THE SPIRIT wrote in Genesis chapter 14 about the four kings capturing Abram’s nephew Lot:
11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.
12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
This clearly depicts the “warrior” side of Abram. He and his 318 trained servants overcame the kings and their forces in the area. The distance from his home in Hebron to Hobah has been calculated to be 153 miles which tells us that this was not a simple rescue. It is clear that FATHER was with him and helped him defeat the opposition that took his nephew and household. On his way back, Abram encountered the King of Sodom whose name is Bera which mean "son of evil". The valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. How appropriate that the son of evil falls into the black pit by the Dead Sea.
17 And the king of Sodom (Bera) went out to meet him (Abram) at the Valley of Shaveh (that is,the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.
After Abram’s great victory over the four kings he was tired and worn out but then was immediately confronted by the son of evil. In the midst of this encounter, Melchizedek, the Priest of GOD MOSTH HIGH, enters the picture and Abram takes Communion with Him. The devil will come after our greatest victory when we are tired and this is exactly when we should especially be in prayer and communion with FATHER to counter any attempt by the enemy to cause us to stumble, fall, and suffer.
Melchizedek came down to meet with Abram in the valley which depicts a low point and darkness in Abram’s life. Melchizedek came to minister righteousness and peace to Abram as he was recovering from the victorious battle with evil. This metaphor applies to you and me today. When we receive a bad report, whether it be health, relationships, or finances, we must set our focus on righteousness which results in producing peace in our lives. By reverently taking Holy Communion, we set our eyes on Christ and His benefits, not our bad report. Isn’t this what Jesus did at the last supper for His disciples? He knew they would have difficulty with the bad report at hand.
In our darkest moments, let us take Holy Communion.
In Abram’s darkest moments, he took communion with Melchizedek and responded with a tithe:
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him and said:
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
We submit to Jesus Christ and when we take Holy Communion we proclaim His death but when we tithe we proclaim Him to be alive as our great High Priest forever. In Hebrews chapter 7:
17 For He testifies:
“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Abram gave a tithe of all he had and thus we can give of what we have as well. Some people think it only applies to money but each of us has a unique set of resources to draw from. It may be time or it may have something to do with your calling. Ponder what you have which would be acceptable to Our High Priest for it is all about intent and acts of unconditional Love that make the difference.