In the fourteenth chapter, Lot had moved his family into Sodom. I'll not bore you with too many details. Suffice to say, Sodom and other cities rebelled against their ruling country and lost. Lot and his family were captured as a result. Abram gathered a group of his best men and succeeded where Sodom and its allies had failed.
It was the aftermath which is interesting. Two kings came to Abram and his men after the victory. The first king was Melchizedek. This king brought food, drink, and a blessing. Abram accepted these things and offered a tithe of all he had in return. It was confirmed later in Hebrews that Melchizedek was an early appearance by Jesus on Earth.
The second king was the ruler of Sodom. He offered to allow Abram to keep the spoils from his victory. Abram turned down this offer so he would not be beholden to a wicked king.
It's too bad Lot didn't learn anything from this experience.
I confess that I have never really read the fifteenth chapter before. At least I don't remember doing so. What a shame! Abram confessed his confusion on how God would make a nation through him when his only heir was a servant. He also doesn't understand how God would give the land of Canaan to him and his descendants. In response, God proceeded to tell him exactly how it would happen!
We see time as it is unfolding, but God sees the whole thing. He isn't improvising as he goes. I hope this encourages us all to trust him more!
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