Abram was to grow. But it was not the personal growth, as most people understand it today, namely a form of study, an acquisition of some know-how, of new information. Here we are very different from ancient people. When the Enlightenment came and with it the rapid development of knowledge and science, people sought universal truths about the world in which we live. Knowledge was to be free from misunderstandings and prejudices as far as possible, an unencumbered view of reality was sought, only verifiable facts were important. At that time, science started to oppose religion, which - from its point of view - does not work primarily with facts, but with beliefs, and also requires that newly found knowledge fit into a given thought pattern. Over time, therefore, most scientists have rejected religion as a non-scientific phenomenon.

If we did not have personal experience with God and our faith was based only on conviction, arguments, it would be a very weak and fickle thing. Not that there are no rational arguments for faith, but they are usually not enough to seize a person's heart, so that it is willing to withstand all problems, no matter what it costs. If our faith were only a matter of conviction, we would be similar to Jehovah's Witnesses and churches of the sort, which need to teach their members constantly (i.e. give them a steady stream of thought arguments) to persevere in the so-called faith. In reality, however, this is not faith, but opinion. Its core lies not in the heart, but in mind.

We must therefore experience what Abram did already at his time and what the apostle Paul cared for "...so that your faith may not be based on human wisdom, but on the power of God" (1 Cor 2:5). Only a personal encounter will move us beyond limits of our rationality, where God dwells from a human point of view (namely, in the "spiritual realm"). Then we are surprised to find that God does not try to prove to us that he is scientifically OK. We experience His presence as something from another world, from which His power enters into our one and communicates with us ("revelation" comes).

God did not rewarded anyone with an acceptance because he had the right opinions. However, he accepted a number of people who had incorrect opinions in some ways, but otherwise correct attitudes (heart). That is why He worked on the inner transformation of Abram, and He will do it with each one of us so that His kingdom may grow in our lives and bear precious fruit for eternity... so that we reflect more and more of God Himself.

As a man following God, Abram was to rise up higher, Abram was to grow. But why actually? Perhaps religion consists only in participating in the liturgy, in the libation to the deity in the form of some unpleasant duty, so that when it is fulfilled, one can continue his private life, do what pleases him and his god no longer causes him complications, wants nothing more from him, does not stand in his way?

No, Abram's religion was different, his God was different. What Abram experienced with him he did not experience with any of his previous idols. His God spoke, he gave him revelations. And as Abram walked with him, he really captured his heart. It was not just a matter of fulfilling unpleasant duties, Abram could not describe it in a different way than feeling an increasingly deep respect for God, a devotion that was not forced but completely sincere.

Abram was to grow — first, not only because he wanted to be better himself, but because he was, in a way, an envoy of this God on earth.

Abram was to grow — but not because he suffered from narcissistic tendencies and was feeling well if he continually improved himself, but because if he remained as he used to be he would not be able to receive the promises God had given him.

There are things that are available from God to every person. The gospel of salvation is intended for people of all epochs and races, small, large, old, young... One can accept it as it is, he does not have to improve first or to change.

But this does not mean that all the gifts of God are equally available to everyone! There are things that God will not entrust to us until our characters change. Like a father does not pass on the family business to the son, if he knows he will squander in within a year. That doesn't mean he doesn't love him; but he must wait for the son to grow mature for the task that lies before him.

Even we ourselves may have received promises that have not yet been fulfilled, because we would not be able to carry it yet. We may be surprised why we go through difficult stages that crush or trials of all kinds. But if we remain faithful in the midst of them, we will once realize that, as with Abram, there was an invisible power at work that weaved the fabric of our lives so that we could grow stronger and grow in faith so that more and more eternal riches of God could rest on our shoulders.

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. (Gen 14,22-23)

I have mentioned before that the true greatness of a man is where he surpasses the boundaries of the generally accepted moral standards, and that so far Abram has done that in at least three things.

For the first time, he decided not to adapt in the matter of religion and to keep his different one in spite of his environment. Thus he himself suffered socially and made life difficult for future generations of his descendants.

For the second time, he suffered a loss in business by being generous to Lot and letting him choose which part of the country he would live in. Of course, Lot chose the better one - which meant restricting Abram to less lucrative pastures. It was certainly not an easy decision, he, like any entrepreneur, had to gain enough for himself and his workers (he had to sustain the entire staff of the farm, which gradually grew to hundreds of people).

For the third time, he gave up Sodom's profit, which could have equaled today's lottery jackpot. Abram was a man of flesh and blood, he knew what a loss it was. He was hearing the same inner voice that, like with anyone else in a similar situation, would not forget to tell him that he must have gone mad to let such an opportunity pass.

After all, it is not so long since Abram became rich in Egypt through deception. And today he rejects the riches to which he would have an unquestionable claim, with reference to his God! "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..."

A religion that costs nothing is worth nothing. As long as Abram's religion consisted of a free-thinking blather about spirituality, until it did not touch his wallet, it would be hard to believe it. But he has changed profoundly as he follows his God - because this cannot be questioned where a person's attitude to money changes.

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..." (Gen 14,21-23)

Abram was no longer the same, he changed through following God. This can be seen in his decision for the conscious loss - he could keep Sodom's property, and according to the customs of the time, no one could tell him that he was not entitled to do it. However, no one becomes generous by chance, he has to grow up to it. Nevertheless every growth is accompanied by at least three pains: the pain of awakening, the pain of rebirth and the pain of rejection.

Awakening means to see things differently from what has been seen before; abandon the usual, accepted way of view and dare to climb higher and look from there anew. The pain of awakening that accompanies this process is like the light that penetrates unpleasantly into the eyelids and disrupts the current sleep: What? Things are not quite as I have viewed them before? Am I not who I thought I was? It is said that the average person feels good in the world. It is as if made for him, he finds understanding with others and is not lacking anything. What fun has it been so far with others, how was everything "clear" to us and we could definitely not be mistaken?

The new light will bring new knowledge to a man and consequently a promise of the new freedom. However, there also comes a crisis - the pain of rebirth, because now it is necessary to adjust. At this stage one begins to think and live differently. At the same time, he finds out that it is not always an easy path and old habits, the "old man" is still pulling the reins by the power of inertia. He who perseveres will win, because the true light brings also a new power for victory.

If a man changes in this area or another, it will finally prove to him that things are different from what he or his enviromenment previously thought, and that it is much better to live on the higher level to which the new knowledge has brought him. However, this will naturally move him away from those who did not receive this light. He is different now and no matter how much he grew up internally, from the external point of view he experiences misunderstanding with those with whom he was previously in agreement. He can understand them, but they are not able to understand him. He experiences the pain of rejection - a certain degree of loneliness and misunderstanding ("isn´t he strange?"), the same as did all people of the past who exceeded their era and rose higher. 

After all, we can find plenty of examples in the history of our country.

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". (Gen 14,21-23)

War is one of the most lucrative businesses: seizing the territory, forcibly taking away the wealth of its people and plundering mineral resources have long been one of the fastest ways to get rich. It happened in Europe in the 20th century and it is still happening in the world today. Moreover in the past, the inhabitants also used to be sold into slavery. When Abram returned with the people and property of Sodom, which he had taken from the conquerors, the king of Sodom therefore assumed that Abram would want both or at least the property, which belonged to him through a custom right. The king thought that Abram was the same as everyone else. Same as he himself - after all, he would have also behaved in the same way...

But Abram was no longer the same! If anything shows the person's greatness, it is his generosity. As long as moral principles are forced on us by our family or community, shortly, by our environment, we adhere to them because we adjust. Externally, we act as "good people". Yes, it is better to be surrounded with people like this than the bad ones, but this kind of goodness still has its limits. The true greatness of a man is where he exceeds the boundaries of the general good. Abram has now surpassed them, at least for the third time.

For the first time, he did not adjust to his environment in the matter of religion. It would have been much easier for him if he had not insisted on the worship of a single God and accepted the deities and manners of Canaan. He would have had more friends and a much simpler life. He would have not irritated many Canaanites with his altars, "with which the stranger acts like someone who owns it here." It was a crucial decision and he must have known very well it would affect him and his descendants for centuries, and that it might not always be an easy path for them.

In order to find the strength to do so, he had to grow up internally. However, like with any change, the growth is associated with pain, which is why not many people commit to it.

The king of Sodom said to Abram... (Gen 14,21)

Two kings (Melchizedek and King of Sodom) met Abram after the battle. As I already wrote, Abram was actually in a similar position as the kings of the time, only without his own country. However, at that moment he certainly had more power and wealth than the king of Sodom, so that in terms of their position we could boldly speak of a meeting of the "three kings".

Abram recognized in Melchizedek the messenger of God who was bringing him the most precious thing at that great moment: Shalom, the sovereign peace of God. His authority and dignity allowed him to breathe in the heavenly atmosphere, and in the communion of bread and wine he received the strength he needed.

But as we can notice, the king of Sodom was also there! He had to watch Abram giving tithe to the priest of the Most High God as a gift for deliverance - the tithe from the wealth of his city! The king of Sodom, however, revered other gods and would certainly not tithe to this Melchizedek, he would sacrifice to his own deities. But now Abram was their savior, without whom they might have ended in death or at least in disgrace, humiliation, and slavery, so he did not dare to object. Abram simply believes that his God helped him and therefore he honors His ambassador.

But a strange question arises: if the King of Sodom was present at the arrival of Melchizedek, how is it that the revelation of Melchizedek was so important to Abram and did not mean much to the King of Sodom? It did not touch him, did not change him in any way, as is evident from the next future of Sodom.

D. L. Moody once compared God's blessing to rain falling from above on fertile or infertile soil. It persists in the lowlands and causes a rich life there but it will not stay on high shields that rise above, it runs down without affecting them much. Moody was talking about humility at the time, but this principle applies to all of God's gifts. Two people may be in God's presence, one is blessed, the other untouched; one is grateful for every gift of God, the other takes everything for granted.

After all, even thousands of years later, various people met again with King Melchizedek, the Prince of Peace. Some loved him above all else, others hated him like poison.

Then Melchizedek king of Salem... 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 gave him a tithe of all. (Gen 14,18-20)

The desire and essential character of the King of Peace is above all to bless. Even when God called Abram, he promised him a blessing over his life. It was a blessing to come as a result of his steps of obedience, and it is the foundation without which mere words do not work. On the other hand, Melchizedek has now blessed Abram, and it is clear that the words spoken in this way were to manifest their power. It is the first blessing uttered in this way over his life, not by man, but by the Son of God himself.

We do not know what Melchizedek and Abram talked about. But one thing is certain: Abram recognized in him someone who has spiritual authority, who does not speak in vain and whose words have great weight. If he were a spiritual juggler, of which there have been many on earth since then, he would not give him tithing "of everything", that is, of all the spoils of war. It was certainly one of the largest tithes ever given - if we consider that Sodom had at least hundreds of inhabitants, it must have been the complete fortune of dozens of people, which, converted to today's conditions, amounted to many hundreds of thousands dollars.

So what I wrote last time doesn't apply, and yet one has something to give to God? Is it possible to buy his blessing with something, or at least repay it?

No, God is not waiting for us to pay him and He is not finished without our money. Melchizedek himself also asked Abram for nothing. But Abram gave him tithes as an expression of gratitude for preserving his life and for the well-being of a risky expedition that could have meant the death of himself and those close to him. Abram's money did not cause or repay the blessing, but it did accompany it. It is obvious that at that time the tithe already was an allowance (tax) to kings and priests. In ancient empires, priests were the backbone of the system, similar to today's civil servants, and tithes are an indication of how many of them performed their activity for living. It is also a confirmation of the fact that the ancient Egyptians already counted in the decimal system.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev 3,20)

Here again at the very end of Scripture we meet Melchizedek - Christ, "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek..., the Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever..." (Heb 7:17.21). Abram's revelation of God gradually grew as his heart approached God. God revealed his heart to him, his plan of salvation, as we shall yet see. Although from this point of view he lived in a different period of time, he met Christ and "saw his day" (Jn 8:56).

This Melchizedek is inviting no longer only Abram, but any human being. He wants to dine with us - he longs for an audience with anyone who is just willing to open and let him in.

Man really has nothing to enrich God with. Maybe with one thing, and it is actually the only one: God, who is love, desires to give this love, longs to have communion with man, to sit with him at one table. Our fallen nature, which the Holy Spirit is gradually transforming into the image of Christ, is still hindering the full audience for the time being. Yet in the next age all the curtains will be torn down and we will see face to face. Now we taste only the deposit, we see only "as in a mirror" (1 Cor 13:12).

And yet, how precious those moments are when we feel the breath of heaven in proximity to God, when we open Him the door and dine together.

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High... (Gen 14,18)

Malkísedek, king and priest, in the Scriptures the first one of the "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2: 9) came to king Abram. No, Abram did not really have this title, because he did not own land, but in terms of position and property, he was actually on the level of kings (the "kings" of that area were rather tribal chiefs at that time). Now, with the spoils of war, the property of Sodom carried back by his caravan, he certainly surpassed many of them.

Malkísedek could therefore greet him at an appropriate level with a rich feast and gifts, but he brought simple things: bread and wine. He made it clear that his arrival had a different meaning than pure satisfaction of body.

The common food still has the character of an audience. We like to dine with people we understand and get well with and vice versa ("I wouldn't take a bite from him"). In earlier times, the symbol of communal dining was much stronger than today. Alliances and contracts were always agreed with meals, banquets for important guests were held even for several days.

Malkisedek, king of peace, therefore came to Abram now to eat with him as a sign of the audience. The audience at the one who governs the peace was to strengthen Abram and help him regain composure after the fight again.

So far, like everyone else, Abram has focused on what God can give him, rather than what Abram can mean to God. While dining with Malkísedek, he understood that if God values ​​something, it is first and foremost a communion with man. Therefore, this mention of the common meal of bread and wine is an image of the New Testament Supper of the Lord, which is to be a manifestation of a living communion with Christ, not just a formal liturgy.