Who Are These Guys?

Acts 17:24-28

            The Bible affirms that God is Lord of heaven and earth and is Sovereign over all the nations.  Paul is quite plain about this as he spoke on Mars Hill that the Unknown God had “made from one man every nation of mankind” and that “they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him.”  Even though He chose the Hebrews as His own people through whom He would ultimately bring the Messiah as a blessing to all peoples, He never did reject any from the other nations who wanted to serve Him.  Thus we find scattered throughout the pages of scripture some godly persons whose origins and purpose are somewhat mysterious.  We find ourselves asking: “Who are these guys?  Where did they come from?”

            Melchizedek is one such individual.  When Abram returned from rescuing Lot after his capture during the battle of the kings, this Melchizedek appears out of nowhere!  He is the “king of Salem” and “a priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18-20).  He proceeds to bless Abram, and Abram give him a tenth of his spoils.  Where did this guy come from?  Even the writer of Hebrews offers no answer (Hebrews 7:1-3).  Nevertheless, he is a significant person in God’s scheme of things being the initial priest of the order in which Jesus, our High Priest, serves (Hebrews 7:15-17).

            What about Job?  Job was not a Hebrew.  How did he come to know and serve the Lord God with such fervor?  How could he say, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25)?

            Then, what about Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law?  When Moses flees eastward after killing the Egyptian, he comes to the land of Midian.  And lo and behold, there is the “priest of Midian” (Exodus 3:1) who shelters Moses and gives him a daughter as his wife.  Later, he meets Moses in the wilderness and gives him some solid advice.

            Finally, we consider the Magi who had seen the star of the Messiah in the East and came bearing gifts.  Where did they get this knowledge connecting a certain star with the Child’s birth?

            Many things remain a mystery to us, but his one thing we know: God is and always has been the God of His whole creation.

                                                            ><>  Jeff