Day 52: The Way Of The Warrior

In Genesis 14, Abram became a ferocious warrior who decimated four invading armies.  Those armies had flattened five rebellious armies, plus they defeated the: Rephaim…, the Zuzim…, the Emim… (14:5), those very strange, deviant, ghoulish people groups.  Abram made mincemeat out of the victors: Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. (14:16).  Abram was the toughest guy on the block.  What does a man like Abram do with extraordinary wealth and power?  Does he make himself a king, or become a power-broker in the area, making things to his liking?  Abram publicly worships the Lord.

After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). (14:17).  The king of Sodom came to meet Abram.  This king was self-serving, looking for angles to notoriety. His name was Bera (14:2), which means son of evil!  Evil can look benign.

Abram had travelled about 200 miles chasing the enemy and going to Salem.  He and his men were exhausted, hungry, and thirsty.  Bera does not bring food or water.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) (14:18).  Melchizedek, pops up in the narrative, without any introduction, seeking to serve Abram and his men.  The affect of this, is that readers were well-acquainted with this man, meaning he needs no introduction. They respond the same way we do when we hear of George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln – we know them.  However, we moderns aren’t acquainted with Melchizedek, so we need some background.

Melchizedek preceded the Mosaic Law by hundreds of years, yet he was a priest.  In the Law of Moses, on Mt. Sinai, only people from the tribe of Levi, could be priests. Before Sinai there was a system of worship, with precepts and commands to be obeyed.

Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Gen. 26:5).  There was a sacrificial system, Abram had built altars (12:7; 12:8; 13:4).  Noah did the same (9:20).  Abel brought his firstborn of his flock as a sacrifice (4:4).  There was moral law about the covenant of marriage, there was civil law about honesty.  Joseph knew sexual immorality was wicked: How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9).  Job, maybe a contemporary of Abram, noted: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? (Job 31:1).  Lustful desires were dangerous so he guarded against them. This brief review helps us know that mankind had godly, moral law, before Moses at Mt. Sinai.

Why is this important?  Because you as a believer are not a Levitical Priest, after the model of the Mosaic Law, but instead after the model of Melchizedek, a king/priest.  Jesus, was not a Levite, and could not be a Levitical Priest: The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You [Christ] are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps. 110:4). And you my friend, if you are an authentic Christian: you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Pet. 2:9).  We need to know about Melchizedek, because he is our model – a king/priest.

Melchizedek, had warfare and conflict going on around him, yet he was at peace.  Ironically, his city, Salem means peace.  Jesus would be called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Abram was a businessman, a diplomat, a negotiator, a leader of large group in a hostile territory.  He’s wealthy, a warrior, a confidant of the Lord (Gen. 12:7; 13:14), yet when he meets Melchizedek: Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (14:20).  Abram pays homage to the king/priest.  Abram didn’t even live in Salem, yet he willingly gave deference to him.  Abram, the wealthy conqueror, was humble before him, showing him honor.

Earlier Abram interacted with the most powerful man in the world, Pharaoh.  Pharaoh took Abram’s most precious possession – his wife (12:15).  In contrast, Melchizedek served and gave to Abram: bread and wine and a blessing (14:18, 19).  Just as Jesus did at the Last Supper with his disciples.  He washed their feet, then ministered truth to them.

Abram was fearful before Pharaoh (12:12) while Melchizedek welcomed Abram (14:18). Pharaoh rebuked Abram (12:18, 19), while Melchizedek blessed Abram (14:19). Pharaoh bribed Abram (12:16), Melchizedek gave blessings to Abram (14:19). Pharaoh the man/god, dismissed and ostracized Abram (12:20), Melchizedek received sacrifice on behalf of God (14:20).  Pharaoh took then gave; Melchizedek gave then received.  Melchizedek eclipsed Pharaoh in character.

Our attitudes and behaviors should be like Melchizedek’s. And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. (Rev. 1:6).  And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:10).  Today you’re being trained to be kings while also being priests.  In Heaven, there won’t be harp strumming, while sitting on clouds, for you.  Here, today, you are an Ambassador: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. (2 Cor. 5:20).  You are the King’s spokesman.  You have a promotion coming.  Is your head about to explode?  This is not fairytale stuff, this is reality.

Jesus is shaping you to become royalty: The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne (Rev. 3:21).  Get used to it.  You have a glorious future.

But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ (Dan. 7:18). And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ (Dan. 7:27).  Excited yet?  Do you understand your future?

How does a king/priest act? The Son of Man [Jesus] came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28). Your job is to royally serve, for the benefit of others, and the glory of the King of Kings. Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you… Do you not know that we are to judge angels? (1 Cor. 6:2, 3).  Get ready!  Melchizedek is a picture of your Lord, Jesus.

By Nathan Werner