THE PATRIARCH JOB
fearing parents have lost their precious offspring
when one common denominator was present –
alcohol - which numbs the senses and invites the
devil‟s wrath.
MELCHISEDEK & ABRAM
Every circumstance differs but how many God
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[Job 1: 18,19]
Likewise, Melchisedek had no beginning or end
of priestly Jewish lineage (Levi) and was yet
superior to Abram(father of the priesthood). This
event was also a forerunner of the communion
service of the Last Supper where bread and wine
were brought forth. The word used for wine
here is yayin – fermented with a rare instance of
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In the oldest recorded book of the Bible, the
patriarch Job was so concerned over his son‟s
feasting with wine that he made sacrifices for
them continually. “His sons went and feasted
in their houses, every one his day; and sent
and called for their three sisters to eat and to
drink with them. And it was so, when the
days of their feasting were gone about, that
Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up
early in the morning, and offered burnt
offerings according to the number of them
all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have
sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus
did Job continually.” [Job 1: 4,5]
And so it has ever been the pattern of concerned
parents to fret over the wayfaring ways of their
children involved with alcohol. They offer
intercessory prayer when their reasoning and
pleadings are ignored. Deep down inside parents
know cursing God and alcohol go hand in hand.
Satan was very present in this case and nothing
has changed as he continually seeks the
destruction of our loved ones with alcohol his
favorite medium.
“And there was a day when his sons and his
daughters were eating and drinking wine
[yayin - fermented] in their eldest brother„s
house.” [Job 1:13] Satan‟s fury was unleashed
without reserve and a servant carried the sad
news to their father Job: “Thy sons and thy
daughters were eating and drinking wine in
their eldest brother‟s house: and behold
there came a great wind from the wilderness,
and smote the four corners of the house and it
fell upon the young men, and they are dead.”
The King of Elam and allies had invaded Sodom
and Gomorrah and among those taken captive
were Abram‟s nephew Lot and his family.
Abram organized a small army and surprised the
victorious Elamites whom had given themselves
up to reveling which resulted in their utter
destruction. Abram turned down the opportunity
to claim the spoils of rich booty and subsequent
indebtedness to the King of Sodom by saying “I
will not take from a thread even to a shoe
latchet … lest thou shalt say I have made
Abram rich.” [Gen 14:23]
In a type of Christ, Melchisedek, King of Salem
(which would eventually become Jerusalem)
came forth: “And Melchisedek, King of
Salem, brought forth bread and wine: and he
was the priest of the most high God. And he
said, blessed be Abram.” [Gen 14:18, 19] Abram
responded by paying tithes to the king. Later in
the seventh of the Book of Hebrews, Paul used
this story to illustrate how Abraham‟s offspring
Levi paid tithes while he was still in his father‟s
loins; thus proving Jesus was qualified to be
Israel‟s heavenly High Priest even though He
was from the tribe of Judah.