Show video “Rebuilding”
My mom died last Sunday. I had promised her that I would perform her funeral. There were quite a few loved ones concerned that it would be too much for me to handle. But I experienced the Holy Spirit in a way as I never have before.
The beginning of the year I gave each of us a small, simple book of God’s promises. The scriptures beginning on Jan 8th dealt with comfort. I was promised each day leading up to her death of God’s comfort. I felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit as I never have felt before. In fact, on the day she died the scripture for that day was Psalm 31:7 “I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” At the bottom of the page was this quote from C. S. Lewis “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.” At the time I did not realize it but the stain spoken of here was the stain of bitterness. In fact those who offered to pray for me were asked to pray against a root of bitterness.
I must admit there were those at the funeral that I had anger toward. As I expected there was great weeping and sorrow at the loss of a loved one. However I struggled with feeling compassion toward them. I knew some were weeping due to remorse that they had allowed precious time to slip away from them and now could not claim this time back to spend with her. But bitterness was holding me back from offering them comfort.
Proverbs 14:10 reads “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.” I discovered a joy found in bitterness, a sort of satisfaction of seeing the weeping of others. But as Hebrews says “it’s a poisonous root” that damages me and eventually will damage you. It’s a root that must be destroyed. Or, like the man in the video, I will build a box where there is no escape.
Today we will discuss the third test of Abraham. This test, if failed, would leave Abraham bitter, Lot destroyed, and God dishonored. Let’s begin with Gen 13:1-4 “So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned. (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.) From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before. This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.”
Remember from last week that Abram had left everything behind to go to the land of Canaan, the land promised to him by God. All was going well until a famine struck. In panic Abram turned from God and looked to Egypt for assistance. He told a half truth about his wife and she ended in the Pharaoh’s household. Curses began to fall upon the Pharaoh’s household and he discovered the truth about Sari. He sent Abram on his way back out of Egypt with more possessions than what he had originally. Abram returned to where he had quit following God and worshiped him at one of the altars he had built. Things seemed to be back on track when a problem arose.
Lot also had become wealthy in Egypt. Perhaps the Pharaoh had paid a portion of the cost for Sari. Maybe Abram shared with him his fortune as “hush money.” Or perhaps, since Lot was like a son to him, he decided to share his fortune with him. Nevertheless, Lot also had flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many servants.
We must remember that the land they found themselves back in had suffered a famine and perhaps had not recovered yet. But we are told that the land could not support both Abram and Lot. So disputes broke out between their herdsmen.
We read in Gen 13:8-12 how Abram sought to solve this problem. “Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”
Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.”
Abram’s offer to Lot to go to the left or to the right was intended to keep him within the boundaries of Canaan. But Lot looked upon the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar.
Zoar was on the outside edge of Canaan according to what God told Moses in Deut. 34:1-3. Due to his disobedience Moses would not be allowed to enter into the Promised Land so God took him to view it. “Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him the whole land, from Gilead as far as Dan; all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho—the city of palms—as far as Zoar.”
The Bible says that Lot took a long look at the Jordan Valley, much the same way as Eve took a long look at the forbidden fruit. Lot noticed the resemblance to Egypt, which represents the world. And he chose it. He did not choose to share any of the well watered land with his uncle but rather chose to take the entire valley, leaving Abram to settle in the land that had been ravished by famine.
If Abram was bitter he had every right to be so. He adopted this man as a boy when Lot’s father died. He cared for him, provided for him, and protected him. But now that Lot was all grown-up it seemed he no longer needed good ole’ Uncle Abram. Lot was wealthy now and totally independent.
I think perhaps as providers to someone we have felt that sting. We have invested in their lives a lot of energy. And when they decide we are no longer needed we suffer the pain of their rejection. Perhaps we have even entertained the thoughts of one day, when being needed again, we can reject them. This is the root of bitterness. Abram had every right to entertain this notion. Then the time came when he was tested as to whether he would reject Lot.
The land where Lot had chosen to live was invaded by 4 kingdoms and was captured. Gen 14:11-12 reads “The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies. They also captured Lot—Abram’s nephew who lived in Sodom—and carried off everything he owned.” If bitterness was dominating Abram’s life then Lot was in a “lot” of trouble.
Before we continue with this story we must discover some facts about bitterness.
Fact 1- There is bitter joy in bitterness. Proverbs 14:10 “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.”
Abram could simply shake his head and say “He brought this disaster upon himself.” It would be easy for Abram to forget he showed Lot the easy lifestyle of Egypt. He could forget that he gave Lot the opportunity to make a bad decision rather than making the right decision for him. He could find great joy in imagining how Lot wishes now that he had not been so foolish.
If there is bitterness in your heart you will know because you find joy in their suffering as I shared with you at the beginning of this message. You are glad to see justice done on your behalf. They must pay but they will never pay enough. That joy of bitterness acts like water on a root and bitterness will grow.
Fact 2- Bitterness is a root that corrupts.
Hebrews 12:15 “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
A root lies underground hidden from the eye and can become a problem. One morning you wake up to take a shower. The water is only a trickle. As you go outside you notice your house has begin to lean. Walking down your sidewalk you notice that the slats of cement are no longer even. Making your way into the backyard you stumble and fall due to a growth that is suddenly exposed. As you steady yourself against a tree you stare in horror as the free falls onto your house. Not a good day.
Roots can lead to those types of problems. Roots have been known to make their way into pipes and restrict the flow of water. They have been known to crack sidewalks as they are pushed upwards. Roots can contribute to depletion of soil moisture under the foundation of a building, causing it to subside. Exposed roots can cause someone to stumble and fall. Roots that wrap around the base of its own tree can restrict the flow of water and nutrients up and down the trunk.
A root of bitterness can trouble us the same way. It can restrict the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It can cause us to be unstable in our Christian walk. We can find the sure foundation of our faith leaning ever so slight. It can cause us to stumble and fall in our daily lives. We can find our access to God restricted and his grace with held.
Not for just for my benefit but for yours also I must guard against a root of bitterness. If I as your pastor am troubled by a root of bitterness than I run the risk of corrupting all of you. And if you are troubled by a root of bitterness then you will corrupt those around you.
Abram is destined to meet a great and mysterious man known as Melchizedek, the king of Salem, and a priest of the God Most High. Abram will be offered some bread and wine. He will be blessed by this priest. And Abram will worship this priest with a tithe.
This is how the writer of Hebrews describes him; “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!” (Heb 7:1-4)
There is a slight hint that this was Jesus incarnate, before He was born as a man. The root of bitterness will rob Abram of this encounter.
Fact 3- Bitterness produces fruit.
As a root grows eventually sprouts will begin to break through the soil. We can determine the type of plant by the fruit that will be produced. Apple trees do not grow oranges. One is a citrus, the other is not. We will either produce the fruit of the Spirit or fruit of bitterness. Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.”
Are you an apple or an orange? When someone that has hurt you comes to mind are you filled with rage or gentleness? Are you filled with anger or peace? Do you speak harsh words about them or do you speak kindly of them? Do you speak words of slander or words of goodness? Do you seek revenge through evil behavior or practice self-control?
Abram had a right to be bitter. He had a right to be angry with Lot. And I am sure that he could justify in his own mind writing Lot off and allowing him to be carted away.
So what did Abram do?
“When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.” (Genesis 14:14-16)
He proved to have no root of bitterness in his heart. He proved himself faithful to the care of Lot. He did not rescue Lot with any sort of conditions. Lot would go back to Sodom.
And he was able to meet with Melchizedek. Abram had his third test and he passed.
There is one more fact about bitterness.
Fact 4 - It must be confessed.
James 3:14 “But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.”
We can not justify our bitterness. We can not try to convince ourselves or others that we have the right to be bitter. We must call a specialist. If you have root problems and you try to fix them yourself you run the risk of killing the plant. Only the Holy Spirit can deal with the root of any problem. Let’s pass our test today. Let’s begin today having the root of bitterness removed. I have some people to call this week and comfort. Do you have someone you need to call?
