GENESIS 14
Read Genesis 14:1-24
The consequences of Lot’s choice to head east for good grazing for his flocks and herds now start to unravel. Generally, in the Bible, heading east means trouble. The judgement on Cain after he killed his brother was to be exiled east of Eden, and when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden God placed an angel on the east gate to prevent their return. We are given quite a lot of detail of a war between four kings and five with quite a lot of geographical information. The most important part of this is that one of the combatants was the king of Sodom and he was on the losing side. As a result, the opponents took a load of booty from Sodom including Abram’s nephew Lot. There is no indication that Lot was involved in the fighting, just that as an innocent bystander who happened to be in Sodom at the time, he was captured and taken away by the victors.
Word came to Abram of Lot’s misfortune and he went in pursuit of Lot’s captors with a modestly sized force of 318 men. The number seems precise and doesn’t appear to have any theological significance, so it may simply be a report of what actually happened. Abram’s raid was successful and he not only retrieved Lot but also other captives and the loot that had been taken.
It is what happened next that is interesting. The grateful king of Sodom came out to meet Abram when he returned, but also so did a priest by the name of Melchizedek who is also described as the king of Salem, that is, Jerusalem. We know nothing of Melchizedek other than what we read here. He is evidently an important figure in the area, a priest and a king. He blessed Abram in God’s name recognising God as creator and heaven and earth. In Melchizedek it is easy to see an anticipation of Jesus. He was priest and king; Jesus is priest and king (and prophet as well). Melchizedek brought out bread and wine, possibly foreshadowing Jesus at the Last Supper and he pours out a blessing upon Abram. Abram’s response is to give Melchizedek ten percent of his gains, the standard giving that the Old Testament recommends. By doing this, Abram recognises Melchizedek as a true representative of God.
Abram’s attitude towards the king of Sodom is completely different. The king of Sodom only asks that his people are returned and is happy to let Abram keep the rest of the stuff. However, Abram insists on giving back everything to the king of Sodom as he doesn’t want to be beholden to him for the slightest thing, “not even a thread or thong of a sandal” (v23). There is no way that he is going to let the king of Sodom have any leverage at all over him and be able to say, “I made Abram rich”.
Abram here shows where his priorities lie; primarily with God by worshipping through his acknowledged representative Melchizedek, and not at all with the sinful king of the sinful city of Sodom.