Chapter 14 of Genesis finds Lot in trouble. A king named Chedorlaomer joined with three other kings to conquer the Valley of Siddim, where five kings joined forces against them including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. When these two armies met, the four kins conquered the armies of the five kings and took the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah including Lot and his possessions. (Genesis 14:12).
Word of this comes back to Abram who gathers his men, 318 of them, and went in pursuit of the four kings. In a nighttime battle Abram divided his forces and conquered the four kings and brought back the possessions they took including Lot and his possessions (Genesis 14:15-18).
Upon his return from defeating the four kings, Abram was greeted by the King of Sodom and Melchizedek, King of Salem. Scripture references Melchizedek as being “priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). Melchizedek on greeting Abram, blesses Him recognizing that it was God who delivered the enemies to the hands of Abram and his men (Genesis 14:19). In response Abram give Melchizedek a tenth of everything they possessed. This is significant first, because by giving a tenth of their possessions from the victory, Abram is recognizing the truth of what Melchizedek is saying. Second, Hebrews 6:20 talking about Jesus states “where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”. Hebrews goes on to state “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.”(Hebrews 7:1-3). This was a very righteous king indeed!
Next the king of Sodom greets Abram. He demands that Abram give him the people and keep the rest for himself. There was no recognition of the victory or of God in his greeting. Abram responds that he would not take anything that belonged to the king of Sodom saying, “I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say ‘I have made Abram rich’” (Genesis 14:23). All Abram asks for himself is what his men ate, and the rest he gave to his allies who fought beside him.
The contrast of the two greetings is remarkable. Melchizedek is praising God for the victory and blessing Abram. The king of Sodom is behaving as though all that matter were servants he could get. Think back to Genesis 12:3 where God said, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” We have seen in Hebrews where Melchizedek was blessed. As we continue further, we will learn the outcome of Sodom.
In Chapter 15 we see Abram getting anxious about the promises God has given him. In a vision, Abram tells God that he is childless and believes that the heir should be Eliezer of Damascus (Genesis 15:2). God mightily corrects Abram saying Abram would have a son who would be his heir, and the offspring will be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5-6). Abram asked how he would know this was true, so God told Abram to offer an offering of a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, and a young pigeon. Abram did as he was told and cut all in half except the birds and laid the halves against one another.
At night scripture tells us as Abram fell asleep, a great darkness came upon him. The comes a new prophesy “Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (Genesis 15:13-16). We will talk more on this in the book of Exodus.
After this a smoking fire pot and flaming torch, passed between the pieces of offerings and God reaffirmed the promises with a covenant to Abram saying that he would give all the land He promised to Abram’s offspring.
Now at the beginning of Chapter 16 we learn that Sarai is also anxious in providing Abram an heir. She convinces Abram to take her servant, Hagar, as a wife to provide an heir for Abram (Genesis 16;2-3). It seems almost predictable that when Hagar conceived, she looks down on Sarai, resulting in Sarai getting angry. Sarai confronts Abram about this, who responds “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please”(Genesis 16:6). This results in Hagar to flee from Sarai.
Now an angel of the Lord visits with Hagar, who tells her to return to Sarai and submit to her, meaning submission to her authority. Then the angel tells her that she will bear a multitude that cannot be numbered saying, “
“Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction. He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (Genesis 16:11)
So, will have offspring of a great multitude as well to be blessed by God through Abram. But the word of the angel do not appear to fully be a blessing. In researching this I found “The descendants of Ishmael are traditionally associated with the Arab peoples. The Bible describes them as living in hostility toward all their brothers (Genesis 16:12), a prophecy that has been interpreted as indicative of the historical tensions between the Ishmaelites and other descendants of Abraham, particularly the Israelites.” (Topical Bible: The Descendants of Ishmael). So, maybe, this could explain some of the hostilities that we still see in the Middle East today.
My Bible Journey In A Year (Chronological) 