“Then Abraham removed his tent and came and dwelt (by the oaks) in Mamre (fatness) which is in Hebron (communion) and built there an altar unto the LORD.” Gen. 13:8. Abraham moves again after the LORD tells him in v.17 to, “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto you.” Oh, the promises of God and the fellowship Abraham must of had with his Creator. He pitched his tent in Mamre, which means, lusty, vigor, fatness, by the oaks or the terebinth trees. Webster says, ‘They are of the sumac or cashew family and yield turpentine.”

He stays there for awhile, buys the cave and field of Machpelah in Mamre where he and Sarah are buried as well as Isaac and Rebekah and Jacob and Leah. He was in Mamre when Lot was captured and when the three heavenly visitors came to him on their way to Sodom. Mamre was in Hebron which means, seat of association, or to join, to league, couple together, or to have fellowship with. So here by the trees of ‘Fatness – Mamre’ which was in ‘Communion – Hebron,’ Abraham chose to pitch his tent, bury his family and build his family altar.

He finally settles down, for awhile anyway. and unpacks his camel and when he does he builds a family altar, in a place of fatness where he can have sweet fellowship and build a friendship with God. Our altars should be just that, a place of fatness, a place where we can grow fat on the ‘Word of God,’ a place where we can grow and mature and our families with us. It should also be a place of fellowship, communion and togetherness with our families but most of all with God. That’s what God desires more than anything else, even more than sacrifice. That sweet intercourse, that sweet union with Him, that intimate communion (yada) and fellowship through prayer. “Talking To God!” A place of friendship, do you want to be a friend of God’s? Do you want to have that fellowship and experience that Abraham had? Then today build that family altar in your Mamre, in Hebron, your fatness in communion, and take your fanily there and all your possessions and pitch your tent. Remember, everywhere Abraham had a tent, God had an altar and an altar sanctified by prayer, except Mizraim!

The three essential prerequisites to having an altar are the place, the time and the voice. The three essential elements of an altar are sacrifice, worship and prayer; and the three lasting benefits or results of a family altar are fatness, fellowship and friendship.

“Oh LORD, may we find our Mamre in Hebron, our fatness in communion and grow fat in our fellowship with You. Oh LORD, may we pitch our tents and build our altars with our families so that we may build our friendships together with You. LORD help us to find our Mamre, our Hebron and help us to find it soon, today LORD.”

“And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God.” Gen. 14:18. Melchizedek is referred to as a type of Christ, Heb. 7:1ff, he has no beginning and no ending, Heb. 7:3. There is no Levitical priesthood at this time and ancient Hebrew scholars believe this person could have been Shem Noah’s son. According to the genealogical records Noah was alive while Abraham walked on the earth and Shem was alive after Abraham died so it is feasible. Anyway he brought out bread and wine, the basic elements of the earth; bread being the staff of life and wine the fruit of the vine, the same elements used by Yeshua to establish communion and the same elements found on the Passover table and on every Jewish Sabbath table as well. They were basic to life, ‘L’Chaim!’

Gen. 14:19 says that Melchizedek blessed Abraham, “And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:” Which is very normal and something we need to do. Blessing man is simply invoking God’s riches or Grace on man or to put it simply, praying for mankind – ‘Intercession.’ He blesses Abram and back in gen. 12:1-3 God said, Those that bless you I will bless.” so here Melchizedek not only blesses man but the Jewish nation to be as well. But then he blesses God, “And blessed be God most high.” Blessing God is unusual but it is Biblical, Psalms 103, 104, 134, etc. Blessings are prayers, prayers to God for men, and prayers to God for God. How often or better yet how seldom do we invoke or pray for blessings on mankind let alone God? When was the last time you blessed God like His servant David, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.” “Behold, bless the LORD.”

How do we pray for God? Well praise is prayer and that exalts God; thanksgiving is prayer and that honors God; confession is prayer and that glorifys God. We can pray against the deeds of the wicked and that helps God, Ps. 141:5.; but most of all Ps. 72:15 says, “Prayer also will be made for Him continually, and daily He shall be praised.” To pray for God, to bless God, is a startling thought! It almost seems profane, but it is not, it is very beautiful, very holy, very Biblical and the most holy of all prayers.

Think of the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ in Matthew 6, why did Christ teach us to pray for His Father first? “Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” wasn’t our need for daily bread greater? NO! God’s heart was famished, and starving without fellowship, without communion, without our daily love and devotion. Oh my friend, to bless God, to pray for God, for His will, His works, His glory, is greater! “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory;” Psalm 115:1, is the highest form of prayer known to man. How often, and I repeat, how seldom, do we pray or ask for blessings on mankind let alone God?

To pray for God the Father and the Son what a radical thought, yes; but radically beautiful. Prayer; Communion; Blessings; Tithes; Victory; Fellowship, WOW! What a gathering we have here in Gen. 14, all the elements of a glorious worship service. (Are you still walking with me?)  “Between The Lines”

“Oh LORD, teach us not only to pray for man but for You LORD; Not only to bless man but to bless You LORD; “Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done; Teach us to be ‘Bridge-Builders’ believer priests, I Peter 2:9; like Melchizedek.” For ha Shem Yeshua’s sake. Amen!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abraham – Part – #6)