Continuing with David Niednagel’s daily S.O.A.P in Genesis (study, observe, apply, pray)

Genesis 14:17-24  God at work in “bad news”

17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him …  18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. ¹⁹ Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. ²⁰ And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.”

22 Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.”   NLT

Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness”, and he was the actual King of Salem (which was later called Jerusalem, and he was also a priest of the Most High God who is also the Creator of heaven and earth, and the God who defeated the coalition of kings. Whew! Hebrews 5-8 speaks much of Melchizedek, who was either a manifestation of God-the-Son or a “type” of Christ in the OT.

Abram probably did not see God at work when he first heard that Lot had been captured. He probably only thought of it as really bad news, but he was courageous and chased and attacked those four large and powerful armies. But here we see there was much more going on than met the eye, more than battles and plunder. By this point he realized God was doing so much more than he imagined. Yahweh, the Creator of everything not only won the battle for Abram, but now pronounced a blessing on him. This was a bigger and more significant spiritual battle than it was a physical battle.

Lord God, You are Creator of the universe, so nothing is too difficult for You. But if I forget or doubt You are the Creator, I will not have the faith in You that will honor You or allow You to show Your greatness. And I praise You that You are more than just the Creator, but the Living God who now can work and accomplish more than I can imagine. Help me look for You at work when I hear something that sounds like bad news. You have blessed me more than You blessed Abram, for we have all spiritual blessings in Christ, AND, you are also our great High Priest who always lives to make intercession for us. So, instead of getting upset when “things go wrong” may I always worship You with my whole heart!!! Amen.