Connecting Scriptures:  Hebrews 5:6-10, Hebrews 7, Psalm 110:4, Psalm 76:1-2

Chapter 14 begins with nations raging.  Scripture goes into great detail to describe a conglomerate of peoples against peoples.  If you have a map of the land during Abrams time, you will notice that where he is located as an alien on borrowed soil is right amongst all this turmoil.  And then there is Lot, far off and defenseless in the land of Sodom.  When Lot is taken as a prisoner of war, Abram steps in as family head to rescue and send a message to the world that this family has a special defense.  The blessings and curses come in as we see Abram call to arms 318 of his men (servants trained for battle) and with him leading the charge, the enemy is defeated.  It is not just Lot who is rescued, but all the people and possessions that were taken.  Also, does anyone else get floored when you realize that Abram isn’t just some hobo guy living in a tent in the woods of someones property?  He has an army at his command.  There is a reason why Mamre the Amorite is ok with sharing his space—this Abram has a small town living with him and he seems to be blessed in ways that don’t make sense.  Let’s let this guy stick around and maybe the blessings will rub off!

Then comes Melchizedek.  Not to be flippant with God’s word, but the song “Cotton Eye Joe” comes to mind when this mysterious figure shows up.  “Where did you come from, where did you go…”.  A man who supporting scriptures describe as having no lineage or endpoint, just a sense of being.  He was a man, and he did live, but digging into the “why’s” and “how’s” can really take us down a rabbit trail.  For today’s sake, I have some things that stand out.  Since Melchizedek was separate from Abram, we can see a pattern that shows up in the lives of other biblical figures, that God calls those outside of the promise to know him.  Looking forward I think on Job, Rahab, Ruth, Nebuchadnezzar (while his was a shaky relationship), and then further on in the New Testament we see the fulfillment of Jesus being the Messiah of the Gentiles as well as the Jews.  Melchizedek was priest, before the institute of the priesthood and he called upon and worshipped God Most High.  This man was “King of Salem”, which was seated in what would be Jerusalem in the future.  This would one day be the home of God’s Temple, where his glory shone forth and presence dwelled among the people.  Seems like it was there already in Melchizedek’s worship.  Lastly, in the presentation of bread and wine (a precursor to Passover and the Lords Supper) and a giving of a tithe (before the tithes of Levitical law) we see Abram having an understanding about how important this meeting is.  I think we see it too, but maybe (at least for me) we are just on the edge, looking though a “glass dimly lit” (1 Corinthians 13:12).  

Bottom line, God reveals what we need to know.  Melchizedek came, he blessed the one who God blesses and he loved Our God.  This is amazing.  When we consider the Hebrews scripture reference above, I think the point and picture becomes clearer:  Get to Jesus.  Don’t miss him right here, in Genesis 14.  Amongst the spoils of war and peculiar meetings, there is something I think God wants us to hold on to and it is that the presence and plan of Jesus is weaving in and all around.  There is a High Priest and lineage that is outside of man and his short comings.  He is going to appear just at the right time and He will lead all who confess Him as Lord to worship, not because of familial heritage—but because of faith.

Questions for Reflection:

1.  What does Abram’s quick call to arms for Lot reveal about his heart and ability to lead?

2.  What does Abram’s rejection of the spoils of war tell us about his faith and how God was calling him “out of his culture” to live set apart?

3.  How do we see Melchizedeks existence as proof that while Abrams’s family were to bless the world, they didn’t have a monopoly on worshipping God?  What is God’s heart for the nations of the world (see Psalm 22:27-31)?