God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth
Genesis 14:1 - 24
Kings of Shinar (Babylon (Ur)), Ellasar (Haran), Elam (Southwest Perisia/Iran), and Goyim (Syria) (1) went to war against other 5 kings (2). The 5 kings had been subject to king Kedorlaomer for 12 years but rebelled in the 13th year (4).
In the 14th year, king Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him defeated them (5 -11). They carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions because he was living in Sodom (12).
Abram heard it (13) and went to rescue his relative Lot by calling out his 318 trained men born in his household (14). Abram attacked them during the night, recovered all the goods and brought back Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people (15, 16).
Abram as an uncle of Lot took responsibility to save Lot by taking the risk of his own life. Abram might pray to God for the rescue.
Here, we see the contrast.
Lot became a prisoner of war but Abram became the rescuer of Lot through the victorious combat.
Lot chose the place that pleased his eyes and lived near sinful & wicked people of Sodom (Genesis 13:10-13). On the other hand, Abram built an altar and called on the name of the LORD wherever he was (Genesis 12:7, 12:8, 13:4, 13:18).
Sin made Lot weak and vulnerable. But faith made Abram prepared and strong. So, Abram kept himself away from troubles. Further he was able to rescue Lot in trouble.
Rescuing Lot, Abram returned as the war hero.
The king of Sodom came out to meet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley) (17). Then, who came to bless Abram before he could talk with the king of Sodom? See v18-21.
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’. He was also king of Salem, which means ‘peace’. He was priest of God Most High.
Hebrews 7:3 says about Melchizedek,
3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
Psalm 110:4b says Christ Jesus is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek brought out bread and wine (18). Bread and wine symbolizes the flesh of Jesus broken for us and the blood of Jesus shed for us.
He blessed Abram, saying “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” (19, 20a)
Then, Abram gave Melchizedek 10% of everything (20b). He honoured God by giving 10% of everything after the victory & success.
Malachi 3:10 says on tithing as below:
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Tithing brings overflowing blessing from wide-open floodgates of heaven!
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” (21)
But Abram refused his offer so that the king of Sodom might not say that he made Abram rich (23). Abram no longer depended on the king for his finance as he did in Genesis 12:10-20.
Abram believed it was God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth who gave Abram the victory in the war. And it was God who blessed Abram’s wealth.
Do you believe God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth in your daily life including study, work and finance?
