In Genesis 14, we have the story of Abram's brother's son, Lot, who had been captured by a king. This king, Chedorlaomer, and a group of kings had conquered Sodom and Gomorrah and took Lot and his family captive. Abram heard of this, quickly armed his three-hundred-plus servants, and went to chase after these kings. Abram was probably thinking of Lot and his family, remembering, perhaps, the times he would dandle his grand-nephews and nieces upon his knee. He must have been very concerned to say the least.
Here we see that this Melchizedek knew that it was God who had delivered Abram's enemies into his hand. I think that Abram knew this, as well.
Regarding the word spoils, the Expositor's Commentary says that this word literally means "the top of the heap" and is used of the choicest spoils of war. In other words, from these spoils, Abraham gave one-tenth—the very best—to Melchizedek. I do not know how the spoils were laid out. Were all of the linens piled together and the jewels piled all together and the armaments on their heap? Whatever the case, Abraham knew that his victory came from God; and he knew it down to the soles and the toes of his feet! He wanted to give God the very best that he had. He gave God the choicest spoils of the war.
There is an attitude in giving here that we must see and understand. Why was Abraham called the "father of the faithful"? David is called a "man after God's own heart." Abraham, too, was a man after God's own heart, but he was also the father of the faithful.
The attitude of Abraham is an example for us as we give to God. We should wholeheartedly imitate his faithfulness as we, too, pay our tithes and give our offerings. God wants us to give a perfect offering to Him. This is really important! This is not just something that we do and tell ourselves, "Here, it is done," like any bill to be paid.
We must remember this part of it: Those with whom God was working were receiving instructions from Him through Melchisedec. We are going to see, later on, that God instructed the heads of the families, and they, in turn, instructed the rest of the family.
No doubt, this Melchisedec was Jesus Christ.
Paul taught that Abraham—the father of the faithful, held in high esteem by the Jews—tithed to Melchisedec.
The Levites received tithes, but all these physical priests eventually died. However, these tithes were still received, in a sense, by Melchisedec.
Please turn with me to Genesis 14, verse 17. The most ancient record of anyone giving a tithe of anything is found in Genesis 14, about four centuries before Moses. In a battle between various kings and armies of that day, Abraham's nephew Lot was taken captive. (And as you know, Abram's name was not yet changed at this point to Abraham.) Abram set out to rescue Lot with the help of a small army and was successful. And along with his nephew, Abram brought back many spoils from the campaign and there was great rejoicing.
Hebrews 7:4 says that tithes were given on the spoils of the battle, including non-agricultural products.
So Melchizedek was the priest of God Most High, and Abram was of God Most High, and God Most High is possessor of heaven and earth. Tithing, in this context, was a direct acknowledgement of God's sovereignty and lordship over the earth. God reveals in Haggai 2:8 that, "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine," representing that He owns all that is on the earth. Giving God back one-tenth of what is entirely His anyway, was a way of acknowledging God's ownership of every kind of wealth.
The account indicates that the spoils belong to Abraham by right of conquest. And Abraham gave the tithes to Melchizedek before discussing their further distribution with the king of Sodom. He considered the tithe first.
Genesis 14 succinctly reveals several principles of tithing. First, the tithe goes to God through His representative, the priest. Second, the Bible repeats that it is one-tenth. Third, this law was in effect long before God commanded it through Moses. And fourth, Abraham, blessed for his faithfulness to God, gave tithes in recognition of God's rulership and providence.
Abraham is called the father of the faithful in Romans 4 and he lived an honorable life. His faith was a prototype of all believers and Christians. God recorded Abram's act of tithing for a reason: to provide us with an example from the life of righteous Abraham. Speaking of the events of the Old Testament, Paul tells us,
So the faith and obedience of Abraham shows that tithing should be imitated or followed as a Christian practice.
Alright, the second positive example. This one I call, "Get on the Offensive!" This is part of the story of Abraham. The background of this is the Confederation of Kings which make war against Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot lived.
What he had told him was that Lot had been taken by these kings.
And if we would go on we would find that Abraham also put God first and gave a tithe of all that he had there to Melchizedek, and then he gave everything else back to the owners. He did not keep anything for himself.
Here was another catastrophe. Lot, his nephew, was taken captive by an enemy army, and was being hustled off to their homeland. Abraham could have just sat their and said, "Woe is me! Woe is me! What am I going to do?"
But there is no hesitation. Abraham got his people together and they were off. He took action. He did something constructive. He did not just sit there and pile dirt on his head. He made the best of the situation. He tried to help.
I think that the worst thing one could do is nothing!
We, like Abraham in this example, can in wisdom go on the offensive, and restore peace and tranquility to our lives, and others who have been affected by the disaster. Take action in wisdom, of course, but take action. Do not just do nothing and sit there.
We can see that there is a relationship between these two, and this begins the scenario that leads into Chapter 15.
One of the things I find intriguing is that the events of Exodus 12 and 13 took place on Abib 14 and 15, and that the story of this event, which took place 430 years earlier, somehow or another are linked in Genesis 14 and Genesis 15. Is that a coincidence or what? How far ahead was God thinking? It does not mean a thing really but it is just so interesting.
