Genesis Chapter 14: And Melchizedek Was a Priest of The Most High God

And Melchizedek Was a Priest of The Most High God

At this point, a war breaks out between several kings, “four kings with five.” Genesis 14:9

The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell in battle and their goods and “victuals” were taken away.  Thus, Lot and his goods were also taken, as he lived in Sodom.  When Abram got word of this, he mounted a response with “his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.” Genesis 14:14

He smote those whom he went after, “And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.”  (Genesis 14:16)  Abram was able to pursue those who had taken his family member and to bring him back to his home.  Sometimes, you have to go get and help your family members when they are in a state where they can’t help themselves and can’t get out of a state that they are in simply because they were living in the wrong situation and with people who were negative around them.

The Bible had already mentioned that Sodom was wicked, in the previous chapter, and the war that broke out was through no fault of Lot’s.  Sometimes we have people we know who are caught up in a bad situation and, at times, we want to “throw the baby out with the bath water,” so to speak.  If we can take some time and treat people like we would want to be treated, then we could save someone from unjust destruction.  That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a time and place for retribution for evils that people want to continue to hold on to, but that there is a time for mercy and help when a person needs it.

The Bible goes on to say:

Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him (Abram) after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that are with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Here was a man, Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Abram, who was a priest of the most high God.  That is to say that God can, and has, revealed himself to people around the world and not just to a specific group of people.  This is an important point, because if you can’t see God in yourself, and only see him in some other people, you will never reach the heights that God has for you—as you are made in the image and likeness of God.  And, if we never see God in other people, we will have a difficult time of living the world in peace.

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all (which means Abram gave Melchizedek tithes).

Then, the king of Sodom comes up to Abram and asked for the people to be returned, yet told Abram that he could keep the goods for himself.

Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Genesis 14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Genesis 14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.