#TuesdayDevotion: Hebrews 7:1-10
Date: 20th October 2020
Is Melchizedek really Jesus?
In chapter 7 verse 2; He is called “King of righteousness”, and “King of Peace”.
The last verse of chapter 6 states:
“Where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Between chapters 5:1-10, and chapter 6:20 throughout chapter 7, to verse 28, Melchizedek is king of righteousness and peace. He has no human genealogy, suggesting immortality. He is described as greater than Abraham. In my opinion, this all suggests Jesus and Melchizedek are the same person. What does this mean for us in the 21st century? To gain an understanding, we need to look more closely at the meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek.
Notice in chapter 7 verses 1-2, Abraham gives Melchizedek a tenth of all the plunder as a thank you. Abraham had just been through one of the toughest gut-wrenching experiences of his life. He had to put his own life and that of his servants in danger. This was necessary, in order to rescue his nephew Lot and his family, who were kidnapped during a war. Because Lot was taken into captivity, as he was in the wrong place (Sodom) at the wrong time, just as foreign kings invaded his adopted hometown. His uncle Abraham somehow managed to rescue Lot. Abraham’s offering to Melchizedek was an act of thankfulness and gratefulness for the victory of God in a seemingly impossible situation. Abraham told the king of Sodom afterwards as recorded in Genesis 14:23: “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God most High, Creator of Heaven and earth.”
In other words, Abraham had prayed for God’s victory as he led his own men in battle against the overwhelmingly superior odds of the forces of the kings who had conquered Sodom. The foreign kings of the nation which we now call Iraq had joined forces and beaten the king of Sodom. Abraham and his amateur soldier servants had to take on this regional superpower, with their armies of professional soldiers and win against them. They had to take a great risk to their own lives at that time, as well as the risk of reprisals against themselves later.
Abraham later in the book of Hebrews, chapter 11, is prominently lauded as one of the heroes of faith as an example to us. He had learned to trust God and act in faith and obedience, beyond his own strength and capabilities. Remaining in the will of God, often saves us from a lot of trouble. This is because God’s wisdom has a protective effect over our lives. However, at other times, living in faith and obedience allows God to bring challenges into our lives, to test and refine us so we become more like Him. Notice Melchizedek only appeared to Abraham after the crisis is won. Abraham first had to trust God and step out in faith to defeat Lot’s captors. Only afterwards did he see “the King of Peace”.
What has God called you to? Are you faithful to your calling? Or do you make excuses?
Hebrews chapter 10 verses 38-39 says: “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he [or she] shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him [or her]. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” We need to persevere, believe and be saved. Don’t give up. When we are obedient to God and face stiff challenges in life, even those beyond our natural ability to solve, we can trust that God will make a way.
Suggested prayer: Father God, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May I move my thinking, my words and actions into the will of God at this time. Help me to persevere in the will of God and not to shrink back. May I keep faith in You and keep being obedient to you. I would rather have the favour of God over my life rather than the favour of people. In Jesus Name. Amen.
