Genesis 24 Series

[Read Genesis 14:17-20.]

Melchizadek blesses Abraham and gives glory to God for his victory. It was an obvious act of God that Abram and his small army would be able to defeat the Eastern kings. So Melchizadek gives credit to where credit was due. God deserved the glory and God would get the glory. Abram obviously agreed with what Melchizadek was saying because he gave him the first ever recorded tithe of all that God had given him. Abram saw Melchizadek as God’s priest on the earth at that time and he willingly gave him a tenth of all that he’d gained in the victory. Abram’s faith kept him focused on what was important. And he would need that faith because he’s about to get a real chance to get side-tracked by king Bera.

[Read Genesis 14:21-24.]

Now this is truly amazing. The king of Sodom is making Abram an offer that would make him an incredibly rich and powerful man. But in accepting this offer then the king of Sodom would get the glory for making Abram rich instead of God getting the glory for how He was blessing Him. That’s not what Abram was about any more. Abram wanted God to get all the glory for he knew it was God who was watching over him. God was the One who gave him that victory and He deserved all the credit. Besides, Abram wasn’t in it for the money anyways! But you know what, it looks like Abram had decided to do this even before Bera made his offer.

[Read Genesis 14:23.]

Abram probably knew beforehand that Bera would try and align himself with the victorious Abram so he had already decided that kind of alliance would never happen. Bera and his kingdom were known for their exceedingly sinful lifestyles. How could a man of God be associated with something like that.

Now that doesn’t mean he can’t be kind to them or reach out to them. But to align himself with an immoral man just for profit isn’t something that a godly man should do. It reminds me of something that happened in Tampa in 2006.

[Without Walls church July 2006, Joe Redner, Tampa strip club king,

self-professed gay man, speaking on a Sunday morning about his running

for a county seat, standing ovation, also spoke in 2003 story.]

Our faith needs to keep us focused on what’s important – giving God the glory for what He’s doing in our lives. He is worthy! So let’s stay focused and make sure we don’t allow greed or a lack of faith to cause us to do things that’ll end up holding us hostage.

Next week, Abram’s promised a son.