What Righteousness Looks Like: Genesis 14:17-24
The righteous demonstrate their character to the world by what they do. This idea is prevalent throughout Biblical understanding. Jesus tells us the world will know us by our love. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says our actions will be seen by others and they will glorify the Father.
Abram returns from the battlefield and is met by two kings. One of the kings is Bera from Sodom, who was a part of the original five kings that were unsuccessful in the defense of their land. The second king is Melchizedek, king of Salem (which later becomes Jerusalem). These kings come to Abram with different agendas.
Melchizedek comes to Abram with an offering of bread and wine. Abram’s men were returning from battle and Melchizedek meets them with provisions. He looks to make them comfortable and ease their return to normal life. Not only does Melchizedek bless them with provisions, but he blesses them verbally. Melchizedek gives glory to Abram and God, which makes sense as Melchizedek was a priest of God.
Bera comes out to Abram and offers to let Abram keep the material wealth so long as the people are returned to Sodom. While this might seem generous, it isn’t much of a deal. Abram had gone out to battle and rightly won what Bera and his coalition couldn’t themselves keep. Abram won the possessions and had a right to keep the wealth and people as prisoners of war. Bera isn’t offering Abram anything; in a manipulative way he is trying to coerce Abram into weakening his position.
Through this analysis, we understand Abram’s response. Abram receives Melchizedek, who came out to offer refreshment and blessing in addition to showing companionship since they both worship the same God. There is a kindred nature to the encounter. Because of this, Abram freely shares a tenth of the spoils with Melchizedek.
On the other hand, Abram strictly rejects Bera’s offer. Not only does Abram not keep the people, he doesn’t want anything to do with the wealth plundered from Sodom, either. Abram doesn’t want to owe Bera any kind of favor. He doesn’t want to be connected to Bera in any kind of meaningful way. Neither does he want Bera to suppose any kind of connection to him.
Neither does Abram force his moral decisions upon his allies. While Abram refuses to keep his share, he allows Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre to take their share. We may occasionally partner with worldly people to accomplish a godly agenda, but we cannot expect the worldly people to live by the godly agenda.
In this story, Abram demonstrates his ability to overcome his past sin. In Egypt, Abram departed from God’s ways, lied, and prospered from it. Here, Abram follows God’s ways, tells the truth, and relinquishes wealth to which he had legitimate worldly claim. His heart is now firmly set on God’s ways. The righteous demonstrate their character to the world by what they do.
