Genesis
chapter 14 begins with the four kings in the region of Sodom and
Gomorrah rebelling against a five king confederacy that had been
ruling over them. In the course of the conflict, Lot, Abram’s nephew
is taken captive. “One
who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew….When
Abram heard his relative had been taken captive, he called our 318
trained men born in his household and went in pursuit“.
We get a sense of how wealthy Abram had become to have a private
army of over 300 men. We are told in a nighttime attack, “he
routed them….he recovered all the goods and he brought back his
relative Lot and all his possessions“.
It is clear that God is blessing Abram abundantly.
Next
as Abram is returning home with all of the people and spoils of war,
we are introduced to a mysterious figure. “Then
Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest
of God Most High, and blessed Abram saying, “Blessed be Abram by
God Most High. Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most
High Who delivered your enemies into your hand”. Then Abram
gave him a tenth of everything“.
The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews tells us, “First
his name means “King of Righteousness”, then also king of
Salem means “King of Peace”. Without Father or Mother,
without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the
Son of God He remains priest forever. Just think how great He was
for even the patriarch Abraham to give Him a tenth of his plunder“.
Just who is Melchizedek? He is both king and priest, he is worthy
of Abram giving a tenth of all he has, he blesses Abram and God
Almighty, he offers bread and wine to the first Hebrew (which means
“Pass over”). He is called the King of Peace and the King
of Righteousness. I believe this is the first of many pre-Bethlehem
appearances of Jesus Christ. It is also how the writer of Hebrews
explains to new testament believers that we do not give to the church
because we are required to under the Law, but as an act of worship
and praise (remember this was before the Law was given to Moses).
In
contrast, when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah greet Abram they tell
him, “give
me the people and keep all the goods for yourself“.
But Abram explains, “I
have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and
earth and have taken an oath that I will not accept nothing belonging
to you…that you will never be able to say, I made Abram rich“.
Abram does not want to get entangled with these nations. Living as
Christians today we must be careful to be “In
the world but not of the world“.
We need to be living examples that draw people to Christ, but we are
also warned not to be “unequally
yoked with unbelievers“.
God alone deserves our praise and worship and yes, even the “first
fruits of our labor“.
“God
Loves a cheerful giver“,
but if you can’t give cheerfully, keep your money because God doesn’t
even receive it if it is given grudgingly. As always, God looks at
our attitude. Everything we have comes from God, let’s always
remember that!