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Daily Devotion: Genesis 14:18-23

Genesis 14:18-23   "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:"

Abram had just been blessed to win a great victory and liberate Lot as well as other residents of Sodom along with the food and possessions of that city. It is upon this victorious event that we first see “THE priest of the most high God.” The language here tells us that at this time there was no other priest of the most high God. This priest (Melchizedek) was also the King of righteousness and peace.

While the king of Sodom was only interested in his own concerns, Melchizedek came to refresh Abram and those who followed him. Not only did he come with bread and wine, but he also came with a blessing for Abram from the most high God who owned both heaven and earth. Then Melchizedek blessed (honored) the most high God for blessing Abram to be victorious. Unto Melchizedek, Abram offered a tithe of the spoils of the battle. 

We may face many battles in life and be blessed to be victorious. When we recognize THE priest of the most high God, we realize that we do not get (nor should we take) any credit for the victory. We are refreshed by His presence and give God the glory. We also should be careful about taking things others offer us (praise, admiration, etc.).

The king of Sodom told Abram to give him back the people and he could have the rest as the spoils of war. As is often the case, the king of Sodom was offering Abram something that was not his to begin with. Melchizedek had already testified that God was the owner of heaven and earth (and by extension, everyone and everything in it). Abram refused to take so much as a thread, because he did not want to give anyone else any room to claim they had somehow helped God to prosper Abram.

Dear ones, may we always look to our High Priest (Jesus), who is the only High Priest of the most high God. He will refresh us when the battle has been long. He will cause us to give God the glory. By Him, we will be able to resist any attempt of men to take credit for the goodness of God!

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