Genesis 14

Not only was Sodom a place of wickedness, it turned out to be a place of great danger for Abram's nephew, Lot. A league of kings and their united armies came against a second group of city states, including the place where Lot was residing. The immediate consequences were disastrous for Lot and his considerable entourage and possessions.

In this world, we cannot always escape the larger affairs of warring nations all around us. Lot came to Sodom not because of his interest in international relations. He saw the beauty and fruitfulness of the place, and he judged that it was the land that he should choose for himself. When we choose according to the world's criteria, we should not be surprised that we may have picked something that other more powerful forces have also judged to be desirable.

Lot went to Sodom to do well for himself, but now he finds himself in the middle of an international controversy. Not only that, he is on the losing end of that struggle, and is soon taken as a prisoner of war along with all he has. The choice of Sodom may not look as wise now as it once did for Lot. He has made a speedy slide from the owner of many servants and livestock to a prisoner who will now be the slave of men who have come with evil intent from a more powerful league of nations.

But Abram has not forgotten his nephew. When he hears of these alarming events, he leads forth his trained men together with those of his allied clans. He went forth to the north and east a great distance in order to recapture and bring back to safety those who had been stolen away from their homes, including Lot. He used some military strategy and the advantage of an attack by night to surprise the adversaries, but the victory was the Lord's.

It is the remainder of this chapter, the aftermath of this military success that gives this chapter its enduring value. When Abram returned home with his fighting men and the people and property that he had rescued, he was met by two kings, Melchizedek, the king of Salem (which would later be Jerusalem), and the king of Sodom. Melchizedek is a mysterious figure who seems to come out of nowhere, and is mentioned later in Psalm 110 and in the New Testament book of Hebrews. His name means “king of righteousness,” and he is the king of “peace,” since Salem means “peace.” He has no genealogy, and most significantly, he takes a position in this story above God's great man, Abram. Melchizedek blesses Abram, as one from above would bless one from below.

This man is both king and priest, just as Christ is for us. He is not a servant of a pagan deity, but of God Most High. He speaks of the blessing of the God of heaven and earth on Abram, and He praises God Most High, acknowledging that this deliverance of the nations has come from the Lord's hand.

Who is this great man? Is he prefiguring the coming of the great Prince of Peace, our King of Righteousness? Is this priestly king somehow the Son of God come forth for just a moment in time before the appointed day of our deliverance? We do know that the treatment he receives is that of one who is acknowledged by Abram to be greater than himself. Abram gives him a tenth of everything.

How different is Abram's interaction with the king of Sodom! That man came out attempting not to praise Abram's God, but to honor Abram, and to give Abram a great reward. But Abram will not accept any trophies from the hands of Sodom's king. Does Abram know something that Lot earlier ignored, that Sodom was a place of great wickedness, and that an honor received from Sodom's king might not be worth taking home?

The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’”

Abram is spiritually prepared for this interaction. He has solemnly promised God that he would take nothing from the king of Sodom. He desires that all glory go to the God that Melchizedek serves and not to himself or to the alliance of forces that he led.

He does provide a share for the men of the allied clans who have fought under his leadership. That is for them to dispose of as they see fit. For Abram, the victory is the Lord's and the glory belongs to God. He worships God in the day of victory.

We follow a king who is the Son of David and a priest after the order of Melchizedek. He honored His Father, even willingly suffering the cursed death of the cross in our place. He gave His all to God Most High when we were slaves of sin.

Nothing of His victory came with the help of any man, as if we could justly say that Jesus plus some other man has delivered us from the hands of our enemies. The Lord is a champion of solo warfare. He alone accomplished what He alone could do. Through Him we will praise God Most High forever, the God of heaven and earth.

Let the nations be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Jesus, the Son of God, has delivered us from bondage. We are free from sin and death in Him.