Abraham and the Two Kings

Quiet Time 03/31/10

Genesis 11-15. Focus on Gen. 14:17-23

Time Spent: 35 minutes

Main Idea (one summary sentence): Abram’s chief desire is to glorify God by trusting in Him to bring wealth and military strength not through a sinful king but through the blessing reiterated through king Melchizedek.

What this tell me about God (one summary sentence): God’s faithfulness in fulfilling the promises He made to Abram through His own power and glory.

Summary: These verses contrast two kings, one Melchizedek, a king-priest of the Most High, with the king of Sodom. They both come to Abraham with promises leaving the decision on Abram who to follow. Melchizedek blesses Abram and reaffirms the promise that God had made with him from Genesis 12. Abram’s reaction affirms the blessing by giving a tenth of his offering to the priest. The king of Sodom then promises goods and riches to Abram if only he gives him the people that they conquer; to which Abram denies stating that he does not want anyone to say that the riches that he got came from anyone else but the Lord.

Application: Abram’s desire was for the glorification of God. He did not seek outside help from anything else but God in his life. He wholeheartedly trusted in what God promised and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. When I first began seminary, I made an effort to pray before every homework assignment and offer it up to God regardless of the grade or outcome. I had found that when I did this practice, the actual grade did not matter to me as much as learning more about God in my life. I have since then stopped doing that and have realized the sinful desires that I have to get ahead of my class and to show how I am such a bright guy. Bad grades affect my mood and cause me to blame the teacher’s inability to instruct instead of causing me to look at myself. This is a clear indication that I am not “studying” for God’s glory, but rather to benefit myself. Abram did not want a hint that his wealth was based upon a sinful king or found in himself, but rather was because God’s faithfulness in keeping the promise made to him (Gen. 12:1-2). To apply this QT, I will start praying before every exam and every homework assignment again. Soli deo Gloria.