So what do you think of Abram? Has he demonstrated unwavering faith up to this moment? He was told to leave Ur and all family, but he starts the trip with his dad and nephew. He experienced a drought and so went south to Egypt, essentially sold his wife into Pharaoh's harem and got sent packing, and then risks losing the land promise by giving Lot his choice of which parcel he wants.
To Abram's credit, he was the one who called upon the Lord and hopefully acted the way he was supposed to regarding the land. Then comes the victory over the foreign kings. Abram and his 318 + neighbors routed the invaders and freed Lot and rescued all the captive people and possessions.
Then the King of Sodom comes out to meet him in the valley of the kings and Abram is rather disrespectful; but the King of Salem also comes out and Abram offers 10%. Yes Tony was right that this was the first Biblical reference to "priest" but the next eight references after this in Genesis and the first part of Exodus refer to Joseph's father in law and the Egyptian priests who were not monotheistic servants of the creator who would be revealed as Yahweh. Even when that term is used to describe Moses father in law later in Exodus we don't know what kind of priest he is in Midian.
So the question - What do you think of Abram so far? We will see a change begin (if it hasn't already) in Chapter 15 - but Abram is very human, very normal, very imperfect up until he separates from Lot. But he is blessed by God. He is the vehicle of the promise.
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I think I inadvertently answered this question already. :)
ReplyDeleteYep, Abram is very human. And reassuringly so-- there is some degree of looking at how much God used Abram, the "almost-obeyer", and realising that God really can use anyone and therefore can use me with all my foibles and goofs.
I think Abram giving Lot the choice of land, rather than the many other options available to him (choose the better land himself, send Lot home, overpower Lot & his servants to make them get along with his own people, etc.), gives us a glimpse of the heart that was following the Lord. Even without knowing the rest of the story, that act shows his generosity, his kindness, and his trust that the Lord would give him lands to support his family, servants, and stuff.
I wish we knew more about the King of Salem, considering how important he becomes later.
Agreed. Shows trust in the Lord and I want to know much more about the Kink of Salem, the only other reported King and Priest.
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