Episode 17
Genesis Ch 14 vs 17 to 20
Shem or Melchizedek?
Unraveling An Ancient Biblical Mystery
Pastor Bob Thibodeau explores the intriguing identity of Melchizedek, a pivotal figure in the biblical narrative, and his connection to Abram.
The episode delves into the significance of Abram's tithing to Melchizedek, which symbolizes a passing of spiritual authority and God's covenant blessing upon Abram.
Drawing from Jewish traditions, Pastor Bob discusses the compelling possibility that Melchizedek may actually be Shem, the son of Noah, highlighting the continuity of God’s plan through generations.
The timeline of events suggests that Shem, witnessing Abram's divine victory, sought to affirm Abram's faithfulness and role in God's mission.
This exploration emphasizes the deep connections between the pre-flood and post-flood eras and how faithful individuals can carry forward God's promises.
Takeaways:
- Abram displayed great leadership by defeating four armies to rescue Lot, demonstrating faith and courage.
- The encounter with Melchizedek signifies a profound connection between God's covenants across generations.
- Melchizedek, as a priest and king, symbolizes the continuity of God's plan through faithful individuals.
- Jewish tradition suggests Melchizedek may be identified with Shem, linking the pre- and post-flood eras.
- Abram's refusal of Sodom's riches illustrates his commitment to divine providence over material wealth.
- The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's blessings and affirming faith in difficult times.
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Transcript
Hello everyone, everywhere.
Speaker A:Pastor Bob Thibodeau here.
Speaker A:Welcome to a 15 minute daily Bible walk today.
Speaker A:We're so blessed that you're joining us as we continue now in Genesis, chapter 14, Praise the Lord.
Speaker A:We just got done looking at Abram defeating Four Armies, which is 318 trained servants from his own household.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:And the hand of God is upon him.
Speaker A:Remember, I don't have time to go back and discuss all the things we already studied.
Speaker A:Go back about two, three episodes.
Speaker A:Catch up, where it talks about how he and Lot left Egypt and took over this one area.
Speaker A:And it became.
Speaker A:They became so big with their herds and all that they were starting to argue among themselves about resources.
Speaker A:And Abram just said, pick which way you want to go, I'll go the other way.
Speaker A:We study how a Lot look towards Sodom, like what he saw move towards Sodom and then settled in Sodom.
Speaker A:Okay, and now last episode, we've seen how these kings, you know, how the people of the area revolted against King Catalinar.
Speaker A:And the.
Speaker A:The kings basically came in, invaded the land, took everything that was valuable, took the people.
Speaker A:And since Lot was one of the big, you know, landowners and herd owner, he was a very influential person in Sodom and Gomorrah region.
Speaker A:They took him, his family and all his stuff too.
Speaker A:And escaped slave made it back, told Abram, Abram took his 318 trained servants from his own household born in his house.
Speaker A:These weren't slaves.
Speaker A:They were, they were, you know, servants trained, you know, brought up in his household.
Speaker A:He'd been providing for them.
Speaker A:They are loyal to him.
Speaker A:And he went out and just kicked these guys tail, all right.
Speaker A:And then took all their stuff.
Speaker A:Come back.
Speaker A:That's what we're going to pick it up at.
Speaker A:I'm going to read beginning and Genesis, chapter 14, verse 17 and then we'll discuss it a little bit.
Speaker A:The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of chattel.
Speaker A:Edomar and the kings that were with him at the Valley of Shiva, which is the king's dale.
Speaker A:King of Sodom came out and Melchizedek, King of Salem.
Speaker A:Salem is what is Jerusalem now.
Speaker A:J ru salo City of peace, right?
Speaker A:Brought forth bread and wine.
Speaker A:That's covenant, right?
Speaker A:And he was the priest of the Most High God.
Speaker A:And he blessed him and said, blessed is Abram of the most high God, who is the possessor of heaven and earth.
Speaker A:And he blessed the most high God.
Speaker A:Blessed be the Most high God.
Speaker A:Verse 20.
Speaker A:Blessed be the most high God.
Speaker A:Which has delivered your enemies into your hand.
Speaker A:And he, Abram, gave him tithes of all.
Speaker A:And the king of Sodom told Abram, give me the people, you take the goods for yourself.
Speaker A:And Abram told the king of Sodom, I've lifted up my hand to the Lord, the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.
Speaker A:I will not take from a.
Speaker A:Even a thread, even a shoelash, a shoelace, that I will not take anything that's yours.
Speaker A:Because I don't want anyone to say I made Abram rich except only that which the young men have eaten and the portion of men which went with me anar, escala, mamrie, and let them take their portions.
Speaker A:In other words, they can have their stuff.
Speaker A:I don't need it anyway.
Speaker A:They can have.
Speaker A:You can do whatever you want with them, but I'm not taking nothing.
Speaker A:Now, we're going to stop right there because, you know, here is something I wanted to focus on, which I explained the date, you know, yesterday, how important this is, because who is Melchizedek?
Speaker A:Why is Abram paying ties to Melchizedek?
Speaker A:Jewish tradition indicates they got some, you know, Jewish writer, such as the Talmud, the Midrash.
Speaker A:They identify Shem as Melchizedek.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:And, you know, that is a very important topic here.
Speaker A:Remember we talked about a few episodes back that Shem's getting old now.
Speaker A:Remember, you know, it's 600 years old and over 600 now.
Speaker A:And, you know, Abram is just, you know, about a hundred in that area.
Speaker A:And, well, he's not even that yet.
Speaker A:But the.
Speaker A:The point being they're alive at the same time.
Speaker A:That's, you know, we.
Speaker A:We studied this a few episodes back, but the identity of Melchizedek, the.
Speaker A:The enigmatic king of Salem, king of Jerusalem, priest of the most high God, that has intrigued scholars and believers for centuries, folks.
Speaker A:It's a compelling possibility rooted in Jewish traditions that suggest Melchizedek may actually have been Shem, son of Noah.
Speaker A:Now, that idea is not without merit, especially when you consider the timing.
Speaker A:Because Shem's role and godly heritage, his potential interaction with Abram is a distinct, probably a very real possibility.
Speaker A:I said Jewish writing such as the Talmud and Midrash identifies Shem as Melchizedek, emphasizing Shem's righteousness and his connection to God's covenantal heritage and lineage.
Speaker A:Okay, According to biblical genealogies, Shem lived for over 600 years.
Speaker A:Genesis 11, verse 10 and 11.
Speaker A:We read that before, meaning he was still alive during Abram's lifetime.
Speaker A:We Talked a couple episodes back about how, you know, Shem, once Abram defeated these armies, word probably spread quick.
Speaker A:And Shem, it's like that is none other than God's blessing.
Speaker A:God himself is at work here.
Speaker A:And he'd been looking for someone to pass this out.
Speaker A:Remember, he got God Bless Noah.
Speaker A:Noah with Shem being the firstborn, Blessed Shem and Japheth cursing Ham and Canaan and all that.
Speaker A:And he's looking at who has taken over this, you know, priesthood basically, you know, to.
Speaker A:To get this blessing and continue it on.
Speaker A:And he hears about this big battle that a descendant of his defeated four armies with 300 people.
Speaker A:He said, that's the blessing of God.
Speaker A:I gotta go see this guy.
Speaker A:So the timing of his appearance in the story of Abram is striking, okay?
Speaker A:Because after Abram miraculously defeated Those armies with 318 people, word of his victory spread like wildfire.
Speaker A:And Shem's looking at this as that feat can only be explained by divine intervention signaling to Shem that Abram was truly being blessed by God.
Speaker A:Recognizing this, Shem, acting as Melchizedek as the priest of God, may have sought out Abram to affirm his faithfulness and to confirm God's covenant blessing upon Abram.
Speaker A:And Melchizedek really has a dual role here because remember, he's king and priest.
Speaker A:That aligns with Shem's status as a patriarch who bore the knowledge of God's promises.
Speaker A:His blessing of Abram, receipt of the tithes from Abram symbolizes a passing of this spiritual mantle, now acknowledging Abram as the chosen vessel by God to carry God's mission from this point forward.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Don't shut me down.
Speaker A:I'm preaching good.
Speaker A:Whether or not Sham or Melchizedek are the same, this perspective offers a profound connection between the pre flood era and the post flood era and Abram's divine calling and demonstrates the continuity of God's plan through faithful individuals across multiple generations.
Speaker A:And folks, that same thing can happen to you.
Speaker A:We'll take it up right there next time.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:We're out of time for today.
Speaker A:Leave your comments down below.
Speaker A:Tell me what your thoughts are on this, because I think it is a very real possibility that that Shem is Melchizedek.
Speaker A:And Melchizedek was Shem.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Till next time, it's Pastor Bob reminding you, be blessed in all that you do.
