Genesis 14

Here again we have a whole chapter that cannot be identified with any of the alleged prior sources of Genesis, and this is characteristic of hundreds of other passages large and small that do not fit the theories. It is a waste of time to study the contradictory "guesses" of men concerned with only one thing, namely, that of finding some way to deny what is written here and what has come down to us as the Word of God. If we should go into the guessing game, one man's guess is as good as another's, and the Christian spirit which reads in this passage a marvelous revelation from the Father of all mankind is a thousand times more dependable than the fulminations of the critics. As stated repeatedly in this series, one word from the N.T. is worth more than a whole library of the works of guessing liberal critics. And that N.T. word is available on this chapter, especially, with reference to the episode involving Melchizedek, who appears here as an outstanding type of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The war in which Abram rescued Lot is denied by some on the basis that "it is not like Abram," and then it is classified as "a miracle" and rejected on the grounds of the a priori bias of some of the scholars that miracles are impossible! We reject such inadequate and irresponsible handling of the sacred text in this chapter. Miracle is an outstanding feature of the O.T., the sine qua non of the entire concept of God's choice and protection of a Chosen Nation through whom He would bring in "The Dayspring from on High" in order to deliver people from their sins.

The burden of the whole chapter is that of relating the account of the military operation in which Abram and his allies rescued Lot following his capture by a raiding party composed of an alliance of kings. This amazing narrative is the matrix in which is also embedded the significant episode regarding Abram's encounter with Melchizedek. The discernible reasons for the inclusion of this here would appear to be:

1. For the purpose of revealing the great type of Jesus Christ, Melchizedek, the whole account being necessary in that presentation. That the Melchizedek incident is the important thing here is apparent in that the author of Hebrews devoted extensive passages to the discussion of it.

2. For the purpose of emphasizing the fact that monotheism was not invented or even "discovered" by Abraham nor any of his posterity, but that it still remained on earth, however, in a limited and insufficient extent. Melchizedek was not a pagan but a follower of the true and only God. After all, with the consideration of the longevity of the patriarchs of that period, only a few generations had passed since the one true God revealed Himself to Noah and rescued him and his family from the Deluge. The apostasy after that event was widespread, of course, and in the process of becoming total, but Melchizedek proves that it was not yet complete. It was precisely for that reason that Abram and the Chosen People were commissioned and charged in order to prevent that knowledge from disappearing from the earth, and in the very nature of such a purpose, it was necessary that God's operation "Chosen People" should have begun while that knowledge was still extant on earth. This shows how vital to the proper understanding of God's covenant with Abraham is every line of the information recorded in this chapter.

3. For the purpose of setting forth typically the fact that the kingly high priesthood of Christ is in every way superior, absolutely, to the priesthood established by the law of Moses. This was done by Abram's paying tithes to and receiving the blessing of Melchizedek.

The skill and genius evident in the construction of the narrative here are beyond the ability of even merely a learned man to accomplish, the hand of God Himself is in it. As for those who reject this portion of the Sacred Scriptures on grounds that "it does not fit," "there is no reason for this account," or that "it has no apparent connection with the covenant with Abram," their failure is explained in the N.T.:

"Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged." - 1 Corinthians 2:11.