The history and archaeological findings about the people of antiquity have interested me for a long time. In fact, we went to Egypt some years ago, partly for that very purpose. We saw the pyramids and the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. We also went to Jordan and saw the remains of the city of Petra. Lately, while walking on the treadmill for 45 minutes five days a week, I have been fascinated to read about how the early people of Sumeria developed writing and agriculture, and about the buildings that they constructed. They seem to be one of the earliest civilizations that we know about. Interestingly, Ur in Sumeria is where Abram came from. In that area, there were a number of different gods that were worshipped. No doubt, Abram knew about these gods, yet he worshipped the God Most High. He lived more than 2000 years before the birth of Christ.

Genesis 12:1 – Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you." (NKJV)

In a roundabout way, via Egypt, Abram and his people ended up in Canaan. After he and his men had defeated King Chedorlaomer and rescued the family of his nephew Lot, who had been taken captive, a stranger showed up:

Genesis 14:18-20a – Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he 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." (NKJV)

It must have been an amazing revelation to Abram that he met up with a man who also worshipped the true God, as we do, God Most High, who later gave His life as a ransom for many.

It seems to me that many of us, even dedicated Christians, unwittingly put other things in our lives before God Most High, like sports and sport heroes, movies and movie stars, money, pleasure, prestige, success in business at any cost, or personal belongings, like cars and the places we live. We may not consciously worship them or idolize them, but we put them ahead of God. It is important that we put God Most High first in all our decisions.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we human beings have such a tendency to put our priorities in all the wrong places, and not in You. We pray that a real change will come about and that more people will worship You and Your Son Jesus. We ask it in His holy name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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