The Greater Blessing - Genesis 15 Series

Last week we studied the passage in Genesis 13:3-18 where we saw that Abram and Lot were prospering, so much so that they needed to expand their territory and go their separate ways. Throughout this transition, Abram stayed close to God and learned to settle things God’s way. Lot on other hand moved farther from God and closer to Sodom in pursuit of prosperity.

Today, we will be looking at Genesis 14 and how Abram was now contently settled in Hebron, worshiping God at the newly-built altar. His nephew Lot however settled in Sodom (13:12, 14:12). When Lot made his initial move to Sodom he had no idea that he moved to a very dangerous place spiritually and politically.

What we see recorded in the first 16 verses of chapter 14, is that the King Chedorlaomer of Elam, in alliance with the three kings of the s-east, went to war against the five kings of the south because they refused to continue paying tribute/tax to him. As these four kings were coming down to vanquish the five kings of the south, they were conquering other small kingdoms along the way and made their way to the area of what is today, the Dead Sea. These four kings conquered the five kings of the south (including the kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah), pillaged them - taking the people and all their goods except for those who fled to the hill country.

One of the survivors from the battle runs to tell Abram (who is now living in Hebron) about all that transpired and how Lot was also taken captive. Abram could easily have decided to do nothing, rationalizing how Lot had made his choices and was now reaping the consequences.

But instead of taking a negative stance towards Lot, Abram chose to take action to rescue him. He gathered all his men, over 300 trained, discipled servants along with those with whom he made alliances with and went to war against the kings of the Northeastern region. He divided his forces, deployed them, ambushed the kings by night and defeated them all. Afterward, Abram brought Lot, all the people, along with all their possessions and the spoils of the defeated kings with him. Let’s read from there, starting at verse 17.

Let’s turn to Genesis 14:17-24

17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said,

Blessed be Abram of God Most High,

Possessor of heaven and earth;

20 And blessed be God Most High,

Who has handed over your enemies to you.”

And he gave him a tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the possessions for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you do not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”

We can see three things in this passage. A:

Spiritual/Transformational Encounter, a

Natural/Transactional Encounter, and

Wisdom to discern the difference

Let’s look at the first encounter between Melkizedek and Abram.

It was a Spiritual/Transformational Encounter

Abram was returning from the victory with the plunder and met the king of Sodom and Salem in the valley of the kings. What is interesting to note is the difference in attitude of the two kings. In verse 18, when Melchizedek went out to meet Abram he brought bread and wine, which indicated that he had prepared a feast, a royal banquet in order to bless Abram and to celebrate God’s sovereign victory over the enemies. Melchizedek was a king and priest of the most high God from Salem whose name meant “My King of righteousness.” Salem means a place of fullness, completeness or restoration (peace). Even though Melchizadek was a Canaanite king, he recognized and worshiped the one true Creator God.

Archeology sheds some light on Melchizedek's belief in the God of Abram. For example, in 1929, a library of clay tablets was discovered by archaeologists in Ras Shamra (present day Syria), revealing the history of this Canaanite region over the centuries. These tablets described such things as the history of their trade and commerce, their relationships with other kingdoms, and how and what the people of this region worshiped. At the time of Abram, these people were worshiping the supreme God El and the little Baal the god of rain and thunder, who supposedly brought fertility to the land.