The Days of Peleg (84 page)

Deciding that he had nothing to fear (and also consenting to the Creator’s voice within) he rose and began to walk slowly towards the two groups. A second, more nervous voice kept insisting that he had no right to interrupt this meeting—but he kept pressing forward until suddenly, several men in both groups saw him and began pointing and talking excitedly amongst themselves.

Abram and King Bera turned together to look at the lone individual moving slowly towards them.

He was tall, dressed in a simple off-white robe, and wore a very neat, slightly graying beard. His head was wrapped in a simple, off-white mitre, and he carried a moderate-sized traveling pack, slung from one shoulder.

As he approached, he gave King Bera a deferential glance, but soon it was clear that he was moving straight for Abram. The man cast an elongated shadow from the setting sun, which reached Abram before he did.

Suddenly the man dropped on both knees and reached out his arms towards Abram.

“My name is Melchiz'edek, High Servant of the Community Of Peace, and your servant also. I bear a message for one named Abram, son of Terah, from my master, Shem, son of Noah. If you are the Abram whom I seek, I ask that you forgive my intrusion and grant me an audience.”

The man did not look up, but Abram’s heart jumped at the mention of Shem’s name. He had not heard that name in over seventy years, yet his memory of Shem’s voice and strange accent had never faded. He had imagined a moment such as this his entire life as he had fervently sought for any evidence of Shem—or for any revelation about the Creator.

Abram rushed to the man and grabbed him by the shoulders, startling him.

“I am he,” Abram said breathlessly. “Rise and speak with me.”

King Bera watched from his chariot, obviously irritated at this interruption—and also at this stranger’s indifference to his kingly presence.

The man rose to face Abram, obviously glad to have found his man, and also slightly relieved.

“I fear I have meager rations,” Melchiz'edek said, “But what I have, I give you freely.”

Melchiz'edek opened his sack and retrieved two small loaves of bread and handed them to Abram. He then lifted his wineskin by its strap and placed it over Abram’s shoulder.

Melchiz'edek looked directly into Abram’s eyes with a mixture of wonder and anticipation.

“You, Abram,” he began, “have been honored by the most high Creator of heaven and earth...”

King Bera’s patience came to an end.

“We have just waged a victorious campaign,” he said loudly, disrupting their communion. “I am here to honor Abram as well, for his assistance in defeating my enemies and recovering my possessions.” He nodded in self-congratulation, looking down from his chariot. He then added as an afterthought. “Also, to honor him for rescuing some of my dearest subjects.”

Melchiz'edek’s eyes flickered towards King Bera, and then refocused themselves on Abram’s face. As if King Bera had said nothing, he continued where his previous sentence had been interrupted.

“…And we honor above all else the Creator who has delivered your enemies into your hands.”

King Bera became incensed at this stranger’s irreverence. Although Melchiz'edek had ignored him, he had obviously heard what the King had said and used it in the remainder of his greeting. King Bera stepped from his chariot and headed straight for the two men who were acting like long lost friends.

Abram and Melchiz'edek were oblivious to the King’s approach as Abram reached out to this man who offered a connection with Shem and the Creator. Tears of joy and excitement threatened to overflow Abram’s eyes as he wrapped his arms around Melchiz'edek in a long, powerful embrace which was returned enthusiastically.

“Ever since I heard your master speak of the Creator,” Abram said in a half-whisper, his throat tightening, “I have determined to learn of Him and seek His will. It has been a lonely journey, but He has always guided and protected me.”

Melchiz'edek nodded, his eyes closed as he rested his chin on Abram’s shoulder.

“And Shem has spoken constantly of you since his return from Ur. He has given me much to share with you.”

King Bera was standing beside them, watching the exchange with contempt. Finally he could take no more, and reached out and grabbed Abram’s arm.

“Abram,” he said loudly. “I have met you here, at
your
request, to …”

Abram spun away from Melchiz'edek, wrenching his arm from the King’s grasp. He looked first at the offending hand that had grabbed him, and then directly into the King’s face with anger and disdain. It was not a look the King was accustomed to.

“I have just met a man,” Abram began tersely, “who may provide me with knowledge of the Creator, the One whom I seek, and the One whom I serve. My entire life has been devoted to finding His path, and today, after searching for more than seven decades,
He
has found
me
, and I will not delay his message another minute.”

Abram’s voice became softer, but the intensity increased.

“No man, not even
you
, may take precedence over
Yahweh
, and should you attempt to interfere again, I have more than three-hundred men who have just risked their lives because of your ineptitude at protecting your subjects, and I can assure you that they will not restrain themselves as I have just done.”

King Bera stepped back, infuriated and offended beyond words, yet helpless to respond in the decisive (and deadly) manner which a King would normally reserve for such impudence. The forty men in his entourage nervously fingered their swords, hoping they would not be called upon to avenge their King’s honor.

Abram spoke loudly so that everyone could hear.

“We will establish camp here, tonight. And tomorrow,” he glared at King Bera, “we will complete our business.”

He whirled away from King Bera (without being dismissed) and waved to his men who hastily began breaking out their supplies. He was still grasping Melchiz'edek’s left arm in his right hand. Abram repositioned his grip and began to lead the newcomer towards the place where a small fire was quickly being prepared for him by his men. He spoke quietly to Melchiz'edek as they walked.

“The Creator has made great promises to me,” he said, “But the greatest joys He gives are those which are unexpected.”

He stopped and faced Melchiz'edek.

“
You
are such a joy.”

They spoke throughout the night, each ecstatic, in an almost boyish way, at meeting the other. Abram was overjoyed at the prospect of learning tangible information about the Creator, and also discovering more about the man, Shem, who had altered his life so significantly. He continually fought back tears as he responded to the entire experience as a gift from the Creator.

Melchiz'edek was equally excited to finally meet the man who, according to Shem, would be the father of all faith, the one selected to establish a new people from whom would arise the coming Seed. Shem had spoken so passionately about this one, and had been very saddened that he was not the one selected to attend this meeting.

They shared stories with each other. Abram told of his adventures while discerning the Creator and how he was still learning to trust Him. Melchiz'edek talked about Shem and his life and family—and how Abram’s great-great-great-grandfather, Peleg, son of Eber, had rescued Shem from his despondent exile in the caves along the northern shores of the Great Sea and renewed Shem’s vision and hope.

But the most exiting event of the night was when Melchiz'edek recited the Creator’s
Amar
. It was exactly the same as when Shem had given it to Peleg, but with additional information about the descendents of Noah and their settlements. It also told of how the Creator had instigated the Great Awakening—and why he had done so.

Abram listened with rapt attention, committing every word to memory, as he heard for the first time the details of the Creator’s plan: The origin of the universe, the formation of life, the perfection of the original creation—and the agony of the first man’s disobedience.

Melchiz'edek explained in more detail the promise and meaning of the Coming Seed, and Abram told Melchiz'edek more about the promises the Creator had given him.

As morning came, they were overwhelmed with the realization that this meeting was the culmination of a plan that the Creator had set in motion ever since the forces of evil had attempted to destroy the knowledge of
Yahweh
—and the Seed—by attacking Shem and his followers and forcing them into exile. As Abram accepted the message of the
Zeh-ra
, he understood more than ever how the Creator was always able to keep his promises—even in the face of impossible odds and contrary situations. Although men could abuse their free volition and attempt to thwart His desires, He would always be able to plan around them since His omnipotence included knowledge of the future.

The message of the Seed had been attacked and driven, literally, underground. It had then been discovered by “accident” and restored unwittingly by Peleg, who was then attacked and imprisoned as the forces of the Serpent tried again to obliterate it.

Yet now it was being delivered to Abram, and as he marveled at the Creator, he found another area of his mind where doubts began to diminish. The Creator had promised that his descendants would be like the grains of sand on the seashore, or like the number of stars in the heavens. At that time, he had great difficulty believing this, since he and Sarai still had no children; but now as he pondered the miracle of Melchiz'edek’s message, he began to realize that
anything
was possible. He also noted that, if the Creator’s promise was true, then there must be a great many more stars in the heavens than could be seen by human sight.

Early the next morning, King Bera moved slowly towards Abram’s campfire, which had long since burnt itself out. He was somewhat subdued since his confrontation with Abram the previous evening, and, although he was still quite vexed at the way he had been treated, he did not wish to risk the anger of Abram and his men while he was so outnumbered—and so far from his city. He decided he would make Abram a generous offer as a gesture of goodwill.

When he arrived, he was surprised, and somewhat irritated, to find that Abram and Melchiz'edek were still awake and talking softly, resting on blankets and looking up at the brightening sky. King Bera scuffed his feet slightly to alert them, and then proceeded until he was standing directly in front of the two men. He saw Abram’s startled reaction to the unexpected intrusion, and hurriedly squatted down so as to be less imposing. He noticed that, somehow, Abram was now holding a small sword, so he quickly began to speak.

“Master Abram,” he began in a voice that was meant to be humble, yet managed to sound more effeminate than anything else. “I apologize for this early intrusion, yet I must be returning to Sodom as soon as possible. I know we have business to discuss, but I would like to present you with an offer which, I hope, will both demonstrate my tremendous gratitude for your service, and also give you the opportunity to think more highly of me.”

King Bera didn’t know why, but the way in which Abram looked at him, as if he were something despicable, bothered him greatly. But he was more annoyed at himself (and concerned) that he even
allowed
Abram’s opinion to bother him.

Abram’s response did nothing to help. He simply looked up into King Bera’s face with the exasperated look that one reserves for an annoying child, and quietly raised his eyebrows as if to say, “Yes?”

King Bera stammered slightly, then began.

“I should like to offer you all of the spoils which you and your men rescued for me. All of the wealth, precious metals, jewelry, food and tools which you collected in your campaign I give to you. All I ask for are my subjects, who will return with me so they may continue to serve in my city.”

He looked expectantly at Abram, knowing that his offer was far more generous than anything Abram might have expected. There was no way anyone could decline it.

Abram rose up on one arm and gave him a look which is only reserved for that which is most detestable.

“King Bera,” Abram began, “You are probably the most vile and deplorable man I know, whose incompetence at protecting his subjects is surpassed only by your vanity and perverse appetites.”

King Bera shifted back on his knees, completely taken aback by Abram’s vicious words. He had been so sure of Abram’s acceptance, and could never have expected anything like this.

Abram sat up and continued.

“I swear before the Creator who owns the heavens and earth that I will accept
nothing
from you—not even a shoelace. Let no one, including you,
ever
say that Abram was enriched by King Bera, or that Abram benefited from his association with Sodom.”

He pointed directly at King Bera with his sword.

“Here is my counter offer: You will
keep
all of the spoils which we have recovered for you, and in exchange, you allow any of your subjects who desire, to return with me. They will be cared for and taught the truth of the Creator, and I will never again be forced to deal with you or your legacy.”

King Bera looked at Abram in shock, yet secretly pleased at this turn of events. He hid both his happiness at the return of his wealth, and also his resentment at the reasons Abram had given.

He nodded slightly and extended his arm to finalize the deal.

“Just one addition,” said Abram, ignoring the arm. “There will be no repayment for the food that my men have eaten, or that eaten by Mamre, his brothers, and their men. Their meals came from your recovered grains.”

King Bera gave another nod and Abram reached out to accept his arm. They locked wrists at the forearm to make the agreement binding, but the King couldn’t help but notice that, after the shake, Abram brushed off his arms as if they had made contact with lice or some other undesirable infestation.

Just before noon, King Bera, along with his entourage, collected all of the spoils and loaded them on to their horses. The King’s chariot was also filled to overflowing, making it very difficult for his horses to pull over the soft ground.