Thought

Parts of Genesis 14 sound like the setting for an epic film: four kings against five, facing off in a valley full of tar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah flee, and the four kings seize the moment—all of Sodom and Gomorrah’s stuff, including Abram’s nephew. I Abram, with his 318 men, was surely outnumbered by four kings and their armies, but he did not let this stop him. When Abram courageously went after the kidnappers and rescued Lot and his whole family, God sent a special blessing to Abram. God blesses the courage of His faithful ones.

Word

Genesis 14:18–20 NIV

When Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and 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.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Question

Who was the mysterious Melchizedek?

In truth, the short answer to this is that we don’t really know. We know he was a king of Salem (an ancient name for Jerusalem and a Hebrew word that means “peace”) and a priest of God Most High. And we know that Abram saw him as someone worthy of giving an offering—even a tenth of everything he had just gained. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Melchizedek resembled the Son of God and remains a priest forever. Some people say that what is said in Hebrews and the interaction in Genesis 14 suggest that Melchizedek was not an earthly being. They say he was someone sent from God, or even was Jesus appearing in this role of priest and king. But one thing we can know is that Melchizedek was a messenger of God who let Abram know that God had been with him in his battle, and the Creator God was with him still.

Challenge

Melchizedek makes an appearance in one more book of the Bible. Read Psalm 110. Who do you think the psalm is talking about?

Prayer

Creator God, Your presence gives me courage. Help me to stay near You. Amen.