Context No. 2629 of 4322 · Genesis

Genesis 14:13-24: in context

13One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. They were allies of Abram. 14When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his three hundred eighteen trained men, born in his house, and pursued as far as Dan. 15He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other people. 17The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. 19He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth. 20Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all. 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.” 22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to the LORD, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.”

Abram, hearing that his nephew Lot has been captured, arms his household and rescues him, defeating the raiding kings. On his return, two kings meet him. Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, brings out bread and wine and blesses him, and Abram gives him a tenth of everything. But the king of Sodom offers Abram all the recovered goods, and Abram refuses: I have sworn to God Most High that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap of yours, so that you can never say, I made Abram rich.

Abram's refusal is deliberate and costly. He turns down a fortune, not because the goods were unlawful, but to protect something more valuable, the truth of who had made him rich. He will not let the king of Sodom, a byword for corruption, claim any credit for his prosperity. Everything Abram has, he wants clearly traceable to God alone, not to an alliance with the world. It is a striking resolve. There are gifts and advantages the world offers that come with invisible strings, the right to say later, we made you what you are. Abram would rather stay poorer than let anyone but God be the source of his blessing.

Do I refuse the world's strings-attached gifts that would let it claim credit for my blessing, insisting that God alone is my provider?

Sources

Genesis 14:23: that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich.
Genesis 14:20: Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. Abram gave him a tenth of all.
Genesis 14:22: I have lifted up my hand to the LORD, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.