Genesis 14:17-24. 17After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
Truly Abraham’s astounding victory against the five kings of Shinar (Babylon) was an act of God’s great grace and providential care. Surely, Abraham’s fame and fortune are destined to rise. But Abraham doesn’t care about those things. Once again, Abraham will respond to the test of prosperity and success with faith. Faith in the Lord, God Most High.
The test comes in the form of two very different kings that will approach Abraham after his victory. The King of Sodom and the King of Salem.
The unnamed king of Sodom represents all that this city represents. All that is evil and selfish, unjust and unkind. The world and all of its trappings. Although clearly Abraham has the upper hand in the post-war negotiations, Sodom’s king comes to Abraham with a deal. A bargain with the devil – Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.
Like Satan himself, this wicked king is willing to trade stuff for souls. As a preview of Christ in the wilderness with Lucifer, Abraham is able to resist the offer of worldly riches at the cost of bowing down to anyone other than his good God – 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.” The same shortcut is offered to Abraham and to our Savior. Did God say he would give you…? Let me get you there faster. Just bow down to me.
Now let’s go a bit deeper. As in Genesis 13, this test of Abraham’s faith is about more than choosing God over possessions. Once again, Abraham is forced to trust the promise of God. In chapter thirteen, Abraham lost the best of the land and then watched his potential heir, Lot, walk out on him. In chapter fourteen, Abraham valiantly and selflessly rescues Lot from kidnapping and a life of potential slavery. But just as Abraham won’t keep the possession of Sodom, he also won’t force Lot to return home. For a second time Abraham will watch Lot walk away. Abraham must be thinking, why did I do it? Why did I rescue Lot just to watch him abandon me again? What is God up to?
You see, just like us, Abraham had to decide to do the right thing for no other reason than it was the right thing. Abraham had to do the righteous thing, the thing that would bring peace, shalom, flourishing to his “brother,” Lot, regardless of whether or not it would bring about the desired result – Lot’s apology, recommitment to Uncle Abraham, and a clear path forward for the promise of God through Lot as Abraham’s heir.
Pursuing righteousness and peace even though the hearts of others may not change. Doing the next right thing simply because it is the right thing, even though the other person may still walk away.
Enter Melchizedek. King of Salem, shalom, peace, flourishing. Melchizedek, whose name literally means “king of righteousness,” the priest-king of Yahweh. Melchizedek, our Christ figure, is literally the polar opposite of the King of Sodom.
The King of Sodom displays worldly wisdom; the King of Salem displays the wisdom of God.
The King of Sodom wants to make a deal with Abraham; the King of Salem wants to bless Abraham.
The King of Sodom wants to control Abraham; the King of Salem offers bread and wine as a covenant meal (a foreshadowing of Christ’s New Covenant?) to Abraham.
Abraham’s response is another turning point. In rejecting Sodom’s king, Abraham is rejecting the glories and fame of the world itself. Rather than keeping the world’s booty, Abraham pays tribute to the Lord – And Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. Abraham is not just performing some ancient ritual; he is renewing his faith in God. God blessed me. God fought for me. God preserved me. God gave me the victory. And even though God didn’t give Lot back to me, I will trust the wisdom of God over the wisdom of the world. I will trust Salem over Sodom.
This is the daily choice of all who are in Christ, living beneath the shelter of his covenant grace, feasting on the bread and wine of his body and blood. The choice to do the next right thing simply because it honors God, and even if it does not advance my place in this world’s system. This is not an easy choice, but it is a choice that becomes easier and easier the more we trust in the blessing of God in Christ. Our Melchizedek. Our priest-king who offers us all the blessings of Jesus through our faith in the finished work of Jesus.
You: The King of Sodom offered Abraham a shortcut to God’s promised blessing. What shortcuts are you tempted to take in your walk with Christ?
You in Christ: In Christ, there is no promise of God to you that is not fulfilled. Jesus IS the promise fulfilled. How does this allow you to reject the offers of the world’s system around you?
Christ in you: Is there a “next right thing” that God is calling you to do, simply because it is right? How does trusting Christ play into your choice?
Prayer: Father, let your righteousness and peace rule over my heart today. Keep me from the shortcuts of Satan and allow me to trust your grace to me in Christ as I do the next right thing. Amen.
To Live is Christ 