The Hardest Fight
“After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine” (Genesis 14:17-18)
What has been the hardest fight of your life? For some, memories of sporting contests may enter our minds; for others, flashbacks of fighting enemy combatants in our bodies (cancer) and in foreign lands (war). These contests of tooth and claw push us to very edge of our limitations, but these are not the hardest fights. Canons and chemo may provide us weapons against an external enemy, but what of when we are left alone with an internal enemy? With that traitor within our breast? This is the reason why Melchizedek comes to Abram after the battle, and not before, for this is where Abram needed the greatest assistance.
Let us set the scene. Abram’s nephew, Lot, is taken as a prisoner of war during the merciless combat of a few domineering kings. In response, Abram takes a small ragtag bunch to rescue Lot, effectively bringing this unstoppable coalition to a grinding halt. This was no small feat. Abram snatched victory (and Lot) from the jaws of defeat. Now, the bandwagon fans are lining up to sing his praise and toot his horn. The wicked king of Sodom pushes his way to the fore, and Abram is faced with a dangerous situation. When royalty steps forth with lavish gifts and lying lips, Abram may be tempted to take the credit, to revel in win, to get the big head, to exalt himself above the Lord his God. Is this bad? Oh, reader, it would be better to be slaughtered by those warring kings than to lift one’s head above the Lord God.
At this moment appears Melchizedek, that type and shadow of our Christ to come. In Abram’s greatest moment of temptation, he comes forth to bless him, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” (Gen. 14:19-20) Melchizedek gave to Abram something far more valuable than any gift from the king of Sodom; he kept Abram from sin. His blessing reminded Abram that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) Abram’s refusal of Sodom’s serpentine flattery came because of Melchizedek’s timely intervention.
What of us? Do we take upon our lips that famous petition: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”? The traitor within our breast and the enemy at our rear would lead us into a thousand traps and snares. We may lack cannon and cavalry, but we have something better. We have Christ! We will graciously intervene to deliver us from all evil, so let us keep our eyes focused upon Him always.
