Abram and Lot
Open Your Bible
Genesis 12:10-20, Genesis 13:1-18, Genesis 14:1-24, Hebrews 7:11-22
BY Bailey Gillespie
Today’s reading is packed with action: famine strikes, Pharaoh gets deceived, Abram is kicked out of Egypt. It’s the making of a great summer blockbuster. After Lot and Abram’s respective herdsmen begin quarrelling about their small quarters, Abram sets a boundary. In an attempt to maintain harmony, he gives Lot the hard truth and asks him to separate from the group and make his home elsewhere. “Isn’t the whole land before you?” Abram asks, perhaps with a sweeping gesture of his arm (Genesis 13:9). The surrounding plain of the Jordan River was lush and ready for the taking (v.10).
After Lot gets himself in all sorts of trouble, Abram comes through and rescues him. I imagine he was a little agitated by his nephew’s actions, but it wasn’t in his nature to abandon him to his own folly. With the sweat and dirt of conquest still fresh on his clothes, he’s given bread and wine as the priest Melchizedek proclaims: “Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19).
Was Abram blessed by God because he was a victorious warrior? A protective uncle? Although, in this case, it may look like blessing is synonymous with circumstantial favor, we have to dig a little deeper. Abram isn’t necessarily blessed because He was delivered from his physical enemies. We know from other passages in Scripture that this predictable, cause-and-effect sort of way isn’t how God works. So, why does Melchizedek give him this blessing?
The second part of the message the priest brings is “blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you” (v.20). It appears that Abram isn’t the only one who is blessed—God is, too! Ultimately, God gets the glory for delivering Abram over to his enemies, and it’s His own power and blessing that covers Abram.
Just as Abram was blessed by the God Most High, so are we. Our blessing isn’t dependent on releasing nephews from captivity (although I’d like to think we’d rise to the occasion), but just as Melchizedek came bearing bread and wine, Christ extends His own body and blood to us. When we accept His gift, we enter into abundant life. We are blessed not because of our own merit but simply because He blesses us. Today, let’s carry this story with us as a reminder that God is at work in our lives. Whether in physical circumstances or matters of the heart, He has called us blessed because we are first, and foremost, His.
59 thoughts on "Abram and Lot"
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Melchizedek seems a mysterious character. This king of Salem appears following a battle in which he is not involved. He is also a priest of God Most High, El Elyon, the God of Israel. Hmmm. How did Melchizedek become a priest who worships Israel’s God? Why make this appearance and bless Abram? The priests were to be from the tribe of Levi of the nation of Israel. Yet Melchizedek is not. There is no geneologic record to trace his lineage. Yet here he is, a worshiper and priest of El Elyon. The passage in Hebrews gives us the insight we need to understand. Melchizedek represents the expansion of the priesthood beyond the Levites and beyond Israel to include Gentiles, everyone (everyone!), who would believe in God Most High. Melchizedek in the Old Testament represents what Jesus would do in the New – open the gate of salvation to all! Just as Melchizedek blessed Abram, so we too are blessed. What can we do but be grateful? And bless the Lord in return with our worship? Yes!
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Love this!
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I am thankful for the reminder that God’s blessing isn’t dependent on our accomplishments.
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“We are blessed not because of our own merit but simply because He blesses us.” Amen!
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I ❤️this too.
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❤️
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I always get excited when Melchizedek shows up—his character is fascinating when you take a moment to pause and think about his description: King of Salem (which translates to King of Peace) and Priest of God Most High. It was very unusual for a man to be both a king and a priest, yet here we have Melchizedek being both. I asked my pastor about this years ago when I first came across it and with an equally excited smile he shared that Melchizedek is one of the first Christ types we witness in the Bible; a hint of the Jesus to come. Jesus is both our King of Peace and our Priest of God Most High, uniquely capable of both roles.
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Wow. I really love this correlation between Melchizedek and Jesus. This did not stand out to me at first. Its amazing how the smallest of details, even in the first book of the Bible, point to Jesus coming & saving us all. ❤️ thank you for this revelation!!
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Loved the way she points out that God is not a “cause and effect” God. I tend to go that route. When things are good, I must be “good” and vise versa. Lord, draw me nearer to you to see the blessings even when things are seemingly “bad”.
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I see progression in today’s verses.
STUFF HAPPENS. Without food Abram moves to Egypt.
MISTAKES. Abram lies.
CONFIDENCE IN GOD AS PROVIDER. Abram offers Lot a choice because wherever he is, he trusts God as provider.
BATTLE VICTORIOUS. Abram battles for right.
BLESSINGS. Melchizedek speaks the blessing over Abram.What about today?
STUFF HAPPENS. (Everyday, for each of us, life happens and we have to adjust. Living flexible to God’s direction)
MISTAKES. (We all make them, and wish we didn’t – yet, no mistake we makes can alter God being God, or His plan.)
CONFIDENCE IN GOD AS PROVIDER. (Large and small, moment by moment, we make decisions to trust God’s best for our lives. Learning from past mistakes. Building a foundation of trust in His promises and provision.)
BATTLE VICTORIOUS. (We are in a battle, for our souls and the souls of others. We need to train those born into our household and all those God gives us. We need to be ready while trusting God for the victory.)
BLESSINGS. (We are blessed!) (Insert your name) is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you…who has (fill in the blank, over and over and over and over again, everyday.)(Taken from parts of Hebrews 7:24-28) For, we have a permanent High Priest, Jesus Christ. He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for us. He is the kind of priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t offer sacrifices daily for He gave himself once, for all time. Our High Priest is also Son, and has been perfected forever. And. He. Loves. Us. We. Are. His. We are blessed.
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Love that!
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Thank you Angie! Copied that down into my journal this morning…I love the parallels you drew between Abram’s story and our own. ❤️
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Thanks for this comparison to our lives today!
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Absolutely thankful for this word today..
Today, let’s carry this story with us as a reminder that God is at work in our lives. Whether in physical circumstances or matters of the heart, He has called us blessed because we are first, and foremost, His.
Arriving at work today, I found my colleagues wife and daughter here.. they stopped off on the way to the hospital for the daughter to have some blood tests.. she has been poorly for a couple of months now, and now there is concern..
God is at work whether we see it today, or not. He is! And as His child, He, the faithful Lord God, will bless the family in the troubles they face..
All Glory and praise to God.. for His goodness to us even when…
He is good..Amen..
Happy Monday! With love❤
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❤️ this
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Amen ❤️
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