Greatness

Genesis 14

What makes people "rich"?

Or how do we expect to receive or achieve the things we have been promised (by God)?

For some it's a matter of 'God helps those who help themselves'.

With Abram in Genesis 14 we see a different approach. This chapter points us towards the way in which Abram expected to become "rich" (v23). And, of course, the father of faith was looking to God as his source and provider.

This passage shows us four great things about the God who make Abram great:

Firstly, we see God's Power.

God is revealed in His many names and in this portion we see Him as "God" (El) "Most High" (Elyon), "The LORD" (Yahweh), "Possessor (Qana) of heaven and earth". (See verses 19-20, 22).

'Qana', translated as "Possessor" (ESV, NASB) or "Creator" (NIV, NET Bible), literally means 'Builder', and refers to God's building of creation as His Temple. (see my blog notes on Genesis 1 called 'Priests in God's Cosmic Temple').

Secondly, we see God's Priest.

Verse 18 introduces us to a mystery priest king called "Melchizedek king of Salem.... priest of God Most High", whose name literally means 'king of righteousness' and his city, "Salem", meaning 'peace' could refer to Jerusalem.

And this mystery priest king of peace meets Abram with a meal of "bread and wine" and he then "blessed" Abram (v19) and assured him that the victory won in battle was by the enabling of God (v20).

We will meet this Melchizedek much later on when the New Testament letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus is a "high priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb. 5:10). And because of his mysterious mention in Genesis 14, Melchizedek "is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he continues as a priest forever" (Heb. 7:3). And the letter to the Hebrews argues that Jesus' Melchizedek type priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood of the Mosaic covenant (Genesis 14:20; Heb. 7:4-10).

Thirdly, we see God's Portion.

In Genesis 14, we find the Bible's first mention of the ancient practice of giving a tithe to your king. Abram acknowledged Melchizedek to be his king by way he "gave him a tenth of everything" (v20). This practice of tithing to a king (1 Samuel 8:15) would be developed in the Biblical record as a way of honoring God as our King by worshipping Him with our tithes (See Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians 9:13-14).

Fourthly, we see God's Provision.

The king of Sodom says that Abram can "take the goods" that were brought back after Abram's defeat of the four kings of the north (v16, 21), but Abram refuses to take anything lest it be said that they had "made Abram rich" (v22-23). Clearly Abram trusts God alone for the Land that he had been promised.

Who or what are we trusting to make us "rich"?

May we ever look to God and not rely on our own efforts.