We will begin this lesson in chapter 14 of Genesis verse 1.
Genesis 14:1 “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of
Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of
nations;” Genesis 14:2 “[That these] made war with Bera king of Sodom, and
with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of
Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.” Genesis 14:3 “All these were
joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.”
There are just a few things in this to note. #1. Elam is modern Iran
#2. Vale of Siddim and Salt Sea are the same as the Dead Sea. #3. Remember
that Lot had settled at, or near, Sodom.
Genesis 14:4 “Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the
thirteenth year they rebelled.” Genesis 14:5 “And in the fourteenth year
came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that [were] with him, and smote the
Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in
Shaveh Kiriathaim,” Genesis 14:6 “And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto
El-paran, which [is] by the wilderness.” Genesis 14:7 “And they returned,
and came to En-mishpat, which [is] Kadesh, and smote all the country of the
Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar.” Genesis
14:8 “And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and
the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same
[is] Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;” Genesis
14:9 “With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations,
and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with
five.”
I think that what we must see in all of this is that there was unrest
in the land for over 14 years. This land was broken into small areas and
each one had a king. Any time a group of people start a fight with someone
else, it is the desire for power and wealth that makes them do it. I am just
sure that such was the case here, as well. All these kings wanted to be the
top king.
Genesis 14:10 “And the vale of Siddim [was full of] slimepits; and the
kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained
fled to the mountain.”
This area of the slimepits was an area where oil deposits had come to
the surface. Some of the modern Bibles call the slimepits (asphalt). At any
rate, this would be of great use to them.
Genesis 14:11 “And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and
all their victuals, and went their way.” Genesis 14:12 “And they took Lot,
Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”
This is where they got into trouble. Abram would not have joined into
this confusion, if they had left Lot alone. Why they did not just take Lot’s
possessions was not clear. Possibly, he and his family would have become
slaves to these barbaric people. The people who are modern Iran are the same
people who took Lot. They have not changed their tactics. they are still
kidnapping people.
Genesis 14:13 “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the
Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol,
and brother of Aner: and these [were] confederate with Abram.” Genesis 14:14
“And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his
trained [servants], born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and
pursued [them] unto Dan.”
Our leaders could take instruction from Abram. He took immediate
action. He gathered a few allies who had relatives captured. He took well
trained (very loyal) servants to catch these kidnappers, who had run off
with his nephew, Lot. The word “brother”, above, was a loose use of the
word. A better translation would have been relative, just as people might
call Dr. Pepper, a Coke. When you say you want a Coke now, people ask what
kind? They use the word Coke to mean all soda pops. So it is, with the use
of “brother”. It could mean any relative.
Genesis 14:15 “And he divided himself against them, he and his
servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which [is]
on the left hand of Damascus.” Genesis 14:16 “And he brought back all the
goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women
also, and the people.”
You have heard the slogan (don’t mess with Texas). You certainly do not
mess with the anointed of God. Abram was chosen of God. Lot did get an
overflow of blessings through Abram. It seemed that Abram and his servants
had no trouble at all rescuing Lot, and all Lot’s earthly possessions. Not
only did Abram bring Lot’s possessions back, but Abram took all their
possessions.
Genesis 14:17 “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his
return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that [were] with
him, at the valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king’s dale.”
It seemed this king’s dale, or Shaveh, was actually the Kidron valley
right out of Jerusalem. I am sure the king of Sodom was happy to see that
someone could whip this evil group, and return with what was taken.
There is such a separation in the next statement. We must take a really
good look at this.
Genesis 14:18 “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and
wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.”
Very few ministers will even touch this Scripture above, but being
brave, we will give it a try. Who is this Melchizedek? Let’s look up the
other Scriptures in the Bible that pertain to Him.
Psalms 110:4 “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a
priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” This Scripture in Psalms,
was talking about Jesus being a high priest forever. It indicated that
Melchizedek was, also, a priest forever. It is a prophetic Scripture saying,
Jesus would, also, be a priest forever.
Hebrews 5:6 “As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest
for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
This Scripture was saying that Jesus was not like Aaron and the earthly
priests, who received priesthood, because of the tribe they were born into.
It was saying that Jesus (like Melchisedec) was always high priest. Hebrews
5:10 “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” Then,
again, in Hebrews 6:20 “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even]
Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
You see, God showed the Israelites back in the Old Testament a high
priest of His making. Then, He said here is your example of one to come.
Jesus did not come through the Levitical tribe. He was ordained of God
himself. He came from the tribe of Judah, but really was from God Himself.
Let us read on, in chapter 7 of Hebrews, and see the resemblance of
Melchisedec and Jesus, if you will, a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Genesis 14:19 “And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the
most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:” Genesis 14:20 “And blessed be
the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he
gave him tithes of all.”
Hebrews 7:1-6, “Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest
of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the
kings, and blessed him;” Hebrews 7:2 “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part
of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that
also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;” Hebrews 7:3 “Without father,
without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end
of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”
Hebrews 7:4 “Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the
patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.” Hebrews 7:5 “And verily
they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood,
have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that
is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:”
Hebrews 7:6 “But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes
of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.”
Let’s stop here from the Scriptures for just a moment, and discuss a
few revelations.
Who is the King of righteousness?
Who is the King of peace?
Who is the One who has no beginning and no end?
Who was made Son of God?
Who is a priest forever?
We know Him as Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God.
We call Him Lord.
We will call Him King, when he comes to reign.
In heaven, one of His names is the Word of God.
Are you seeing what this is?
Melchizedek in the Hebrew and Melchisedec in the Greek could easily be
another time when the Word of God took on the form off flesh and visited the
earth.
Another point to ponder is that this Priest of God made His appearance
here about 2000 years after Adam was born. The baby Jesus was born
approximately 2000 years after Melchizedek appeared on the earth. Jesus, the
King, will return about 2000 years after his manifestation as our Saviour. I
do not believe this is coincidence. Abraham, the father of all believers,
was the only one who saw Him. For Abraham to be the father of all the
believers through our faith, he had to believe in the One we call Jesus.
God has revealed something to us here.
The reason the Word of God took on the name, Jesus, was to show us He
was our Saviour. He took the name, Christ, so that we would know that He was
the Anointed One. He had many names; Messiah, Jehovah, Mighty God, Emmanuel,
Bright and morning Star, and so many others, I would have to use the rest of
this Bible study to bring them. I believe this Melchizedek was the Word of
God (Jesus as we know Him).
Hebrews 7:7-24, Hebrews 7:7 “And without all contradiction the less is
blessed of the better.” Hebrews 7:8 “And here men that die receive tithes;
but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.”
Hebrews 7:9 “And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed
tithes in Abraham.” Hebrews 7:10 “For he was yet in the loins of his father,
when Melchisedec met him.” Hebrews 7:11 “If therefore perfection were by the
Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what
further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?” Hebrews 7:12 “For
the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of
the law.” Hebrews 7:13 “For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to
another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.”
Hebrews 7:14″For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses
spake nothing concerning priesthood.” Hebrews 7:15 “And it is yet far more
evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another
priest,” Hebrews 7:16 “Who is made, not after the law of a carnal
commandment, but after the power of an endless life.” Hebrews 7:17 “For he
testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Hebrews 7:18 “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going
before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.” Hebrews 7:19 “For the
law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the
which we draw nigh unto God.” Hebrews 7:20 “And inasmuch as not without an
oath [he was made priest]:” Hebrews 7:21 “(For those priests were made
without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord
sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec:)” Hebrews 7:22 “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament.” Hebrews 7:23 “And they truly were many priests, because they
were not suffered to continue by reason of death:” Hebrews 7:24 “But this
[man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”
You see, what this is all saying is that Jesus and Melchisedec are not
at all like the other priests, who just serve for a short time during their
lives, but are a Priest forever; on earth and in heaven. No one could truly
be forgiven forever through the work of the priest here on the earth, but
Jesus fulfilled the law and purchased our salvation. His power was shown in
the endless life.
Hebrews 7:25-28, Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:26 “For such an high priest became us,
[who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher
than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:27 “Who needeth not daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the
people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:28
“For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of
the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for
evermore.”
Just as Jesus fed the disciples bread and wine (the Passover), we see
Melchizedek fed Abram bread and wine. He blessed Abram. Only God can bless,
really. All these things show me Jesus.
Genesis 14:21 “And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the
persons, and take the goods to thyself.” Genesis 14:22 “And Abram said to
the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high
God, the possessor of heaven and earth,” Genesis 14:23 “That I will not
[take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any
thing that [is] thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:”
Genesis 14:24 “Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the
portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them
take their portion.”
Abram did not want to be obligated to this king of Sodom. His intent
was to rescue his nephew, Lot. He knew that God had won the battle for him.
The only payment was wages for the men that went with him.