Foundation and Fruit of Faith Genesis 14:1-15:1 Abe Stratton, Pastor Sunday Morning, March 5, 2017

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1 Foundation and Fruit of Faith Genesis 14:1-15:1 Abe Stratton, Pastor Sunday Morning, March 5, 2017 God protects and rewards His faith-filled people. Introduction Life is full of enticements. If you ve read any Greek mythology, you may know the story of Odysseus (Ulysses in Roman myths). He was king of Ithaca and left his wife and son to fight in the Trojan War. After 10 years of war, Odysseus began his journey home, but he met with many adventures along the way which slowed his journey. One of the potential distractions came from the Sirens, a group of beautiful women or mermaids who sang to sailors passing by their land. The Sirens song was so beautiful and powerful and alluring that all who heard it would turn out of their way and be drawn to their deaths. Life is also full of dangers. In his poem on the life of Job, John Piper writes, O God, I cling With feeble fingers to the ledge Of your great grace, yet feel the wedge Of this calamity struck hard Between my chest and this deep-scarred And granite precipice of love. Throughout our journey of faith we struggle to believe in God and in His promises; we struggle to believe His words. In our passage this morning, we find a man who is very different from us and yet very similar to us. Abram is on a journey of faith a man striving to know and obey the true God, but a man beset by difficulties and temptations. Through Genesis 14 the author of Genesis is communicating that God faithfully protects and rewards His faith-filled people. Read Genesis 14:1-15:1. (page 10) Context 12:1-3, 7 God chose a man named Abram out of his pagan, idol-worshiping surroundings. He told Abram to go to a land He would show to him; He promised to make a great nation from Abram s descendants and to bless the whole world through his descendants; He promised to bless all those who bless Abram and curse all those who dishonor him. He also promised to give Abram and his descendants the land of Canaan. So we see God as the Foundation of Abram s faith, and we see Abram exercising the Fruit of faith in his obedience by going out. 12:8 and 13:4 Abram builds an altar to Yahweh near Bethel and calls on His name. 13:12 Abram settles in the land of Canaan after the separation from Lot. Abram again exercises faith by letting Lot choose. 13:14-17 God renews His promises to Abram: the land is his and his descendants, and his descendants will be as numerous as the dust. God encourages the Fruit of Abram s faith with His reassurances. 13:18 Abram builds another altar to Yahweh near Hebron. Abram exercises faith in his continued commitment to Yahweh. 14 Abram faces some unique challenges to his faith, but his relationship with Yahweh is also strengthened. Abram exercises the Fruit of faith by refusing the earthly riches of Sodom. 15:1-7 God renews His promises to Abram regarding land and numberless offspring. 1

2 Transition: So this pagan, Abram, is on a pilgrimage of faith. Chapter 14 shows us several obstacles or barriers to his faith and how Abram responded. But more than that, it reveals the glorious work of God in the one He had chosen. God faithfully protects and rewards His faith-filled people. I. Explain the Text. What does it say? A. An unstoppable campaign (14:1-12) 1. The conquerors were irresistible (1-7). 4 kings from the east (Iran region?) sweep into the region. What brings them is a revolt of 5 kings who have been under their leader s (Chedorlaomer s) rule. Sounds like the battle of 5 armies in The Hobbit. Map slide The Scripture doesn t tell us the size of the 4-king coalition, but it had to be pretty large and fierce. As they come to subjugate the 5 kings near the Salt Sea, they crush everyone else in their way. This includes the peoples later to be identified as giants the Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim (Deut. 2:10-12, 20-23). 2. The rebels were scattered (8-10). The 5 kings who are rebelling confront the northern coalition in the Valley of Siddim. It would seem that they were choosing their battleground an area that they knew well despite its traps. Explanation: Full of bitumen/tar/asphalt pits They could be pits which asphalt was dug from, or they might have been tar pits in which you could sink. Illustration: When you re playing a sport, you have to know the playing field. In college I played soccer, and I would look ahead on our schedule to see which field we were playing on. One field was pretty green and fairly soft; the other was hard and rough. If we were playing on that one, I knew I was going to have skinned knees and raw thighs from sliding. Despite their knowledge of the battlefield, the 5 rebelling kings are routed by the invaders. Some hide in or are swallowed by the pits, and others run for the hills. Some fell into them fell into the pits and died, or possibly lowered themselves into the pits for hiding. The last option makes sense when the king of Sodom reappears after Abram s victorious return. 3. The captives included Lot (11-12). In chapter 13 Lot had chosen the well-watered Jordan plains when he separated from Abram, and that was a legitimate choice. 13:12 After Lot separated from Abram, he moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13:10 This [separation] was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 13:13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. Now he is in Sodom, and that decision brought serious consequences. B. An unlikely rescue (14:13-16) 1. Abram responded to his kinsman s need (13-14). Twice the word kinsman (literally, brother) is used in this passage (14:12, 16). It emphasizes Abram s relationship to Lot, and that relationship has stronger bearing than Lot s choice of the better land or the size of the army which has captured him. 2. Abram s little band routed the superior army (15). Abram has 318 trained men, but he also combines with his allies (Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre v. 24). We don t know the size of his force, but it is probably significantly smaller than the northern coalition carrying Lot and the captives. Map slide As with several other narratives in the OT, a smaller band routs a larger force. 3. Abram rescued the captives, including Lot (16). 2

3 It is astounding that Abram s victory is so conclusive he is able to regain everything that was taken by the invaders ( all the possessions his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people ). C. An unexpected blessing (14:17-15:1) As Abram returns from his battle, 2 kings meet him, and the contrast between the 2 kings couldn t be starker. Map slide 1. The king of Sodom met Abram (17). Apparently he survived the battle with the northern invaders, and he comes up from the southern end of the Salt Sea to meet Abram close to the northern end of the Sea. Other than his title, we know nothing about him, but it is safe to say that, because he was the king of a city known for its exceeding wickedness (Gen. 13:13), he was a man of great wickedness. Although the king of Sodom comes to meet Abram, we don t know why. There are no words recorded until after the other king s interaction with Abram. You would think that he would be overflowing with thanks, but we have only silence for the moment. 2. The king of Salem pointed Abram to God Most High. Who is this Melchizedek? (18) Who is this masked man? He is a man who appears, seemingly out of nowhere, in this one OT story, and then he disappears without a trace. In the rest of the OT, he is mentioned only in Psalm 110, but the greatest amount of information we have about him comes from the NT letter to the Hebrews. I m excited to spend more time there next Sunday. King of Salem Salem would later become David s capital city, Jerusalem. Salem means completeness, wholeness; it s closely related to shalom, which means peace and is a strong theme throughout the OT. Whereas the king of Sodom rules over a place of great wickedness, he rules over a place known for completeness or wholeness or peace. Priest of God Most High Priest of El Elyon the supreme God, the majestic and powerful God exalted over all While Melchizedek lives in the land of Canaan, a land of pagans, somehow he is a worshiper and servant of the one true God. What does he do and say? (18-20) He brought out bread and wine. He is refreshing Abram and his victorious band. Whereas the king of Sodom seems to offer nothing, this priest-king seeks to help Abram. He blessed Abram on behalf of God Most High the supreme Creator. He is essentially speaking for God. He uses the title Most High to emphasize that the God who is blessing Abram sits unrivalled over all deities and earthly rulers. No one compares to Him. He also calls this God the possessor of heaven and earth the One who gave birth to it all, created it all, owns it all, and rules over it all. Melchizedek is declaring that the supreme Creator God favored Abram and had empowered him for success and prosperity. He praised God Most High for giving Abram the victory over his enemies. He reminds Abram of where his victory came from and essentially invites him to worship. How does Abram respond? (20) Abram realizes that he has found a fellow worshiper. In this pagan land, here is another who worships the supreme Creator God he worships. 3

4 These statements by Melchizedek had to be both encouraging and humbling to Abram. He had to be encouraged by the statement that God looks on him with favor and has empowered him for success, but he also had to be humbled by the realization that the victory was not his, but God s. In God s kindness, He was encouraging Abram s exercises of faith, and Abram affirmed his faith in the God of heaven by giving an offering to the king of peace. 3. The king of Sodom offered Abram earthly treasure (21). What does king of Sodom say and do? His statement could be generous take the spoils, or it could be reluctant I guess you can take what you deserve. Illustration: It s like everyone hovering around the last few pieces of Thanksgiving dessert. As family members are leaving, no one wants to be that person who takes the last pieces, but everyone wants them. Finally, you say in exasperation, Just take them. In contrast to Melchizedek, it seems like this king is selfish and manipulative; he may be trying to put Abram in a place of indebtedness to him. How does Abram respond? (22-24) a. Abram affirmed his trust in Yahweh, the supreme Creator God. Abram echoes the titles which Melchizedek used a moment ago the supreme Creator God, but he adds a significant name to the mix Yahweh/Jehovah/the covenant name of God which Abram had come to know. Abram is saying, This supreme God you re talking about is the God who s begun a relationship with me. b. Abram refused to accept any treasure from the king of wickedness. I have lifted my hand to the LORD. The ESV translates this in such a way that it sounds like Abram had made vow before the battle; however, scholars say that the way the Hebrew is written seems to indicate that Abram is making this vow in the moment ( I raise my hand to Yahweh ). He s making a vow to Jehovah in front of the kings of Sodom and Salem the kings of wickedness and peace. He will not take anything temporal. Why? Lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. Abram doesn t want to be indebted to anyone but Yahweh God; he doesn t want anyone else to hold rule over him or be responsible for enriching him. He is committed to God. Hebrews 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. He was looking for something eternal, so he could spurn the allure of the temporal. A lively faith enables a man to look upon the wealth of this world with a holy contempt What are all the ornaments and delights of sense to one that has God and heaven ever in his eye? (Matthew Henry) So Abram received a blessing from Melchizedek, but now he receives a blessing straight from God himself. 4. God affirmed His commitment to Abram (15:1). a. Yahweh is Abram s protector. I am your shield. b. Yahweh is Abram s rewarder. Your reward shall be very great. On the heels of his exercise of faith, God reassures Abram of His love and commitment. Abram s faith had to be immensely encouraged by this. Isn t this what God does with us? He is the Foundation of our faith; He is the One who began a good work of faith in us, so our faith is all of Him. Then He gives us truth about himself and asks us to respond to it in faith even when things around us don t seem to make sense. When 4

5 we do obey Him and follow Him and our faith bears fruit, He gives us reassurances by His Word and through His Spirit that He is our God and we are His people. God is the Foundation of our faith, and He is the one who graciously cultivates the Fruit of our faith. II. Apply the Text. How do we live? A. Walk in faith through danger. He is our Shield. 1. Walk in faith through danger. Some of you are clinging with feeble fingers to the ledge of God s great grace, but a wedge of calamity has slammed between you and His precipice of love. Examples: (1) Loss of your job; (2) life-changing illness or injury; (3) loss of a loved one; (4) rejection by someone; (5) change; (6) loneliness; (7) infertility; (8) spiritual or demonic oppression; (9) death itself 2. He is our Shield. a. Abram could walk right into the danger of battle because he had heard from God himself; God had made promises to him. Now, after this chapter, he had heard through God s representative, Melchizedek; so he could continue to walk through dangers in faith. b. We have something more sure. We have the written Word of God in which we see the Living Word of God himself Jesus Christ. We see and know things which Abram never knew. (1) Christ is our King; He rules over us and fights for us. He is our Shield and our Defender. (2) Like His forefather, Abram, He left comforts and ease in order to rescue His loved ones to redeem us from captivity. (3) He has defeated, not just physical armies, but He has defeated our sin by bearing it himself on the Cross. (4) He triumphed over the forces of darkness at the Cross and put them to open shame. (5) He shattered the power of death by swallowing it up in resurrection victory. (6) There is nothing which can defeat this mighty King. He is our Shield and our Defender. B. Walk in faith through temptation. He is our Rewarder. 1. Walk in faith through temptation. Some of you are hearing the siren calls of temporary pleasures, things which promise to fulfill and satisfy you, but which will ruin and destroy you. Examples: (1) Comfort just a little bit more: a few more things, a little more money in the bank, another fun experience. (2) Control just a little more power: more say in the company, more weight lost, a higher GPA for your future, more of your way in the family dynamic. (3) Relationship the next person will fit me; the next fling will satisfy me. 2. He is our Rewarder. a. Abram could release 10% of all the victory spoils to Melchizedek the priest because he didn t need it when he had Jehovah God. He could spurn the offer of Sodom s great riches because his eyes were set on God and His promises. b. We know something greater than Abram knew, for we know that all of God s promises find their yes and Amen in Jesus Christ. (1) Christ is our Priest; He stands in our place before God, and He mediates between God and us. (2) He laid down His life as a sacrifice for us in order to satisfy the wrath of God against our sin. (3) As a result, He is the one who gives us perfect peace and wholeness; there is no condemnation for us now. (4) He is the one who tells us that the favor of the Most High God now rests upon us; we don t have to earn it, and we ll never lose it. 5

6 (5) He is the one who refreshes His people, restoring our souls and leading us in green pastures. (6) Above all these, He has made us His, and He has made himself ours. He has entered into relationship with us. He has rewarded us with himself. I am His, and He is mine forever. With this kind of King and Priest, with this kind of Shield and Rewarder, take the world! But give me Jesus! He is the Foundation of our Faith, and He cultivates the Fruit of our Faith. He indeed protects and rewards His faith-filled people. Transition to the Lord s Table One of the sweetest acts of Melchizedek toward Abram was the refreshment he brought to the weary victor with bread and wine. Today, for all of those who have believed in Christ s Cross-work, our great High Priest invites us to a table of bread and wine a table which reminds us of the terrible battle He waged for us. The bread represents His body which was broken for us, and the juice represents His blood which He shed to forgive our sins. This is a table of reminder. A table to strengthen our faith. A table of refreshment in our weariness. A table of reprieve from our battles. A table which reminds us that He is our Shield and He is our Rewarder. Let s come to it today with joy and eagerness and gratitude. For you who do not know this Priestly-King, you have not come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, this table has no real refreshment for you. But we want it to. You can call out to Jesus right now to admit that you have rebelled against Him and gone your own way, you have sinned against Him, but you believe that He died on the Cross to take your penalty and to forgive your sin. We would love to hear that you have entered into a relationship with this Jesus we love. But while we participate in this, we would ask you only to watch and not to take. Jesus gave this table for His followers and His people only. 6