Be Honest With God

A short time after God had made the covenant with Abraham, he appears to Abraham again, in Genesis 18:1-10a.  “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant.

And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.  And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.  And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.”   

And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife?

And he said, Behold, in the tent.

And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son…”  God repeated his promise the give Sarah a son, adding the detail that at the proper time in her cycle, she would get pregnant and the following year she would have a baby. 

Sarah had heard the promises that they would have a child for the past twenty four years, but nothing had happened.               Sarah overheard the promise, but after so long she really couldn’t believe it was really going to happen as we see in Genesis 18:10b-12.  “And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.   Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”   While the idea of finally having a baby sounded wonderful. Sarah could not imagine any way it could happen at her age.  She was well beyond the normal age for bearing children. 

Sarah had become so used to things working according to certain basic principles that she had forgotten it was God who made those principles and he is not bound by them.  God reminded them of this, in Genesis 18:13-14.  “And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?  Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”  Because God is not limited by the laws of nature, Luke 1:37 tells us, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  He can change the rules to make it possible.  It didn’t matter whether she was still producing eggs naturally or not, he couls still cause her to get pregnant.   

Pride make it hard for people to admit they are wrong, and Sarah was no exception as Genesis 18:15 tells us.  “Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.”   God heard Sarah laugh, yet she tried to tell him she didn’t.  We are only fooling ourselves when we try to hide what we thought or did.  God knows exactly what we think, so we just as well be honest about it.  Sometimes even the most spiritual person struggles with doubt, and God understands that.  He will forgive if we admit it, but he wants us to be honest with him. 

The Covenant Is With Isaac

Thirteen years before, Abraham and Sarah had used a surrogate mother to give birth to Ishmael, thinking they needed to help God.   It had caused major problems in the marriage, with Sarah blaming Abraham.  In Genesis 17:15-16, God makes it very clear they could have trusted God to give a baby to Sarah without them having to make it happen.  “And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.  And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” 

Abraham and Sarah’s effort to have a baby by using a surrogate was inspired by the flesh, rather than by faith.  Galatians 4:22-23 tells us, “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.   But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.”  The practice of using a surrogate seems to have been common in that day, but though it was widely accepted, it was still adultery.  As Romans 14:23 says, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” our efforts to make what God has promised to do happen are sinful.

Although he could hardly believe it, Abraham loved Sarah and was thrilled that she would have a child of her own, as we see in Genesis 17:17-18.    “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?   And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!”  At the same time, he loved his son Ishmael, and wanted him to be blessed as well. 

God was very clear that Sarah’s son, the one who God had promised was the one who would receive the blessings God had promised, in Genesis 17:19-22.  “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.  And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.  But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.  And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.” 

While God would bless Ishmael, making him into a great nation as well, his promise and contract was with Isaac instead.   God may and often does bless our efforts to make things happen, but the greatest blessing come when we simply do what he told us and allow him to produce the results. 

Abraham immediately proceeded to fulfill his part of the contract, so that he he could receive the blessings God promised.  Genesis 17:23-27 tells us, “And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.  And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.  And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.” 

Although the covenant was not with Ishmael, he was circumcised as a son of Abraham.  Many Moslems, especially those of Arabic descent still continue the practice, even though it is not required in their religion.    

A Symbol Of Commitment To God

Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, and at least eighteen years after God had appeared to Abraham and counted his faith for righteousness, God appeared to Him again, offering him a covenant, or contract, in Genesis 17:1-8.  “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Abraham had already demonstrated his faith and commitment toward God.  Based on his actions, God offered him an eternal contract if he was willing to commit to walk before God completely and with integrity.  God would make him the progenitor or father of many nations, and would bless his descendants forever, giving them the land of Canaan as an everlasting inheritance and being their God.  Abram’s name would be changed from Abram, A Father, to Abraham, A Father of Nations. 

A contract is a legal agreement that one party will do certain things in exchange for certain actions by the other party.   If one party does not fulfill their agreement, certain penalties are established.  As we have already seen all the land belongs to God and he can take it away whenever the occupants do not use it properly.  God was offering Abraham assurance that his descendants would have the right to the land of Canaan forever if they would keep their part of the contract.

Genesis 17:9-13 describes Abraham and his family’s obligations under the contract.  “And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.”

As a symbol of their commitment to God, every male over eight days old was to be circumcised, including any slaves they bought.  The promises did not apply to any man who was not circumcised, according to Genesis 17:14.  “And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”  He was to be considered as not being a part of Israel because he did not meet the terms of the contract.

It is important to understand that Abraham’s righteousness was not based on his circumcision, but on his faith.  Romans 4:11-13 tells us, “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” 

Circumcision did not save them, but it identified them as Israelites.  Baptism serves the same purpose in the New Testament, identifying people as part of God’s church, but it does not save them.  Abraham was counted righteous many years before he was circumcised.   In the same way, a person can be saved without being baptized, but just as Abraham was later circumcised, a saved person ought to get baptized as a symbol of his commitment to God. It is usually held as necessary for church membership, just as circumcision was necessary for citizenship in the nation of Israel.  

A Lapse of Faith

God had promised Abraham would have children as numerous as the sand of the sea.  He went to Canaan when he was seventy five, and Sarah was sixty fie.  Ten years later, they still have no children, and while Abraham believed God’s promise, he began to feel it was up to them to make it happen.  Sarah felt guilty that she had been unable to give Abraham a son and suggested a way they could make it happen, in Genesis 16:1-3.  “Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.  And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.  And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.” 

We often hear that Christians are to pray as if everything depended on God and to work as if everything depends on us.  As a result, we begin to spend hours praying in an effort to get God to take action.  In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus said, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.   Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”  After all, as Jesus explains in Luke 18:1-7, God is not like a corrupt judge who doesn’t care about what is right.  While it is true everything depends on him, we can trust him to keep his promises without nagging at him.

When we get the idea that everything depends on us, we cast doubt on God’s ability to do what is needed.  God doesn’t need us to accomplish his purpose.  He just asks that we do what he told us to do and trust him to produce the proper results.  When we begin to nag at him, or when we begin to try to force things to happen we are no longer trusting him, and as Romans 14:23 says, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”   Even a man of faith such as Abraham can sin by not trusting God with the outcome of certain things. 

Sin always leads to further problems, and this was no exception.  Instead of trusting God to provide when he was ready, Abraham and Sarah tried to force the issue by using a surrogate.  Genesis 16:4-6 tells us, “And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.  And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.” 

Although Sarah had suggested Abraham have sex with Hagar, when Hagar got pregnant, it began to cause problems, implying Sarah was not capable of having a baby and thus was less than complete as a woman.  Sarah became Jealous of Hagar and demanded Abraham do something.  She became so emotionally abusive toward Hagar she eventually left.  The baby she was carrying was Abraham’s and even though it was the result of sin, Abraham still had the responsibility of providing for and raising the child.  God convinced Hagar to return in spite of the conflict between herself and Sarah, in Genesis 16:7-14.  “And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. Ge 16:8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?

And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.  And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?  Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.”

Because he was Abraham’s son, the baby would be blessed, although he would have a much different attitude than his brother.  Sin always has consequences, and sometimes they are difficult to resolve.    Even today the Bedouin tribes are in almost constant conflict with each other as well as the peoples around them.    The conflict between Sarah and Hagar has affected the attitudes of generations of Ishmael’s descendants. 

Hagar returned and Abraham supported her and Ishmael for several years. Genesis 16:15 tells us, “And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.  And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.”

The Earth Is The Lord’s

The same day that God promised Abraham a son, God gave a prophecy about the future, as Genesis 15:12-15 describes the first part of the prophecy.  “And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.”

It would be another twenty years before Abraham’s son Isaac was born.  Two hundred years later, his grandson Jacob’s entire family would move to Egypt as a result of a famine, during the First Intermediate Period of Egyptian history.  Jacob’s son Joseph would become one of the most powerful men in Egypt, and for the first thirty years, Abraham’s descendants would be well regarded, but as later, they were regarded as foreigners and were forced into slavery, for four hundred years, during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom period.  At the end of that period, God would bring a series of plagues on Egypt, and they would be forced to release the Hebrews, even paying them to leave. 

In the process Egypt’s economy was destroyed, as well as her army, leading to their being conquered by the Hyksos during the Second Intermediate Period.   The story can be found in Exodus 1-14.  Exodus 12:40-41 tells us, “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.”

As we have seen, in Abraham’s day the Egyptians were still worshipping God.  Six hundred years later, in Exodus 5:2, “…Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.”   The story is a demonstration of the statements in Acts 17:24-27.  “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.” 

All the different races of humans on earth are related to each other genetically, through Noah.  They were commanded to populate the entire earth, and when they refused, at the the tower of Babel, he changed their languages so they couldn’t readily understand each other to force them to scatter to ends of the earth.  He has predetermined where and how long each political system will remain in control of an area, based on whether they will seek to please God or not.  The middle kingdom lasted approximately four hundred years, but was destroyed when they forgot God, worshipping their political system and other things instead.    

Abraham had a close relation with several of the Amorite tribes who served God, but in Isaac’s day things had begun to change.  In Moses’ day Abraham’s servants would return to Canaan, destroying the Canaanites and Amorites, but At the time the Amorites were still serving God and he would not take the land away from them as long as they were doing what they should.  Genesis 15:16 says, “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” 

Understanding that the earth belongs to God and he allows different groups to use it, evicting them if they insist on misusing his property results in an unpopular perspective of human history, but it is what the scriptures teach.  Every empire and political system in history has collapsed when they turned their backs on God’s principles.   If a person or group doesn’t pay the rent, or damages the property and the lease expires, it is their own fault if they get evicted because they don’t own the property but have just been allowed to use it.  They no right to hold grudges against the people who occupy the property next.    

Faith counted For Righteousness

When God told Abraham to leave his homeland, Abraham had simply obeyed, not knowing where he went.  One of the first things he had done when he came into the land was to build and altar and worship God.  He had unselfishly given Lot the choice as to which land he would claim, and had then put his own life on hold to rescue Lot and his family from the Sumerian and Akkadian army, refusing payment from the Sodomites to avoid any appearance of a connection to their wickedness.  Genesis 15:1 tells us, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

Abraham had demonstrated his love for God by obeying him.  In return God revealed himself to Abraham in special way, Just as John 14:21 promises.  “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”   It is impossible to develop a personal relationship with anyone unless we show a personal interest in them.  As we show that personal interest, they begin to open up to us, and the same thing happens in developing a relationship with God.  God just promised to reward Abraham. 

Abraham asked what God would give him that could make him happier.   He already had everything he needed, and he didn’t have any children to receive the blessings, as we see in Genesis 15:2-3.  “And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.”  Abraham appreciated all the things God had given him, but getting more stuff wouldn’t make much difference since he was old and didn’t have anyone special to leave it to.  Abraham was eighty years old and his wife was only ten years younger.  After years of trying, they no longer had any expectation of having a child.   When he died, one of his servants would inherit his belongings.  

Abraham was serving God out of love, not out of a desire to get something.  As a result, God wanted to show his love for Abraham, as Genesis 15:4-5 tells us.  “And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.”  Abraham’s biggest desire was to have a child to inherit his property and carry on his genes.  God promised to fulfill that desire beyond his wildest dreams. 

It seemed impossible that a couple who had been unable to have a child in their most productive years could have a child when they were old and the woman was no longer menstruating.  Nevertheless, Abraham believed God, taking him at his word, as Genesis 15:6 tells us.  “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” 

Eve had disobeyed God because she believed Satan, that God was essentially lying to them about the effect of eating the fruit.  Having people assume you are lying is very insulting.  When Abraham believed God about something that seemed impossible, it was very gratifying, revealing how much he trusted him.  Because he believed god, he would do what was right in so far as he was capable, and God counted that attitude as being righteous.

Abraham’s righteousness was based on his attitude of faith in god, rather than on keeping the religious demands of the law, because the Law would not be given until after Israel left Egypt after being there for four hundred thirty years, and it would be two hundred years before they went to Egypt.  Romans 4:13-22 tells us, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

Understanding that Abraham was saved by fan attitude of faith, rather than by performing the religious acts of the law is critical for those who wish to be Christians today.  Romans 4:23-25 makes this very clear.  “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” 

Notice that we are talking about an attitude of faith, not just a mental acceptance of God’s words.  That attitude of faith affected what Abraham did, as we have already seen.  James 2:14-18 addresses this point.  “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Our actions demonstrate the depth of our faith.  Faith that does not produce action is dead, and cannot produce salvation.   

Returning The Stolen Goods

Abraham had caught the Sumero-Akkadian army by surprise and defeated them, recovering all the things they had taken.  It wasn’t long before the news reached Sodom and the cities that were her allies, and a delegation went out to meet him and reclaim their stuff.  They planned to meet him in a valley just south of Salem or Salim, as Genesis 14:17 tells us.  “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.”  Some fifteen hundred years later,  Rehoboam would set up a monument to himself in the same valley and it would become known as the King’s Dale. 

Abraham and his servants were coming from Damascus, traveling south along the river.  They stopped  at Salem, where the met the king, in Genesis 14:18-20.  “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” 

Originally all of the people had known about God.  While many were turning away in Abraham’s day, making up their own religions, , there were still many groups that worshipped God.   One of those groups was in Salem.  Melchizedek, the King of Salem was a priest of God, teaching the worship of God in the same way Noah and his family worshipped, and extended all the back through Seth’s family to Adam and Eve.  Based on the description in Hebrews 7:1-3, many believe He may have in fact been Christ or one of the angels.  “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”  Whether he was actually Christ or an angel, he was worshipping God in the original way and as Hebrews 7 tells us, Christ takes up back to that original priesthood and worship of God, bypassing all other religions.  As God told him in Hebrews 7:17, “…Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” 

Although the break it down differently, both Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism teach that God has had to repeatedly change his plans because of man’s sin, and that Christianity is the result of those changes.  Hebrews tells us that in Christ we go back to before those changes were made.  It is why Paul puts so much stress on the promises to Abraham in Romans 3-4.  While it seems new to us because it is so different than traditional religions, it is in fact much older than they are.    

The king of Sodom offered Abraham all the things as a reward for bring back their wives and children., in Genesis 14:21-24.  “And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” 

Abraham’s only concern had been the welfare of Lot’s family.  He refused to take any kind of reward from the Sodomites and their allies because he did not want anyone to think he owed them anything.  The only thing he would accept was the food his servants had eaten.  It was a personal choice, and he was willing for the Amorites and Philistines who had accompanied him to be rewarded.  He would not impose his personal standards on them.