Genesis 14

Genesis 14 – January 31 

Genesis 14 provides us with a very interesting side of Abram that isn’t explored anywhere else. The world of his day was incredibly dangerous and filled with small military skirmishes as cities would go to war with one another. Chedorlaomer was a king that began to grow his kingdom into a small empire by winning over other cities by way of diplomacy or war. By providence, the Lord permitted Sodom and Gomorrah to be ransacked by Chedorlaomer and his band of vassal kings. Along with many other spoils of war, they also kidnapped Lot. This was likely a tactic designed to either torture and humiliate him, or to ransom him for a financial exchange.

Even though Lot had taken the best land away from his uncle, Abram determined to raise up a band of soldiers to liberate his nephew. Abram must have been an incredible man to lead a small band of soldiers against superior forces and soundly defeat them. We see in the text a small glimpse of his tactical prowess as he divided his forces in the right way and attacked at just the right time to ensure the sound defeat of Chedorlaomer and his crew. Abram was able to liberate all of the captives and bring back all of the spoils of war.

This is the first time that I have ever noticed an incredible detail. Remember how we learned yesterday about Lot inching his way toward Sodom? It seems as though he was desirous of their wealth, thus compromising his standards for earthly gain. Did you notice that all of Sodom’s wealth was stolen by Chedorlaomer and then inherited by right by Abram as spoils of war? Lot pursued them, and lost them. Abram simply sought to honor the Lord and all of these things were added unto him.

It is on the return from his victory that Abram encounters a mysterious Old Testament figure named Melchizedek. This man is a unique outlier in that he is a priest, but not a priest of Israel. Israel did not exist yet. In fact, this is the first mention of a priest of God, and there is not another mentioned until the tribe of Levi (particularly the line of Aaron, Moses’ brother) is established as the priestly line 470 years later. In both Psalm 110 and in Hebrews 5-7, Jesus is presented as a priest that is from this line of the priesthood rather than the Levitical priesthood. This is how Jesus could be a priest, even though He did not meet the genealogical requirements.

Although we could spend a great deal of time exploring the mysterious nature of this ancient priest/king, there are three quick things to which I would like to draw your attention. 

  1. Abram was not in it for the wealth. He readily gave away a tenth (literally a tithe) of the spoils to the priest of God. He also did not accept any wealth from the priest. He had made a vow to the Lord that he would not accept anything that was offered. (vs. 22-23) This once again displays the heart of Abram as one that was much more interested in his relationship with the Lord than he was about earthly gain.
  1. Melchizedek is displayed to be a greater priest than the Levites because he a) was prior to them, b) was also a king, c) he received a tithe from the Levitical priesthood through their ancestor, Abram, “ for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.” (Hebrews 7:10)

 

  1. The Melchizedekian priesthood was superior to the Levitical priesthood. And Jesus was the better priest. Hebrews 7 explains that Jesus is better based upon the fact that He is eternal and never finishes His priestly ministry to us. “This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.” As our great High Priest, Jesus made a perfect sacrifice on behalf of His people in order to atone for our sins. The blessing that Abram received from Melchizedek pales in comparison to the incredible gift of grace that has been poured out over all the children of God through Jesus Christ.

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