A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 14
Lesson #27
JESUS CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
- Memory verse: Psalms 50:14
- In Genesis 14 there is a battle of kings (4 northern and 5 southern kings). We will discuss the battle more in our next lesson. During the battle, Lot and his household were taken prisoner. Abraham rescued Lot. On his way home,
- Abraham is met by the king of Salem, named Melchisedek.
- The person of Melchizedek in sacred history is one of the most remarkable proofs of the inspiration and unity of scripture.
- We first see him in 3 short verses in Genesis.
- A thousand years later we find him in one verse in Psalms where God is swearing a vow to his Son, Jesus Christ. He is to be a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
- After another thousand years, we see him fully explained in the book of Hebrews.
- Melchizedek is one of the most important persons in the Old Testament, if not the most important.
- Read Gen 14:13-24, Psa 110, and Heb 7:1-3
- Who is Melchizedek?
- He was a man who knew the one true God even though he was not a Jew.
- Melchizedek was both a priest and a king.
- The combination of these two offices is unknown in the history of Israel.
- In fact, for one person to hold both positions was against the will of God. Remember king Saul attempted to perform some priestly duties and God took the kingdom from him. (1Sam 13:8-14)
- The practice of having one person perform both duties was common among Canaanite kings. Melchizedek was a Canaanite. Therefore, he was a Gentile.
- Only Jesus Christ was to be both a priest and a king according to Messianic prophecies.
- We see “Melchizedek” as a priest in Gen 14 and as the king in Psa 110 at the second coming.
- The name of God: El Elyon Jehovah
- Melchizedek used both the general name for God (El Elyon = God the Highest) as well as the Jewish name (Jehovah) that refers to a covenant maker.
- Abraham used both names in Gen 14:22 to indicate that they both worshipped the same God, and that Jews and Gentiles both could have a personal relationship with God.
- Melchizedek’s name means = “king of righteousness” (Heb 7:2)
- Melchizedek’s kingdom was located in the city of Salem (Jerusalem) which means = “peace”.
- He was therefore “king of peace”.
- These two names, king of righteousness and king of peace, are names for the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and characteristics of the kingdom of God throughout the Old and New Testaments. (Isa 32:1 Luk 19:38)
- “without father, without mother, without descent” (Heb 7:3) =
- Melchizedek’s genealogy was unknown.
- This was an unknown phenomenon for the Jewish priesthood. Every priest had to be from the tribe of Levi, and every high priest had to be a descendant of Aaron. It was a hereditary office.
- This phrase in the book of Hebrews points to the virgin birth of Jesus Christ conceived by the Holy Spirit.
- The genealogies of Jesus in the books of Matthew and Luke are those of Joseph and Mary. ‘
- There is no genealogy of the Holy Spirit.
- The phrase, therefore, points to the heavenly aspect of Jesus.
- His office of priesthood was not a hereditary office.
- Melchizedek’s genealogy was unknown.
- “having neither beginning of days nor end of life” (Heb 7:3)
- The actual birth record and the record of death of Melchizedek is not known.
- This phrase points to the heavenly eternal nature of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- Men who were Jewish priests could only serve from the age of 25 to the age of 50. (Num 8:24-25)
- “made like unto the son of god” (Heb 7:3)
- This tells us that Melchizedek is a prefigure of Jesus Christ.
- Who is Melchizedek?
Melchizedek, a Prefigure of Jesus Christ.
| Melchizedek | Jesus Christ |
| King of Jerusalem | King of kings |
| High priest to Abraham | Our high priest |
| Jerusalem means peace | Prince of peace |
| King of righteousness | The Lord our righteousness
(Jer 23:6) |
| Unknown genealogy | The eternal son |
| He comes with bread and wine | He offers bread and wine in communion |
| Neither beginning of days nor end of life | Our living Lord |
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- Besides a prefigure of Jesus Christ, Melchizedek also seems to be a theophany of Jesus Christ.
- What is a theophany?
- It is an actual appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. Remember that Jesus Christ is eternal and could appear as a man before his birth in Bethlehem.
- An example:
- The fourth man in the fiery furnace – Dan 3:25
- How do we know that Melchizedek in Genesis was an actual appearance by Jesus Christ?
- Part of the name Melchizedek has a Hebrew construction “sidek” (zedek) which means = deity is king.
- During his 3 year ministry on earth, Jesus identified this Davidic king as Messiah in mar 12:35-37 when he quoted Psa 110.
- Read Joh 8:56
- When did Abraham see Christ?
- He saw Christ by faith through the prefigures. But more than that, he saw Christ in theophanies.
- It is an actual appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. Remember that Jesus Christ is eternal and could appear as a man before his birth in Bethlehem.
- Summary and Application:
- At Christmas, we celebrate the coming of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, to earth in the form of a baby.
- However, in reality, we know that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who existed before the world began.
- As the Son of God with power and might, He could appear on earth long before He humbled himself to become a baby in a manger.
- The Bible indicates that there have been a few times when Jesus did that. Here in Genesis is one of those times.
- There are theologians who argue over whether Melchizedek was really a theophany (an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ), or whether Melchizedek was merely a prefigure of Christ.
- It is not important to decide which is correct.
- What is important is to see Christ exemplified in some way in the person of Melchizedek.
- This is the message that the book of Hebrews gives us.
- Therefore, the question is, why does God put the person of Melchizedek here in Genesis?
- Remember that God is revealing himself to man all through the book of Genesis through his name, his covenants, through prefigures, and through prophecies. We saw the first prophecy of the Messiah in Gen 3:15.
- Remember that Abraham is the father of faith, trusting God that this Messiah will surely come.
- There is no better place to put such a marvelous revelation of the Messiah than to put Melchizedek in the life of Abraham, the father of faith.
- Believers in Jesus Christ must learn to see Christ by faith in our own experiences through life.
Homework
Genesis 14:1-24
- Application of Gen 4:13-24 and Heb 7:1-3
- In what specific events in your life have you experienced a deep feeling of the presence of God?
- Preparation for Gen 14:1-24
- Read Gen 14:1-24
- This is the first mention of the tithe in the Bible. Explain what you know and believe about the tithe.
- Read Gen 14:1-24
- Memory verse: Luke 6:38
