your heart.

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Did you notice? When the king of Sodom meets up with Abram, the king of Sodom is willing to hand over all the plunder or loot of Sodom to Abram, as long as Abram is willing to give back the women and children of Sodom. But Abram says: “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”

Do you realize what is going on here? The king of Sodom recognizes Abram’s heroic conduct. Abram saved Lot and his household and the women and children of Sodom. The king of Sodom is now willing to acknowledge this foreigner called Abram, roaming around in the Land of Canaan, as one of his own. The king of Sodom offers Abram citizenship, acceptance, and affiliation as a true Canaanite. The gods of Canaan are now to be Abram’s gods; the culture of Canaan is now for Abram to embrace; the ways of Canaan are for Abram to take. Thus it is that the king of Sodom welcomes Abram as one of his own and offers Abram the mantel of Canaan’s culture, religion, and wealth.

But Abram will not have anything to do with such an offer. Abram will continue to depend upon God and live by God’s promise. Abram will not compromise his inheritance by embracing and bowing down to Canaan’s gods, Canaan’s pleasures, and Canaan’s wealth.

Abram will cling to the riches of God, which he savored for a moment when he met Melchizedek—the King of Righteousness.

What about you and me? Are we willing to forfeit the inheritance of eternal life and the riches of the Christian faith for the lures and pleasures of the world? Will be say “No!” to greed and slander? “No” to sexual immorality and deceit? “No” to the god of Money? And “No” to the lures of pride, fame, and lust for power?

This is what we must learn to do: Like Abram we must learn to serve God with our whole heart, single-mindedly, trusting God to bless us now and in the days to come. He who is faithful will keep his promise. And on the day when the King of Righteousness will make all things new, he who is faithful will bless us richly with an “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:4,5)

Glory be to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.