BIBLE STUDY 12-MAY 5-17-2020

Read the Bible with Amanda Grace-Ark of Grace Ministries

Genesis 14 Teaching

In the last Chapter we see Abraham and Lot separate. This was very much needed because they were indeed spiritually going in VERY different directions. Lot makes a beeline for the area of Sodom. Abraham lets lot choose which way HE wants to go because Abram/Abraham at this point has put His full trust in the Lord God Yahweh. The problem with lot making His way toward Sodom is he is moving very much away from God toward immorality, toward perversion, toward rebellion.

So, we have 4 kings going to war against 5 kings:

Genesis 14:1 the [Eastern] kings Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, (4 kings). They invaded the Jordan valley and made war with them.

Genesis 14:2 Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All of these [kings] joined together [as allies] in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Sea of Salt). (5 kings)

Genesis 14:4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer [the most powerful king in the invading confederacy], but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

So, during this time you not only had men who were Kings over nations but men who were Kings over Cities, what we would equate today as mayors. It is like the mayors getting together to overthrow the governor type deal. 

So you have these rivalries because well the NFL and college football did not exist back then to take care of such things, so they would go to war to settle the score with these rivalries.

Once a city was conquered it would then have to pay tribute to the Victorious King, this would almost always be in the form of a tax. Chedorlaomer was a pretty powerful King with an obvious bullseye on Him because he had defeated all these 5 kings in battle and inflicted a tax upon each of the cities the 5 kings ruled over for 12 years, these 5 kings rebel in the 13th year.

Interestingly enough the number 13 in the Bible is associated with rebellion and lawlessness and interestingly enough in the 13^th year that is exactly what we see these 5 kings do, they REBEL.

Genesis 14:5-11 This is where we see Lot get tangled up in this quagmire of rebellion.

 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the [three] kings who were with him attacked and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mountainous country of Seir, as far as El-paran, which is on the border of the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and subdued all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they joined together for battle with the invading kings in the Valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.  Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar (bitumen) pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them. But the remainder [of the kings] who survived fled to the hill country. Then the victors took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and provisions and left.  And they also took [captive] Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and left, for he was living in Sodom.

So now what happens Lot becomes a POW (prisoner of War), why did Lot become a prisoner ultimately, because he chose to REBEL and MOVE AWAY from God toward the perversions in this world that Sodom was riddled with. Sodom was indeed and bubbling cauldron that was going to blow.

Genesis 14:10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar (bitumen) pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them. But the remainder [of the kings] who survived fled to the hill country. 

Now, why would this be so important. The land is full of pits, verse 10 is literally foreshadowing the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah. Look at the verse, only the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah Fell into the pits! The rest of the kings got away and fled, what would happen with Lot in Sodom, he and his family would flee and get away!! This is literally prophesying the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah and the escape of Lot and his family!!! Keep these tar pits in mind which are HIGHLY FLAMMABLE for when we get into the chapter about Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 14:13-16 Then a survivor who had escaped [from the invading forces on the other side of the Jordan] came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the Terebinths (oaks) of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner—they were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his nephew [Lot] had been captured, he armed and led out his trained men, born in his own house, [numbering] three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far [north] as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he, and his servants, and attacked and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

5 Kings and their TRAINED MEN could not defeat Chedolaomer BUT Abram and his men did? WHAT?! Does anyone else see something strange about this picture? The equivalent would be the men from duck dynasty sent out against all the navy seals this is how disproportionate this was.

However, with God ALL things are possible!! And the favor of God upon Abram was so mighty, and Abram’s faith out of “Egypt gate” was so great that the Lord was able to do something so jaw dropping and baffling. He enabled Abram and his men to Defeat a King who had Lorded over 5 other kings for 12 years! Abram rescues Lot, so I call this the first rescue of Lot. Because Lot was such a hot mess, he got himself into so much trouble that he needed to be rescued twice!! The 2^nd rescue will come with Sodom and Gomorrah.

Now Enter Melchizedek King of Salem:

Genesis 14:17 is where we see Abram Encounter Melchizedek. There is a ton a prophetic significance here that we will get into in a minute.

Genesis 14:20 And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle. Abram gave the King and High Priest a tenth, he gave him a tithe. Now why would Abram do this and why was this so important. To understand this, we must understand the connection between Melchizedek and Jesus.

Melchizedek

So, in a dream about a year and a half ago the Lord allowed me to see Melchizedeck. How did I know it was him? Well, because the individual standing with me in the dream told me it was him. He had lighter colored skin, he had a long pure white beard and mustache. He was slender and tall. He had on a long white garment that was so whole it almost looked clear or iridescent. He was pondering something as his countenance lit up the darkness, and it was “Christian rage.”

I had watched Perry Stone and other’s talk about genesis 14 and talk about information on Melchizedek that I found quite fascinating, which combined with what the Lord revealed to me makes this particularly important! We must look at Joshua and the new testament to understand the significance of this mysterious figure and his connection to Jesus.

Joshua 3:15-16 And when those who were carrying the ark came up to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were submerged at the edge of the water for the Jordan overflows all of its banks throughout the time of harvest, the waters which were flowing down from above stopped and rose up in one mass a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan. Those [waters] flowing downward toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So, the people crossed [the river] opposite Jericho.

Joshua 4:1-9 So it was when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take for yourselves the twelve men [chosen] from among the people, one man from each tribe, and command them, ‘Pick up for yourselves twelve stones [one each] from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm; carry them over with you and lay them down at the place where you will spend the night tonight.’” Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; and Joshua said to them, “Cross over again to the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, so that this may be a sign among you; when your children ask later, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So, these stones shall become a memorial for Israel forever.”

So the [twelve men chosen from the] sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, just as the Lord had spoken to Joshua; and they carried them over with them to the place where they were spending the night and put them down there. Then Joshua set up [a second monument of] twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day.

Why is John the Baptist coming to the very spot to baptize where Joshua crossed the Jordan River with the ark of the Covenant? John Baptizes where the 12 stones are in that area 1,500 years later where Joshua Crossed the Jordan this is the area of Beth-Arabah.

Matthew 3:13-17 John looks up and sees Jesus coming, as he is baptizing others. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him. After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus), and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”

So, this tall Nazarene man named Jesus approaches John, Jesus is 30 years old.

Now according to the law, you had to be 30 years old to become a priest, and Jesus was now at that proper age to fulfill his call, what was his reason for coming to earth.

Now interestingly enough Jesus name in Hebrew happens to be the same form as Joshua in Hebrew.

Yeshua is short for Yehoshua which translates to Joshua, this by no means is a coincidence.

So, Jesus comes to the same spot at the Jordan where 1,500 years prior Joshua crossed with the Ark of the Covenant, which in it contained the law. Now when Joshua crossed as we read a few minutes ago the scriptures stage that the waters rolled back to the city of Adam. Now there is a theory that the center of the garden of Eden, what was the center, was now Jerusalem.

You see when Adam sinned, because sin originated with him,  and the lord had to cast he and eve out of the garden to prevent man from being trapped in a fallen state forever, the east gate of the garden and the land was under a curse, everything was barren. So right off the edge of the Jordan River Adam builds a city named Adam.

Okay now we fast forward to where Jesus, Yeshua, steps into the Jordan River which by far was one of the most powerful steps in history. Now Joshua in that same place 1,500 years prior the waters were rolled back on account of him back to the city of Adam, and cut off the dead sea.

Jesus now steps into the Jordan River prepared to now become the high priest that is going to ROLL THE SIN ALL THE WAY BACK to Adam at the place where the 12 stones were placed by Joshua with the ark of the covenant as he crossed the Jordan River Jesus steps into the river to take the high priest position that is rightfully His, to roll the sins all the way back to Adam, and where the ark of the covenant crossed the Jordan, Jesus, Yeshua, is now set to make a NEW covenant and Fulfill the law! The Baptism of Jesus occurs around 30 A.D.

According to the Talmud, according to Chabad.org the Talmud is The Talmud is a collection of writings that covers the full gamut of Jewish law and tradition, compiled, and edited between the third and sixth centuries.

Now according to the Talmud something supernatural happened in 30 A.D. the year Jesus was Baptized and began his ministry:

One of the gates of the temple opened and closed by itself. The red thread on the temple door that would turn white when the scapegoat on whom all the sins of Israel were laid, was cast out. Isaiah 1:18 references this. In 30 A.D.the red thread NEVER turned white again! There were 5 signs in 30 A.D. that signified God’s presence was no longer in the temple in Jerusalem.

This is because there was a BRAND-NEW Priest entering the picture here on earth.

It would no longer be an Aaronic Priesthood, after Aaron and the Levites, BUT a Melchizedek Priesthood. Melchizedek is a mysterious Figure in Genesis Chapter 14, however PARTICULARLY important. Melchizedeck is the first King and Priest of the Most High God,Yahweh.

Genesis 14 it states that he is King of Salem, Interestingly enough Salem in in the Word Jerusalem.

Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection [a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper] had been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people were given the Law) what further need was there for another and different kind of priest to arise, one in the manner of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed to the order of Aaron? 

So, he is saying the priesthood has changed to a Melchizedeck priesthood.

Hebrews 7: 12-13 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well.  For the One of whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line of Levi but] to another tribe, from which no one has officiated or served at the altar. 

So, what this is saying…is we have a new priest who is not even from the Tribe of Levi but of the Tribe of Judah! So, a completely new line.

Now Melchizedeck was not Christ reincarnate, because if Jesus were already a priest and was Melchizedek then He was a priest after the order of himself and you then get into a whole lot of discrepancy with the scriptures that prophesied his coming to earth to be born.

Hebrews 7:2-3 Abraham gave him a tenth of all [the spoil]. He is, first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace. Without any record of] father or mother, nor ancestral line, without [any record of] beginning of days (birth) nor ending of life (death), but having been made like the Son of God, he remains a priest without interruption and without successor.

Now we know according to scriptures that Jesus indeed had a mother, Mary, and a Father, Joseph.

Now interestingly enough the ancient Targumim (Aramaic interpretive translations) identify Melchizedek as Shem (the righteous son of Noah). However, the word of god never says such, Shem lived a total of 600 years, he would have been 466 years old when he met Abraham. However, Shem indeed had a Father and a mother so that negates him too. BUT the messiah did come through the lineage of Shem.

Melchizedek was his title, Melchizedek actually means “MY KING IS RIGHTEOUSNESS”, so he was the King of Righteousness, sort of like the president, that is his title. There is no record of genealogy at all for him like we see with so many others in the Word of God.

So now back to Jesus at the Jordan River. I had said prior Jesus was 30, this is significant because according to the law a man had to be 30 years of age to enter the priesthood.

Jesus enters the water; however, john was baptizing others for the remission of sin, BUT Jesus had no sin in Him. So why would Jesus need to be baptized? Jesus is Baptized to fulfill ALL righteousness.

Matthew 3:14-15 But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.

Jesus goes into the water, is submerged, and comes up out of the water. Now two things happen when Jesus emerges from the water:

1-The Holy Spirit Descends on Him in the form of a dove.

2-The lord the father from the heavens says “This is MY beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

Luke 3:22-23 The Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are My Son, My Beloved, in You I am well-pleased and delighted!”

Jesus then steps out of the water back onto the land and once that happens, something does happen. Jesus becomes the candidate for the Melchizedeck priesthood.

Now in old testament times when a priest was about to die, and he was going to hand the priesthood off to his oldest son 3 things happened:

1-They took the oldest son to the Mikvah near the temple, which is the ceremonial bath, and submerged him in the Mikvah to PURIFY him.

2-They would pour oil all over his head to anoint him as the successor, the next priest.

3-The high priest who is passing has to look at his oldest son before his death and say “this is my son in whom I am well pleased.”

THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES WITH GOD!

So why go through all of this when Jesus did not know sin and John the Baptists message was repent of sin and be baptized for the Kingdom of heaven was at hand? Jesus was the one bringing the covenant.

However, when Jesus was submerged in the Jordan By John, that was the oldest son, the successor going into the Mikvah, the ceremonial bath.

When Jesus comes up and emerges from the water, the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove, that is the anointing coming on Jesus as the oldest son and next High priest AND Then the Father in Heaven SAYS, “THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” Now why did Jesus need to go through these steps? Because he came to fulfill the law!! And These steps were indeed part of the Jewish Law. On that day EVERYTHING Changed Jesus was the next high priest and the Lord was going to kick things into overdrive on this earth and execute the greatest Hoodwink against lucifer EVER!

So what is the difference between the Melchizedek priesthood and the Aaronic priesthood now that we have all of this wonderful meaty background.In the Old testament you had 3 Positions ordained By God: The prophet, the Priest, and the King, normally they did not overlap, however David is the only example we see where he is called a prophet, a priest, and a king in various parts of Scripture. The lord permitted David to tap into these positions because the messiah was to come through the line of David.

Jesus was a prophet on the earth, in heaven he is the High priest that intercedes for us before the Father, and in the book of Revelation when he returns, it is as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Now what makes the Melchizedek priesthood tied to this is that it is the ONLY priesthood where one holds the position of BOTH King and Priest, which is EXACTLY what Jesus was and is, a King and a Priest.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

So, what does this make us Children of the Most high God? Kings and Priests unto the Most High God!

Currently on earth this makes us priests unto the Most High God because we are not ruling and reigning over anything quite yet. Rule enters the picture during the millennial reign for the Children of the Most High God that we see in Revelation 20.

So, what do Priest do? They offer praise and gifts and minister before the Lord to the people in the house of God and fulfilling the commission in.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Now, I am about to draw another parallel between Melchizedek and Jesus.

Genesis 14:18  Melchizedek king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine [for them]; he was the priest of God Most High. And Melchizedek blessed Abram and said, “Blessed (joyful, favored) be Abram by God Most High, Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your enemies into your hand.”

Matthew 26:26-28 Now as they were eating Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many [as a substitution atonement] for the forgiveness of sins. 

Now Melchizedek is taking the bread and the wine and blessed Abraham with these two items who would become the Father of the nation of Israel. Abraham’s old life had passed away behold a new covenant had been made and new life set before Abraham, which the High Priest and King Melchizedek bringing out the very two items Jesus used to foreshadow the death that was about to happen, to take the place of humanity and purchase them, and in the same way Abraham was consecrated unto God. The bread and the wine were ratifying and confirming this. As Abraham was a disciple and servant of the Lord the bread and the wine that Melchizedek partook in With Abraham was foreshadowing the very meal Jesus The King and High priest would partake in with his disciples right before he went to the Cross, and foreshadowed the coming of Jesus death on the Cross to reconcile us back to the Lord that would occur 2000 years later!

Now back to Genesis 14:20 Quickly the tithe.

Melchizedek was a ruler on this earth for the Lord, a King, and a priest. Jesus would become the Next King and priest in the order of Melchizedek. Since the lord is who delivered Abram and caused him to be victorious in battle against the King of Chedolaomer, rescuing Lot, it was only fitting for Abram to give unto the King and Priest of the Lord a tenth of what was acquired for if it were not for the Lord God Yahweh they would of never been victorious, and would have acquired nothing but lost probably near everything. Abram was honoring God’s faithfulness by giving back unto His Servant on this earth a tenth thus for this teaching bringing things full circle!

Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baG706YHWfA (PART 1)

Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS8R_Id2wIQ (PART 2)