Abraham, Melchizedek and the Most High God.
Who was Melchizedek? Why did Abraham meet him? Who is El Elyon, the Most High God? What do they mean for us today?
Lot is Captured
Sometime after Abraham returned to Canaan and after he separated from his nephew, Lot, a war between kings erupted in Canaan. Lot, who was now living in Sodom became caught up in this war between kings. The story is recorded for us in Genesis 14 where we read about this battle between nine kings.
1At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
Genesis 14:1-2; 11-12
We don’t have time to go into it a great deal here. We simply need to know that Lot and his possessions and many others were captured.
Is it any surprise that Lot, who had chosen poorly in moving closer to Sodom in the previous chapter. We see now that Lot is no longer living near Sodom but is actually living in the evil city.
Now he pays the price, reminding us that when we integrate our lives too closely with the world, we are likely to face the consequences.
Abraham Rescues Lot
Now we see the better side of Abraham’s character after his failures in Egypt. As the patriarch of the family, he steps up and goes to rescue his captured nephew.
14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
Genesis 14:14-16
We don’t usually think of Abraham as a warrior. But here Abraham launches a daring rescue, taking with him a force of 318 men.
We can only assume that Abraham used his own cunning but was also miraculously guided by the Lord in defeating this force of thousands. We see that he divided his forces, likely to attack from different directions, giving his enemy the impression that a large force was attacking.
Abraham’s victory is truly remarkable, and somewhat reminiscent of Gideon’s later victory over the Midianites, as he succeeds in defeating Chedorlaomer, the apparent leader of a force of 4 kings and in the process rescuing Lot and his possessions. We read that he recovered all the goods, possessions and people, including his nephew Lot. The baggage train must have stretched for miles!
Abraham Blessed By Melchizedek
This astonishing victory does not go unnoticed by those living in the area, who recognize that it was God who who gave Abraham the victory.
This recognition comes from one of the most enigmatic characters in the Bible, Melchizedek, King of Salem.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
Genesis 14:18-20
20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Wait! Who is Melchizedek? He seems to jump out of the mists of history at this point, praising “God Most High.”
The little we know about Melchizedek is fascinating, but we can learn more about him by reading the following three passages: Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:5-10, and Hebrews 7:1-10.
In the psalm, the writer, David, is inspired to write of the future Messiah, as comparable to Melchizedek.
The Lord has sworn
Psalm 110:4
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
Then, in Hebrews 5 the writer ties the prophecy from the Psalm with Christ, implying that it is Jesus that is being spoken of as this mysterious priest.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
Hebrews 5:5-6
in the order of Melchizedek.”
Then in Hebrews 7:3 the writer points out that Melchizedek’s unknown background makes him resemble Jesus.
3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
Hebrews 7:1-10
Who is the Mysterious Melchizedek?
So just who was this mysterious Melchizedek who blesses Abraham? Some believe that Melchizedek was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ – a Christophany. While that may be possible, and a case can be made for that argument, it seems more likely from the supporting passages that Melchizedek is a “type” of Christ, prefiguring the ministry of the Lord Himself as a priest forever.
Interestingly, Melchizedek brings out bread and wine as he pronounces his blessing on Abraham. For those of us who celebrate the Lord’s Supper, instituted by Jesus Himself before His death and resurrection, this sound remarkably familiar. Is it just a coincidence? When we dig deep into the Word of God and understand its complexity, it seems unlikely.
‘Why bread and wine? Sure, they could be nothing more than physical provisions, but I doubt it. The fact that we already know that Melchizedek’s priesthood foreshadowed Christ and that Christ instituted the new covenant with the bread and the wine makes the chances of a simple provision in Genesis 14 a little slim. Under the new covenant, the bread represented Christ’s body and the wine Christ’s blood. Surely access to the Most High God (the priest’s ultimate purpose) is granted no other way than through the broken body and spilled blood of Christ – whether foreshadowed in the Old or fulfilled in the New Testament.”
Beth Moore
Abraham and Melchizedek both Worshiped El Elyon
What we can be sure of is that both Melchizedek and Abraham worshiped the same God – El Elyon, the Most High God. This means that there were others in the region who were true God worshipers – not just Abraham!
We may be surprised to find at this point that God has other worshipers in Canaan. How many, and where they are located, we don’t know. However, Melchizedek, is clearly one of them.
Once again, we see that God has His followers in unexpected places. Abraham, the former idolater from Ur, is now a worshiper of the true God living in Canaan. Melchizedek is in Salem, later to become Jerusalem.
Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High is also clearly capable of spotting a servant of the one true God. Consider again the blessing he offers Abraham and the praise he offers to the God Most High.
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Genesis 14:18-20
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
The name Melchizedek uses for Abraham’s God is “El Elyon” which means “God Most High.”
El Elyon is not a name that has been used for God up to this point in the Scriptures.
Abraham worshiped El Elyon, God Most High but called Him Yahweh. Abraham acknowledges that Melchizedek is worshiping the same God but he was careful to add his own personal knowledge of God as the Lord (Yahweh) God Most High.”
In fact we see that Abraham uses this name when talking to Bera, king of Sodom.
I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
Hebrews 14:22
The interaction between Melchizedek, Abraham and Bera reminds us that languages may have different names for God, yet be worshiping the same Creator God. It is however, our responsibility to make it clear who we are worshiping – Yahweh, the God Most High!
Greater Blessings To Come
Note that Abraham chooses not to keep any of the spoils of war offered to him by the King of Sodom. This would have made him a vassal of the King of Sodom, and Abraham was wisely staying away from such an alliance.
God has greater blessings than the wealth of the King of Sodom. This became apparent in a vision that Abraham experiences at some point after the rescue of Lot.
Offspring As Numerous as the Stars
In Genesis 15:1-6 we read,
1After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, your very great reward.[b]”2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.”
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:1-6
Previously, Abraham has been told that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth. Now he is told they will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Either way you look at it, that is a very large number.
Abraham, knowing he can trust God to keep His promises, chooses to believe Him. We would do well to follow Abraham’s example and believe in God’s promises to us today. As the great Apostle Paul says:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.
Romans 1:16-17
The good news is that we too can be made righteous by faith in Yahweh, the Most High God.
Do you have faith in God? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
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