Turn of Events

Dear Family,

There is a wise cliche, "The grass is always greener on the other side," and it is often used, in case we have forgotten, to reference how we often think life has to be better than our own existence. We see our neighbor's huge house, and we want it. We watch as our sister or brother buys a brand new car, and we want that too. Or, we see the lush green pasture our mother farmed, and we long to be the next to till that soil. However, as is often the case, looks can be deceiving.

That huge house comes with enormous heating and electrical bills that push one to the brink of foreclosure. That new car, well the insurance alone will cripple you. And as for your father's pasture, sure you have seen it produce, experienced its fruit, but maybe you never realized how hard you mom worked to keep it all going. The huge debt used to finance the crops often goes unnoticed or talked about. The outer appearance looks amazing, but all too often we miss the layers underneath that can stifle the soul.

This is what happens to Lot. He looks at the fertile soil of the region around the Great Salt Sea, and he runs to it, envisioning a crop a hundred times, no a thousand times what Abraham could ever expect from the rocky, hilly soil of Hebron. Lot probably begins making plans to expand his farm, his "flock," but what Lot failed to notice or realize is that he was no longer under the blessing of God. He was left, alone. To fend for himself. To secure his own way. To make it. And as is often the case, when we leave God behind, bad things happen.

Lot falls into enemy hands, and he becomes the war property of foreign kings. Not that this is the only bad reality for Lot. He lives with the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, who would play a significant role in his story not to far from now. Not only was he a victim of war, but he was also a victim of wrong time, wrong place. He lived with the sinful men of his generation, and he failed to see the ramifications of living with such men. I think i have a clue.

When we surround ourselves with godly men and women, we act accordingly. But when we allow ourselves to follow the ways of wicked humanity, all too soon, our actions become wicked as well. The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry when coupled with the wicked plans of wicked people.

Lot was two strikes away from being left out, but something happens to save him. Someone escapes the invading kings and warns Abraham about Lot's situation. Abe goes to the rescue. Abe not only chases after Lot, but Abe, with the fullness of God's blessing and promise resting on his shoulders, defeats the four kings with men trained in his flock. They may have known how to defend, but these weren't professional soldiers. They were members of Abe's household that had special training, in case something came up, demanding their speciality. And it did. These brave men, with the hand of God upon them, free Lot and win the war.

Here's where the story takes an odd turn. Marching in to bless Abraham is Melchizedek, a priestly king from Salem, or Jerusalem. This Canaanite king/priest offers bread and wine to Abraham, and he blesses Abraham. In response, Abe offers a tenth of the income from the battles to the king, a foreign king, who served a "foreign" god. But Abe gives Melchzidek a tenth, and Melchzidek gives Abraham a powerful blessing. What does this mean?

Who is Melchzidek? Other than what we have here, we have no other reference to him in the Old Testament. In fact, he is almost forgotten until Hebrews picks up on him in Hebrews 7. In this epistle, the author returns to the priestly king and paints a godly picture of this king. But then the author does something incredible, the author of Hebrews uses Melchzidek as a means to point to the ultimate Priest/King: Jesus Christ.

Could it be that Melchzidek was a divine presence, ushering in the promise of God, and Abe, being a faithful man, realized it and offered what he could? Could be? But whatever role Melchizedek plays in the Abrahamic narrative, ultimately the priest/king points to the One who is the ultimate example of Priest and King: Jesus. And Abe illustrates how faithful followers of the One should act: humble, faithful, and obedient. When that happens, life is good.

When we become obedient, worship becomes 24/7-365. When we surrender our will to Jesus' and become faithful, carrying our cross, peace becomes real, no matter what we face. And when we are humble before God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, confessing our sinful nature to and our dependence on the Triune God, life becomes meaningful and real. Life, my friends is what Abe experienced daily. Life is what the apostles knew so much about. And life is what Jesus promised to all: abundant life.

Life is what we seek, and when we surrender and obey and humble ourselves, life is what we get. True life. Authentic life. Joyful life. Abundant life. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry