Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Monday

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Genesis 14:1-24

This was the time of city-states when each walled city was its own self-governed nation. Lot, Abram's nephew, was captured in the battle between several of these so Abram armed his servants and went on a rescue mission.

After the battle, the victorious Abram was greeted Melchizedek, king of Salem (which means "peace" and which is the city that later becomes Jerusalem). Abram paid tithes and Melchizedek blessed Abram with a monumental blessing, "Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." Genesis 14:19-20

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom. And do these promises apply to me?

Through Melchizedek God makes the promise that Abram would be the possessor of heaven and earth. (Awesome! What more is there?) Since Lazarus is said to have been received into Abraham's bosom when he died, which always evokes a picture in my mind of the beggar receiving a warm embrace in the arms of his ancestor, Abraham, as he enters Heaven, these verses seem to correspond.

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

Psalm 110: 4 and Hebrews chapters 6 and 7 tell us that this Melchizedek is a type of Christ. Jesus is forever made to be a kingly priest for us (an intercessor who bears our sins). He is without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. He also was not of the Levitical tribe (which had not even been established during the time of Melchizedek).

Are there any references to End Time or eternal events in this passage?

I suspect the reference to Abram being the possessor of heaven and earth declares eternal blessing. All we who are of the family of Abraham, and the New Testament makes it clear that this means the spiritual Gentile children of Abraham as well as all physical descendants who believed on Jesus the Messiah as the redemption for their sins, will share in this blessing.

Does God issue any commands in this passage? If so, to whom. And are these commands that apply to me?

God does not speak in this chapter.