This blog post will cover the devotional #83 for Genesis Chapter 14.
Please note that this devotional book is for sale as a physical (paperback) &/or digital (PDF) book on my website.
[83] Genesis 14:1-24
The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also called Zoar) got involved in a war in the fourteenth year of the reign of king Chedorlaomer of Elam, with him and the other kings. They were all in the vale (valley) of Siddim—which was the Salt Sea, where there were slime pits. Slime is used in the Bible to mean bitumen, tar, or asphalt (and occasionally pitch)—which we’ll discuss in Genesis 19. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell in these tar pits, and the remainder fled to the mountain. All the goods and food of Sodom and Gomorrah were taken, along with Lot and his goods. One of Abram’s confederates managed to escape and tell him that Lot had been taken captive by Chedorlaomer and the other kings. Abram had 318 trained servants in his household, and he took them to go after Lot, joined by his confederates. They split up during the night and killed Lot’s captors and brought back the goods and Lot (along with his own goods and people). After Abram returned from his mission, the king of Sodom went and met with him at the king’s valley. King Melchizedek of Salem—the priest of the Most High God—also came and brought bread and wine, and blessed both Abram and God—acknowledging God as both the Owner of the universe and the cause for Abram’s victory. Abram paid him tithe of all he obtained, and when the king of Sodom requested to get back only his people (not his goods), Abram responded saying that he'd sworn to God that he'd take not even a thread nor a shoe lace. “Nor will I take anything that is yours, in case you could say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—except for the food which the young men have eaten. Also, let the men—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—that went with me, take their portion.” Abram gave an example of tithing—he could’ve taken all he wanted from the spoils, but he chose to pay God before himself—and even then, he took nothing for himself. Sodom's king and his people saw the witness for God of both men that day. Abram wanted no association with Sodom and the cities of the plain or reward for his actions. He gave God credit for his victory, and he depended upon His promise to bless him. There’s a lot of speculation about who this priest and king (Melchizedek) was. Many people believe that he was the Son of God. In the disciples’ day, he was used as a symbol of Christ—as King of Peace. However, he wasn’t Christ, but merely Christ’s mouthpiece, and the Father’s representative in the world—and Christ was speaking to Sodom through him that day—their last hope to receive truth before their fall.
