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Imagine how Abram (Abraham) reacted when Melchizedek chose him to sign the covenant with God on behalf of the human race. Below is a chapter from the Urantia-based novel: "The Melchizedek Mission - Salvaging Truth" that describes this world altering event. It begins when Abram's nephew Lot is attacked in Sodom.
Chapter 14 - Establishing the Covenant
While building his military fortress at Hebron, Abram received a message from Lot, then residing at Sodom, east of Hebron in the Siddim Valley. It said: ‘We are well but suffered a raid. Can you come?’
“Sarah! For this I have been waiting!” Abram exclaimed. “Lot summons me. Now I have good reason to remove the minion tyrants of Siddim and unite them in another confederation.”
“Once more you want to do battle with swords,” she lamented. “Why am I not surprised a reason would be found?”
“Lot is my brother’s son; I am bound to defend him and his holdings. And if the kings I defeat wish to join my confederation, I will not forbid them.”
Abram then went to his captain asking, “What goes with my army? What are our numbers?”
“There are 318 officers in your personal guard, and just over 4,000 well trained and equipped fighters in your ranks.”
“Gather them, and all we will need, to subdue the tribes that made war on Lot and Sodom. We leave with the rising sun.”
Abram was feared and respected because all knew of his close association with Melchizedek, who was both revered and deemed a messenger of the gods, if not a god himself. Therefore, did his enemies fairly dissolve before him. With little organized resistance he took the conquered Siddim tribes under his rulership, replaced their defeated kings with his appointments and formed another confederation, this one having eleven members.
Machiventa was informed of the raid on Sodom and well knew Abram would use this as an excuse to attack and enlarge his budding nation. When circumstances permitted, he left the school to intercept and dissuade him but was too late. He instead encountered Abram returning from this quick, easy victory over the petty and greedy kings of the Siddim river valley who had dared to attack Lot.
On seeing Machiventa Abram shouted, “Hail priest! I am pleased you came out to greet the victor. The God of Salem won the battles for me, your God.”
Machiventa replied saying only, “Return with me, to Salem. We have something to discuss, regarding you and God.” This aroused Abram’s curiosity and he accepted the invitation.
At Machiventa’s table that evening, after all had their fill, he invited Abram to sit out under the stars. They were just then appearing as a sliver of the moon was setting.
After a moment viewing the heavens, the priest said, “Abram, I wish to propose a contract. I would ask, while you are here at Salem, that we make a covenant. It is to be an agreement between you and God.”
Abram did not expect, nor had he ever heard of such an offer. The brave, victorious leader of an army was struck speechless. After regaining his composure, he asked, “Covenant, contract, agreement, with God?! What exactly is it you propose? Have you gone mad in my absence? Such matters are your domain. Mine is ruling… in your name of course.”
“No Abram, God has far greater plans for you. You shall become a lamp that lights the world for untold generations. This covenant I speak of is no less than a holy covenant between the Most High God and humanity. You have been selected as their representative in this matter.”
“I… I do not… I cannot be responsible for this, priest. Send me to defeat enemies and gather tithers, which I can do, and do well. Have me reorganize the school’s dairy, or improve the herds, but leave me out of any contract with God.
“Even with your vast wisdom and high origin you fail to see that all Canaan is ripe to be plucked. Why can you not understand that it was your God who won three victories for me? For you! When I put Canaan at your feet, with all its wealth, then you will understand that it is the God you introduced me to who brings victory. Make a covenant with God if you wish; that is your business, mine is nation building.”
“And that is the Most High’s plan too, he would make one nation of the world, but not by the sword. At least permit me to describe the covenant.”
“I will listen,” answered Abram. “But it will be of no use. As I have told you many times, I am a conqueror and leader of men. I have no wish to be a priest who bargains with God.”
“Abram, I tell you the rewards of this world cannot compare with the glories of heaven. What I ask of you is a greater challenge than taking a city, even building an empire. Already you have become a famous general. Will you not take the next step in the advancement of your soul’s career? Can you give up your ambitions and aspirations of war, forfeit the pursuit of things material, and forego human honors in favor of divine plans and spiritual aspirations?
“You have heard me say the tribes you wish to conquer will someday fall because their members employ backward, divisive practices. While they falter and fail, your children and grandchildren will increase in unity, numbers, and strength.”
“Priest, you well know I have no children.”
Then Melchizedek spoke these never forgotten words: “Look you now up to the heavens and number the stars if you are able; so numerous shall your seed be.” *
“Have you lost your bearings? How could this ever be true? It is no secret that Sarah is barren. My children by other wives cannot become my heirs. Now you would promise me children to equal the number of the stars? I have no heirs except Nahor and Lot.”
“Let me tell you something of the future of the sons and daughters of Abram, if you do indeed accept and uphold this proposed covenant. From your seed will spring many great prophets and righteous teachers. They will keep alive the truth of the one God, even during an enslavement lasting many generations.
“Over the coming fifty to one hundred generations your descendants will occupy Canaan and make record of the doings of your people. Humanity’s spiritual longings and their search for truth will be greatly augmented by you and your children, in this land, even the whole world. Do not doubt when I predict that one day your seed shall number more than the stars on a clear and moonless night.”
“If your Most High can bring me just one son, I will sign your covenant. But, tell me, what are its terms?”
“Simply this, God promises to do everything in exchange for humanity’s pledge to believe in and follow this same God.”
Abram sat thinking, and then asked, “What do you mean by everything?”
“Does not God already provide, even before you’re asking, the ground to stand upon, and the heavens in which to ascend? Is not God the creator of the light of day and the maker of the stars of the night? And what is man but another of the Most High’s creation? Did not God make men and women and grant them the gift of choosing? Our God shares his creative ability with humans by granting you freewill. You are able to create—within certain limits—just as does the original creator. Do this with me, let us pray together and seek his will for you in this matter.”
The two went to the school’s main altar and on bended knee silently prayed. After a while Machiventa left Abram and waited outside the temple’s main door.
When Abram emerged his face glowed. He said with the utmost sincerity and profound certainty, “My petition was answered, I am to become the father of sons and nations.”
“Well done, Abram. We…”
“But I will not believe with a whole heart until I see the face and hear the cry of my first born. Then we will make this covenant, this contract. I will even put it in Salem’s record.
“I do not understand how you discern the things you predict. When Sarah gives birth we shall soon know if this prediction is true. I would have a son first. Should I pray about that also?”
“It shall be a son,” Machiventa assured him.
To Abram’s complete amazement, before long, Sarah was pregnant. The covenant was formally completed at Salem shortly after Isaac took his first breath.
At the public acceptance of the covenant, in Salem’s amphitheater and in front of two thousand citizens, Melchizedek said, “By this covenant God agrees to do all if man agrees to believe and trust God. Now, with the approval and authority of the Most High, do I confirm Abram’s acceptance of this covenant. To commemorate this, Abram shall have a new name: Abraham, meaning father of nations.”
That very day Abraham made good on his promise to have the covenant put in writing. It was signed before Melchizedek and entered into the records of the colony and the school.
Abraham was deeply impressed by Isaac’s birth, even more so that it had been predicted by Machiventa, he therefore wanted to solemnize the covenant in a concrete way. Though he had always opposed circumcision, and Melchizedek had never required it, Abraham chose to make solemn this covenant by submitting to the ritual of foreskin removal. This decision was especially significant to Abraham, given his life-long denunciation of the practice.
Not long after the formal and solemn surrender of his military ambitions in favor of Machiventa’s covenant, there was another occurrence that solidified and ensured Abraham’s allegiance to Melchizedek and his commitment to this agreement with God.
The day after the formal acceptance of the covenant, he, Sarah and baby Isaac left for Hebron to speak with his officers about turning his army into a defensive force only. As they neared Hebron, on the Plain of Mamre, there stood a mighty oak. Abraham was drawn to it. He halted the caravan then walked to the tree and sat under its shade on a low boulder. The warm breeze stirred his mind; he began thinking about the decision to give up territorial conquest in favor of the spiritual requirements of the covenant.
As these thoughts played in his mind, a vision came into focus. There, before him, three beings appeared, all bathed in celestial light. Abraham was taken aback for a moment, then somehow felt assurance there was nothing to fear.
One of them spoke in kindly voice, “Abraham, we appear on behalf of Melchizedek, to confirm that he is a Son of God to whom you should give heed. He is indeed a teacher of truth who prepares the way for another and greater teacher. Know also the covenant you made with God is of record on high. Keep it always. And teach your children to keep it.”
Abraham watched, unable to speak. Just as he found his tongue, the light dimmed and the three vanished. “Wait, I want…” But they were gone.
He remained sitting a long while, thinking of the meaning of this appearance and praying to know he was not mad or seeing things that were not real.
Finally, Sarah asked Abram’s captain to see if her husband was all right. He approached and asked, “What goes, sir? Are you well?”
Abraham’s face shined with assurance; he now had another reason to believe Machiventa and solidify his role as the sage’s disciple. Heaven had sent messengers to confirm that he was following the right path, and the right teacher. “I am very well, my captain. Let us be about the work of the Most High.”
This encounter under the oak tree provided Abraham with irrefutable superhuman authentication that Melchizedek was a teacher having divine authority, a leader he should trust and follow. He now felt certain that if he would uphold the covenant, Melchizedek’s promise that he would become the father of many nations would be kept. This celestial appearance reinforced Abraham’s resolve ever to be about Machiventa’s, and God’s, mission. And the memory of it helped in recovering from the shock of Melchizedek’s sudden disappearance not long thereafter.
Abraham and Sarah returned to Salem the next week. He told Machiventa about meeting the celestials on the Plain of Mamre, to which the sage replied simply, “I know, Abraham.”
They remained at Salem where Abraham competently fulfilled twin roles as civil administrator and co-king of the Salem confederation, alongside Melchizedek. With the bountiful tithes that poured in from his two confederations, Abraham remodeled the central temple and replaced all the school’s tents, many with permanent structures. Thanks to his untiring work as missionary propagandist and promoter of the school, over one hundred thousand regular tithers signed the rolls of the Melchizedek brotherhood.
Abraham led the way in contributing to the school. He was always motivated by belief in, and respect for, Melchizedek, never forgetting Isaac’s miraculous birth or his momentous audience with the celestials. He embraced the priest’s mission to uphold the truth of one God and to prepare the way for one even greater, despite the fact that he was half-hearted about sacrificial reforms and certain other of Salem’s teachings.
***
The Melchizedek Mission - Salvaging Truth
English, print and Kindle versions:
https://www.amazon.com/Melchizedek-Mission-Salvaging-Truth-ebook/dp/B08MY7Y68P/
Spanish, print and Kindle versions:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YXSVV6Z/
French, print and Kindle versions:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094X2R2M6/
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Richard E Warren
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