In the Old Testament, a kidnapped neighbor of Lot, burst into Abraham’s presence. Abraham’s Nephew, along with his whole house, had been kidnapped by numerous kings-who banded together on a raiding party. Scripture says that Abraham had “318 men who were born into his household.” That probably means that these were quality men who relied upon God. “Abe’s brigade” made double time as they charged after those People-takers. They caught up to them near Damascus, at the north end of Israel. Abraham recaptured Lot’s family, and on the way home, he passed through the town of New Salem. Today, Salem is a very prominent city of Israel. New Salem became Jerusalem, city of peace! This land was ruled by a man named Melchizedek. He never had a father or mother. There was no record of either event. The Jewish people got a lot of mileage out of this story but all it means is that Melchizedek was not Jewish. Melchizedek, the non-Jew, had all the virtuous qualities that God was trying to instill in the Jewish people. He was a Priest and king. He gave money to those in charge of religion. Mel’s ministry pointed ahead in time, to the Messiah. On the way home, Abraham stopped to see Melchizedek and offered him 10% of all he had captured from the kings. Abraham’s tithing to Melchizedek happened before the priesthood was established, by several hundred years. Mel’s importance to this story is left up to us to decipher. He was righteous, he treated his people well, he knew the true God, and he spoke about the need to know God on a personal basis. The story of Melchizedek, is a road map pointing ahead in time to the entrance of the Messiah. That should have caused the Jews to think about the coming Savior, who would save them from their sins. Jesus had a Heavenly father and a human mother. When Jesus came, the fact that He had an earthly mother caused the Jews a huge amount of angst. The great blessing, in Israel’s rejection of Jesus, was that we Gentiles have the opportunity for forgiveness too. We have the right to lift up the Word of God to the world. Everyone who recognizes Jesus as the Son of God, is worthy of new life in Heaven.