Chapter 8. Genesis 14, Melchizedek.
SOON after Lot went to live in Sodom, the king of Elam, Chedorlaomer and three other kings with him, came and fought against the city and the people of Sodom. The king fled and fell into a slime pit of which the plain was full. Chedorlaomer took the goods of Sodom with the provisions and carried many of the people prisoners. Among these was Lot, Abram’s nephew. He had gone to Sodom, hoping to enjoy the riches that were there, instead, he lost all he had and was made a prisoner besides. How vain to love and trust in riches and worldly things!
When Abram heard what had happened to Lot, he armed himself and three hundred and eighteen of his trained servants and went after Chedorlaomer’s army, and smote them, and brought back all the people and the women and his nephew Lot, and all the goods that had been taken. Lot returned to Sodom.
Should he not have learned by this, that he ought not to have anything to do with these wicked people?
When Abram returned, the King of Salem, who was priest of the Most High God, brought him bread and wine, and blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be the Most High God who has delivered thine enemies into thy hand.” And Abram gave him the tenth part of all he had taken. The king of Sodom, went to meet Abram and said to him: “Give me the people and keep the goods for thyself.” But Abram would take nothing from him and said “I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, lest thou shouldst say: “I have made Abram rich.”
The riches of Sodom could not satisfy a man who was blessed of the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth. Neither have the pleasures of this world any attraction for those who know what the Lord Jesus has for them. When Melchizedek, the high priest, reminds Abram of God’s blessing, for fear he might feel tempted by Sodom’s king, he is a type or likeness of the Lord Jesus, our high priest, in heaven, who is ever praying for those He has redeemed, that they may not fall into the temptations of this world. For Satan, like the king of Sodom, offers us many things in many pleasant ways which can never give us real joy, but can only bring us sorrow and disappointment. Let us remember what a blessed portion have the children of God. The “Possessor of heaven and earth.” All belongs to Him and surely He will give us all we need. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights.” James 1:1919Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19).
ML 02/28/1909