Faithful And Loving Harvesters – Genesis 13-14

“Then Abram went up from Egypt, he, and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 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.” Genesis 13:1-4

The Lord blessed Abram with ample supplies for his mission. Abram returned from Egypt to the place where he previously built an altar to the Lord. In Romans 10:13, Paul wrote, “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” Genesis 13:4 says, “Abram called on the Name of the Lord.”

I often ask the Holy Spirit to be the wind in the sails of my prayers. I am weak but He is strong. The Lord says in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His power that works among us. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus urged us to ask, seek, and knock to receive God’s help. Since God is willing to answer our prayers, let’s pray.

“Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, 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.’” Genesis 13:5-9

Abram and Lot had a good problem. Their livestock outgrew the land. Their servants began to have conflicts with each other. Perhaps, their neighbors, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, were instigating the strife. The Lord led Abram to offer his nephew first pick of the land.

“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. 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.” Genesis 13:10-13

Lot followed his eyes and lost everything. Like Eve seeing the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3:6 and choosing it. Like the sons of God in Noah’s day choosing wives by their outward appearance in Genesis 6:2-3. Lot lost his city, his home, his wife, his sons-in-law and his honor in Genesis 19:14-38. Eve lost the Garden of Eden. The sons of God in Noah’s day lost their planet.

Abraham followed the law of love preferring others before himself. The Lord blessed him.

Jesus gave up the very skin off His back so that His enemies, unworthy sinners, could live in the paradise of God if they (we) would believe in Him and profess Him.

Paul wrote in Galatians 6:8, “For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Romans 5:5 says that the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Apart from the Spirit of God, we will not love as God loves. Thus, we need to humble ourselves daily before God and ask Him to help us love as He loves.

What would happen if we daily prayed for ourselves in accordance with Matthew 5:43-48?

For example, “Heavenly Father, please help me to love as You love. Please help me to love my enemies and those who curse me. Please help me to treat those who hate me well. Please help me to pray for those who despitefully use and persecute me. Please help me to be perfect in love as You are. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

“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.” Genesis 13:14-18

Abram had taken Lot under his wing after Lot’s father died. Like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, he let Lot have the riches he desired, but he didn’t stop caring for Lot. In the next chapter, Abram risks his life to successfully rescue Lot from those who took him prisoner. In Genesis 18:32, he interceded for Lot’s city that God would spare it from judgment if even 10 righteous people might be found in it. Genesis 19:29 indicates that God rescued Lot from Sodom’s judgment in response to Abram’s prayers.

Genesis 14:1-4 contains the first recorded account of a war between earthly kingdoms. The war involved four kingdoms including Shinar (Iraq) and Elam (Iran) against five kingdoms including Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot and his family lived. Before this war began, the five kingdoms had been subservient to Elam (Iran). For 12 years they served the king of Elam (modern day Iran), but in 13th year they had enough of him, and rebelled against him.

In Genesis 14:5-12, the Lord provides for us some of the details of the escalation. A year after the four kingdoms rebelled against his rule, the king of Elam begins to conquer their cities. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah retreat from him. In the process of fleeing from him, some of them fall into slime pits while others escape to mountains for safety. The conquering king captures Lot and all that pertains to him.

In Genesis 14:13-17, when Abram learns that Lot has been taken captive, he summons 318 of his trained servants (born in his own house) and pursues the conquering army. Abram’s small army defeats the King of Elam and his allies. Abram recovered stolen goods, as well as Lot, and the women.

“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 [Abram] gave Him a tithe of all.” Genesis 14:18-20

King Melchizedek of Salem (Jerusalem) was not a king from any of the warring kingdoms. Who is He? He brings bread and wine to Abram and communes with him. He blesses Abram. Abram gives to this King a tithe of all his gains.

Psalm 110 is a Messianic Psalm and guess who is mentioned in verse four of this Psalm? Melchizedek! Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 in Matthew 22:44 to help the religious leaders understand how Messiah is descendant of King David but also David’s Lord. Melchizedek is presented as the future Messiah in Psalm 110.

Hebrews 6:20 says that Jesus is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek forever. In other words, it is an unique priestly order of Messiah. In Hebrews 7:3, Melchizedek is without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God. The name Melchizedek means King of Righteousness. Jesus Christ is the source of righteousness for kings, kingdoms and people. Salem means peace so He is also the King of Peace.

Melchizedek is a theophany. A manifestation of Christ on earth before His incarnation! In John 8:58, Jesus said to the religious rulers in Jerusalem, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” In John 8:59, the rulers picked up stones to stone Jesus but He hid Himself and slipped away. By His words, Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh.

“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.’” Genesis 14:21-24

Abram had the Lord and his family. He was content.

These two chapters began with strife between Lot’s and Abram’s servants, and later continued with stories of war between earthly kingdoms.

I look forward to the era that the Lord speaks of in Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 when Messiah “shall judge between the nations and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

The Lord has already made peace with those of us who profess Him as our Lord and Savior. He gives us His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to fellowship with God as Abraham did with Melchizedek the King of Salem. He rewards us for victories when, in fact, He is the One who gave both us and Abraham the victory.

Are we walking in love for God and others as Abraham did, or more importantly as Jesus did?

In Matthew 9:38, Jesus had a prayer request. He said, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” There are ample people praying for temporary treasures and pleasures. Lost souls need harvesters who are willing, if necessary, to give up the skin on their backs to bring the Gospel to them.

Abraham’s faith in God honored God. Abraham’s love and prayers for his nephew was a manifestation of the Spirit of Christ at work in his life. May God be honored by our faith in Him and by our love for even our enemies. As harvesters we need faith in God and love for those who do not yet know God.