Genesis 14

CHAPTER 14

Abram Rescues Lot (14:1–16)

1–12 In this section, an account is given of a battle between two military alliances, one with five kings and the other with four kings (verses 8–9). Included in the former alliance were the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the battle, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated and all the goods they contained were taken away by the victors. In the process, Lot himself was taken away, together with all his possessions (verse 12).

13–16 When Abram the Hebrew⁶¹ heard of Lot’s capture (verse 13), he and 318 men born in his household,⁶² together with three allies and their men, pursued the four kings, defeated them, and recovered all the prisoners and possessions they had captured—including Lot himself (verse 16). In Abram’s victory, we see a further fulfillment of God’s promise to be with Abram and to bless others through him (Genesis 12:3); we see those who join with Abram prosper, while those (like Lot) who separate from Abram do not.

Melchizedek (14:17–24)

17–20 When Abram returned from defeating the four kings, he met with the king of Sodom in the King’s Valley near Jerusalem (verse 17). Melchizedek,⁶³ who was the king of Salem (Jerusalem), also came out to greet Abram. In addition to being a king, Melchizedek was also a priest of God Most High (verse 18). Because he was both king and priest, Melchizedek is said to prefigure Christ, who is also King and Priest (Hebrews 5:6; 7:1–10).

Melchizedek knew that God had been responsible for Abram’s victory, and in his role as priest Melchizedek blessed Abram. In recognition of Melchizedek’s priesthood, Abram gave him a tenth⁶⁴ of all the spoils from his victory (verse 20). In doing so, Abram acknowledged that his victory was made possible by God and that therefore the spoils belonged to Him.

21–24 In contrast to Melchizedek, the king of Sodom did not offer a blessing; rather he offered Abram the spoils (minus a tenth) that Abram had just won back for him! (verse 21). But Abram refused to keep anything for himself. Undoubtedly he knew of the wickedness of Sodom; he had sworn to God that he would not accept anything from Sodom’s king, lest he appear to ally himself with evil for the sake of personalgain (verses 22–23). Abram refused to be obligated to anyone except the Lord.

We can learn some things from Abram’s life thus far. God had given Abram amazing promises (Genesis 12:2–3). But in the lives of individuals, God’s promises are always conditional; the condition is our obedience. Yes, God’s promises will ultimately be fulfilled; His final purposes cannot be thwarted. But if we disobey, we ourselves may not experience the fulfillment of the promises in our lifetime.

If Abram had not obeyed God’s original call, the promises would have been given to someone else. If Abram had stayed in Haran and not gone to Canaan as God had commanded, he would have lost the promised blessing—at least in his own lifetime. If Abram had stayed in Egypt—a symbol of worldly pleasure—he would have forfeited God’s blessing. And yet, at each stage of Abram’s life, we see God’s mercy and patience at work. When Abram responded to God in faith and obedience, God rewarded him. When Abram stumbled—when he became too comfortable in Haran, too fearful during the famine in Canaan (Genesis 12:10)—God patiently brought him back into His will. And now, in this chapter, we have seen God give Abram and his small band of men a great victory over four kings and their armies.

For the rest of Abram’s life God continued to test Abram’s faith and obedience. And so He does with every person. In spite of slips and stumbles, Abram was to remain essentially faithful and obedient to God. May it be so with each of us.