This last passage of Genesis 14
gives us a glimpse of the gospel message through the order of Melchizedek. Scripture says, "the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim and Bela (that is, Zoar) - marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar. Now the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea) was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. The four kings (of Mesopotamia) seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew (the man who God had spoke to and promised to give all the land as far as the eye could see). Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative (Lot) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan (That’s interesting because the tribe of Dan did not yet exist - so this place is hard to understand). During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus (northern Syria). Abram recovered all the goods and brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).” “Then Melchizedek king of Salem (Peace) brought out bread and wine (the communion elements). Melchizedek was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Melchizedek - the king and priest from Salem came to greet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh, also known as the Valley of the King. I wonder if this could have been the name for Jerusalem - the city of peace, the Holy City that sits in Mount Zion? Melchizedek appears to have come down from Heaven as a king and a priest with bread and wine in hand. His mission was to bless Abram - all because El ʿElyon, the Most High God, delivered Abram’s enemies into his hands. *This reminds me of story of Gideon who defeats the Midianites with only 300 men, not 10,000 like there could have been. The only way it could have happened was through the power, direction and protection of the Most High God. “Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.” I wonder if this is where the tithe comes from - giving a 10th of all that you have? “The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me - to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” Genesis 14:8-24 I just love how this story ends. Abram continues to praise the Lord. He stands on the oath He made with God. He does not want one thing from the king of Sodom. He does not want the king to have any ownership of him. And then He demands that the men who helped him be grafted in, and be given the share of what is owed to them. May God continue to bless us with this message. May the gospel glimpse be burned into our hearts where it belongs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2022
|