”In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. 11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.
Let’s pause here for a moment. There’s a lot of names circulating here. So it might be helpful to quickly summarize what’s taking place here.
From the east, we have four kings, all of which are led by Chedorlaomer of Elam. These four kings serve as a regional superpower, if you will. In addition to these four kings, you also have five other local kings (Sodom, Gomorrah, etc).
It seems that for 12 years, these local kings had been subject to Chedorlaomer. But in year 13, they rebelled. They were done paying tribute to the bigger regions. So, in year 14, Chedorlaomer and his allies take action. They sweep through the whole region, defeating multiple people along the way (this signifies to us how organized, powerful, and unstoppable these leaders were).
Then these five kings meet the four kings in the Valley of Siddim, which is near the Dead Sea. If we’re going off of numbers, we would think that five kings are better than four kings. But, the four kings win decisively, which leads to a total collapse of Sodom and Gomorrah. Their kings flee in panic as their cities are plundered of all their possessions; some fall into pits while others escape into the hills.
And caught in the crossfires of someone else’s war is Lot. Carried away with all he owns, he has become a captive of a war he never chose.
Let’s continue reading.
“13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.”
So, it seems that as all of this is taking place, Abram is chilling, quietly living by faith in a distant land. But, once Abram catches wind about all that’s happened to Lot, he takes action. He led his 318 men out into pursuit of Lot. He locates Lot, divides his forces against Lot’s oppressor, and defeats them, and then he chases them down like a bunch of little scardy-cats.
NO PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN GOD
There’s so much beauty in the Bible whenever you read it slowly. There are details hidden in the text like gold hidden in a stream. Those who stumble upon them stumble upon the riches of God. One of these nuggets is the intentional detail about how many men were on Abram’s team here. He led out 318 trained men who were born of his house. That’s a significant contrast between the four powerful armies that were sweeping through the land. You have the best of the best of four different kingdoms vs the best of those born in Abram’s home. That would be like me, Truett, Ann Clayton, and George playing the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Yet, God has always been able to do more with less. Abram didn’t have an army? Didn’t matter. Abram didn’t have a city? Didn’t matter. Abram didn’t have a throne? Didn’t matter. Abram had God who formed the hills and valleys on his team, and that’s all that mattered. These worldly powers and kings stood no match against God’s chosen man, Abram. God can do big things through small people who trust him.
17 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). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
What takes place here is fascinating, profound, and (if we’re honest) a little mysterious. We’re presented a contrast between Abram’s interaction between two kings: Melchizedek the king of Salem (which many believe is Jerusalem) and the king of Sodom.
Melchizedek is one of the most mysterious characters in all of the Bible. He appears briefly here in Genesis 14, then again in Psalm 110, and is referenced six times in the book of Hebrews. Despite his brief appearance here in Genesis, he plays a key role in New Testament theology.
Because of this, I think it would be beneficial to slow down for a moment. Let’s take our mouse and double click on the man, Melchizedek, to see what’s going on here. Let’s begin with the simple question, “What do we know about Melchizedek just from this passage alone?” Well, first, we know that long before the law was given, Melchizedek is described as a priest of God Most High (v.18). We know he is king of Salem, which many believe could be Jerusalem (v.18). We know he brought Abram’s army bread and wine while Sodom’s king did not (v.18). We know he spoke a blessing over Abram while Sodom’s king did not (v.19-20). We know Abram treated Melchizedek as a priest (long before a priestly order in the law) by giving him a tenth of everything (v.20). And we know nothing about his genealogy (which is significant. In a book that loves genealogies, this omission is loud. Anyone who matters to the covenant storyline, we know who they descend from!)
Now, from this brief encounter between Abram and Melchizedek, David in Psalm 110 points ahead and begins to describe the coming Messiah as “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” In other words, David is saying that there is a coming king who will be a victorious ruler and eternal priest who will descend from the line of Melchizedek.
But what does that mean?
Well, the author of Hebrews, at the end of Hebrews 6, says, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
So, the author of Hebrews is saying that Christians have an immovable hope… not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who Jesus is! In Jesus, our hope is secure because Jesus is our eternal priest, a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. A priest served as an intercessor between God and his people. He represented the people before God and helped maintain their relationship with him. Think about an intercessor as a bridge. Someone who makes access possible. Someone who helps you talk and interact with someone else. A priest would be like a bridge between God and his people, helping them stay close to him.
The Old Testament priest had several key responsibilities. He was charged with:
guarding the tabernacle or temple, making sure the congregation and the furnishings were safe (Num. 3:5-10)
“offering sacrifices and gifts on behalf of the people to reconcile them to God (Ex. 29:38-42; Lev. 1-5, 16, 23),” and
teaching God’s people God’s law (Lev. 10:11).
So, when we’re told that Jesus is our high priest, we’re being told something incredibly practical and comforting. We’re being told that Jesus is our intercessor with God. He is our bridge to God. He is our representative before God. He is the one who guards and protects the temple, which is you and me, the church (Eph. 2). He is the one who has offered the perfect sacrifice to God on behalf of our sin, which was himself. He is the one who teaches God’s law to the hearts of his people. This is why our hope is immovable! It’s immovable because it’s anchored in Jesus, the high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek!
Many people in this world are caught in a storm. They’ve thrown out an anchor, hoping it will catch on something—anything—but the rope is too short. The anchor never reaches the ocean floor, so the soul keeps drifting, keeps grabbing, keeps fighting. But the deeper you go into Scripture, the longer the rope becomes. The longer you linger over the gospel, the more line is let out. The longer you fix your eyes on Jesus, the farther the anchor descends. And the moment your heart truly sees this—that Jesus is our high priest forever—the anchor finally reaches the depths. It grips the bedrock beneath the waves. The storm may still rage above, but now the soul is held fast. That’s when hope becomes sure. That’s when Jesus becomes the immovable anchor of our souls.
Following this statement about our immovable hope in Jesus as our high priest, the author of Hebrews says at the start of chapter 7, “[1] For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, [2] and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. [3] He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.”
Notice what is said here at the end of verse 3– “He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.”
Don’t miss the intentional language here! Jesus doesn’t resemble Melchizedek; Melchizedek resembled Jesus. Melchizedek was intended to be a shadow of the one to come, Jesus. To resemble something, something has to already exist. So, for Melchizedek to resemble the Son of God, the Son of God had to already exist.
But, in verses 1-2, Melchizedek is described as both priest and king— “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God…” This is an important detail because according to the law, priest couldn’t serve as a king and kings couldn’t serve as a priest. Priests came from the tribe of Levi, and kings came from the tribe of Judah. Priests were responsible for serving in the tabernacle/temple, offering sacrifices, and interceding for God’s people, and kings were responsible for governing and leading the people as God’s anointed ruler. When king Saul offered sacrifices himself without waiting for Samuel, he violated God’s order, which led to him losing his kingdom (1 Sam 13:8-14). When king Uzziah attempted to burn incense in the temple, he was struck with leprosy because he violated God’s order (2 Chron. 26:16-21). Yet, here we find Melchizedek being treated as a priest and declared as a king.
This tension was intended to show us how the Messiah would be priest and king, our advocate and our ruler, the one we trust and the one we obey.
But, noticed the character of this priest/king highlighted by the name of Melchizedek. Melchizadek means “king of righteousness,” and Salem means “king of peace.”
So, if Melchizedek serves as a shadow of Jesus, that means Jesus is a righteous king. He is the embodiment of right living, the source of righteousness. Unlike all other kings, he is not flawed or broken. He is “holy, innocent, unstained, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens (Heb. 7:26).” Paul tells us, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." So, where all other kings and rulers demand like the king of Sodom, Jesus (the righteous king) freely gives like Melchizedek, the king of righteousness.
In addition to being the king of righteousness, he is also the king of peace, as indicated by the name, Salem. All who dwell in his holy city will dwell in peace. In Jesus, we find peace with God, peace with his people, and peace in all seasons of life. Because Jesus is our high priest, our relationship with God has been restored. For those who are in Christ, there is no hostility between them and God. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” But then we find that peace with God leads to peace with God’s people. Jesus is our peace. And those who have peace with God find that Jesus offers them an internal peace that surpasses all understanding. The promised Messiah came to bring to his people the gift of righteousness and peace.
Now, notice how the author of Hebrews describes Melchizedek in verse 3, “He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” I mentioned this briefly a moment ago, but I think the author of Hebrews is highlighting the eternal nature of the Son of God, and he does this by drawing our attention to how Melchizedek didn’t inherit the role of a priest. Unlike every other priest in the Bible, there is no Biblical reference to the lineage of Melchizedek, which means his priesthood wasn’t inherited by someone else. Melchizedek’s position as priest didn’t depend upon the institution of the Levitical priesthood. It transcended above it, existing before it, and it has no indication of it ever ending. So, like Melchizedek, Jesus’ priesthood was not inherited from someone else, nor was it transferred to someone else.
Now, as you continue to read, the author of Hebrews begins to highlight how Abram gave tithes to Melchizedek, which highlighted Melchizedek’s greatness. The revered patriarch of Israel paid Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils from victory, not out of obedience to the law (the law wouldn’t exist for another 430 years) but out of respect and awe, which implies Melchizedek is greater than Abraham. Melchizedek was greater than Abram, which means he is greater than the Levitial priesthood that would later come from Abram. And, if Melchizedek was intended to be a shadow of the one to come, then that means that Jesus is greater. Jesus is not a temporary king; he is the eternal king. He is not a temporary priest; he is the eternal high priest.
Now, side note. Can we learn something from Abram’s approach to money here? Absolutely!! No command is given, and yet Abram freely gives a tenth of all he has to Melchizedek. His generosity is voluntary, not coerced. It’s an act of worship, a response to God’s blessing on his life. Friends, we don’t give to receive; we give because we’ve received. Abram’s generosity didn’t create God’s blessing; it revealed it! And at the same time, he refuses the wealth of Sodom. He turned away from one king’s riches and places his treasures before another! Brothers and sisters, we shouldn’t cling too tightly to the things of this world. All who have been blessed by God Most High ought to be eager to bless others! We ought to hold wealth with open hands, never being mastered by it!
Now, as we close, I want to draw our attention back to the gift Melchizedek brought to Abram. Weary from their journey, Melchizedek offers them bread and wine.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, what did Jesus offer his disciples? Bread and wine.
Melchizedek’s gift of bread and wine was a shadow of a greater bread and wine that the Son of God would offer one day. In the same way that Melchizedek offered Abram bread and wine in the Valley, Jesus offered us a better bread and wine, his body.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, and when he gave thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Church, we have a great high priest who willingly gave himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. Where priests would stand daily at his service, repeatedly offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, Jesus came and offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins (Heb. 10:11-14), so that our sins might be forgiven (Heb. 10:18).” And that sacrifice was himself. He is the great high priest and the spotless sacrifices.
Are any of you tired and weary today from battle? Are any of you beaten down and exhausted? Are any of you heavy-laden with the guilt of sin and shame?
Come to Jesus’ table and have your fill today. Jesus offers you a bread and wine that will never run out. The king of righteousness offers you his righteousness. The king of peace offers you his peace. With him, you will find joy and life forever.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Why do you think Scripture intentionally tells us the exact number of Abram’s men (318)? How does Abram’s victory challenge our assumptions about strength and security? How does this passage encourage trust when obedience feels risky or impractical?
How are Melchizedek and the king of Sodom presented differently in this passage?
Why is the absence of genealogy for Melchizedek so important?
Why is it significant that Melchizedek is both king and priest?
How does Melchizedek help us understand the role of Jesus more clearly?
How does Jesus being our high priest provide comfort and assurance?
Why is Melchizedek’s offering of bread and wine so significant in light of the New Testament?