1/13/13- The Blessing of Giving with Gratitude

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram,saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:17-20)

Thoughts: Abram was delivered in battle.  Lot was delivered from captivity. There was much gratitude to God, and Abram wanted to show it concretely.  Abram had gone out to fight against many kings but he only had a few hundred men.  But the Lord helped him, and he won and got great plunder.  He tithed it (gave a tenth of it) to Melchizedek.  Melchizedek (literally "King of righteousness"- Heb. 7:2) was the king of Salem (Peace) and the priest of the Most High God.  Hebrews 5,6,7 point out that Melchizedek was a forerunner or "type" of Christ.  This is the first evidence of someone tithing in the Bible.  It was done in thanksgiving for deliverance.  When God blesses us- rescues us- and pours more blessing on us than we could have imagined- let us give to Him.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your deliverance and your great love.