Genesis Chapter 14 Verses 1 – 9

• Now a neat fact about these kings is that there is archaeological evidence, by name, of each of these kings. Artifacts found with inscriptions and such. And notice, this occurrence, this circumstance is given to us in the Bible, why? Because Abram is going to get wrapped up in this conflict. He will end up joining this battle but not because he is involved or attacked in any way but because Lot is in trouble again…

Genesis Chapter 14 Verses 10 – 12

• Lot lifted his eyes to find what was best for him. He didn’t seek the Lord in his decision to move towards Sodom…He didn’t do what was best for his family…he did what was best for business and for himself and so we read he lifted his eyes towards Sodom…then he pitched his tent in that direction…and now we find him in the city. It works like that…you set your eyes on something of the world, not seeking the Lord, not thinking about those that you love but just looking out for number 1…not intending it to become anything…and now we find him completely immersed in Sodom.
• And notice the result. When Sodom is taken captive, Lot finds himself captive as well. And we have to be careful with this…just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean you are bullet proof or stupidity proof…best to stay out of the city. Whatever that city is for you…Spurgeon said it this way, “Those believers who conform to the world must expect to suffer for the world.”

Genesis Chapter 14 Verses 13 – 14

• I’m not entirely sure why Abram here is called, “the Hebrew.” This is the first mention of the word and it’s just kind of thrown in here as a qualifier or identifier of Abram. It is interesting though because the Muslims look to Abram as their father as well through the line of Ishmael and so this is certainly interesting…

• And I find this awesome…Abraham had 318 trained servants. That tells me a bunch. First, he was uber wealthy! His estate was able to employ, house, and feed 318 trained soldiers, let alone the farmers, craftsmen, women, children…the men that were too old to fight and the men that were too young to fight! He was immensely wealthy and also, I love this, who do you suppose trained them?

• I’m in support of the thought that Abram trained them! He prepares them, he provides for them, he is trusted and respected by them…this is an ENORMOUS contrast to Lot. Whose daughters and wife are all that are mentioned of his team and my how they were forsaken by Lot. He taught his wife how to fail…as she disregarded the direction of the angels and looked back and therefore becoming a pillar of salt…and his daughters…well that grossness will come up in a few chapters but remember when forces came against them in Sodom…he offered his daughters!! Sharp contrast here between the man Abram is and the man Lot is and how much better, prepared, capable and strong were the folks surrounding Abram…

Genesis Chapter 14 Verses 15 – 17

• Abram accomplishes what numerous kings could not…Hobah would be more than 100 miles of a journey from Canaan and so Abram went to great lengths to rescue Lot and this is almost crazy, Lot goes right back to Sodom…my how I’ve seen that play out in many lives…tragic…

Genesis Chapter 14 Verses 18 – 20

• Truly one of the most, if not the MOST, mysterious characters in all of the Bible. We have no idea where Melchizedek came from and how is it that he is a priest of God Most High!? This is hundreds of years before Aaron comes on the scene and so there is no priesthood! No Aaronic line, no Levitical order and yet a new word, a new concept, “priest” emerges seemingly from nowhere.
• Melchizedek is mentioned in three books of the Bible and the things said about him are incredible! Hebrews chapter 5 says that Jesus is High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek…and then goes on to say in Hebrews chapter 7 that this Melchizedek is something other than just a man…turn over to Hebrews Chapter 7…read with me verses 1 through 3…
• So Melchizedek which is translated “King of Righteousness” who is from Salem (ancient Jerusalem) which means, “Peace,” so He is also the “King of Peace,” who is without beginning or origin and who is without end…appears to Abram and blesses him…and what were His elements of blessing? Bread and wine…most agree that this is what we call a Christophany…an Old Testament appearance of Jesus!
• And so the original priesthood of the Bible is revealed and there are a few things to note simply in the rites offered. First, we have a picture of communion but we also see a perfect picture of a “priest.” One who blesses both God and man…and Melchizedek blessed both God Most High and Abram. We also see the tithe. Literally the 10% offering and notice, it predates the Old Testament law…

Genesis Chapter 14 Verses 21 – 24

• I love this scene because here the King of Sodom, one who is defeated, one who runs a corrupt kingdom, says to Abram, give me the people in exchange for all of the goods. And there’s a practical and a Messianic picture here. The Messianic picture is that Jesus was offered the same thing. Matthew 4:8-9, “The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.””

• The world is yours, Jesus…just give me the souls of the people…Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Exactly what Abram says here to the king of the failed, the king of corruption…
• And what’s cool is that Abram says, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High…” The Lord, God Most High…where did Abram learn that name of God? “Elyown El…,” from Melchizedek. This chapter is the only place in the Bible where you find this name, this phrase, “God Most High” other than one Psalm…Psalm 57 where David calls out to God Most High for deliverance from earthly enemies…This worship experience, this encounter was personal and impactful and for Abram…as strong as he was in the Lord, he was somehow stronger now…knew God just a bit more…
• And so when the world brought what the world brings…give me the people…and take for yourself…Abram has the spiritual strength to see the badness of the deal. And so the practical side…Galatians 5:16, Paul writes, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fall to the lust of the flesh!” Abram had been worshiping, Abram had received the blessing of God Most High and so when the king of defeat invites him to a deal, Abram has no desire and gives the king of Sodom nothing but rejection…
• Why? So that Abram could look back on all that he had, the 318…we have no implication that he lost any…what they have, how they live, how they smile, how they serve and he can say with complete purity of heart…it’s all because of the Lord. And what’s more…this kind of witness, this kind of integrity…no one else could say differently!
• There’s a wondrous story of when Calvary Chapel was a tent ministry under Chuck Smith and they were praying about building…decades ago…and a man approached Chuck and said, “I believe in what you’re doing here…I want to give you a million dollars to build Calvary Chapel…” Chuck turned him down…What God wanted to do and what God did was much more than a million dollars worth of building and work but if Chuck would have taken it then the second million to the hundredth million would have had man’s fingerprint on it and Chuck wouldn’t have it…
• God will do eternally more than any man or woman could ever do for us but here’s the thing…will we have an appetite for His will?