Genesis 14 – Governmental Problems
Governmental Problems
Abraham and President Donald J Trump share some similarities. Their enemies wanted to destroy them. Genesis 14 Informs us that Nimrod was also known as Amraphel, king of Shinar. He was a long-standing rival of Abram. Remember the idols’ story when Abram’s father, Terach, took Abram before Nimrod for destroying his idols? Remember the conversation Abram and Nimrod had. Remember Abram was thrown into a fiery furnace and then was delivered by The Lord from the fiery flames in ‘Bihar Kasdim,’ i.e., in Chaldees, Genesis 11.31. Remember Abraham’s brother Haran died in the fire. Nimrod did not forget Abram. He kept close track of him. The story behind the story is that Nimrod sought revenge against Abram by kidnapping Lot and his household. The essence of the battle in Genesis 14 is where Nimrod took Lot and his family captive as part of a larger scheme concocted by Nimrod to kill Abram. However, The Lord was with Abram and his army of 318. Abram pursued Nimrod and slew him. Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says (Brooklyn, New York: Benei Yakov Publications 1980), p. 140.
President Trump has had a target on his back for the past five years. He stirred it up with the swamp, liberals, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, the media, and the press. President Trump was impeached a second time. It’s not looking good. He has lost some crucial battles. However, the final chapter is yet to be written.
Noah also experienced some setbacks. He planted a vineyard that bloomed and produced grapes The same day. He made wine from the grapes, and they fermented quickly. Noah drank the new wine and became naked and intoxicated. Ham, Noah’s youngest son, saw his father intoxicated, naked, and incoherent. Ham took advantage of his father. Ham sodomized Noah and emasculated him. Ham could have reacted responsibly, lovingly humbly, maturely righteously by covering his father, closing the tent flap, and by keeping the incident to himself. That would have been the appropriate way to handle the situation.
After Ham sodomized and emasculated Noah, he could no longer serve as Priest to The Most High God. He could no longer have children. It was as if he died. This is one reason why The Torah Speaks of the end of Noah’s life years before he died.
Shem was immediately appointed Malki Tzedek, i.e., King of Righteousness. He was the one who was given the charge for The Tents of Learning The Torah. So on the day that would be the date of the future Passover for The People of Israel, Abram freed all those taken captive and slaves. Abram took nothing for himself. Instead, he honored The Lord by Tithing 10% of all that he had to Malki Tzedek, the King of Righteousness.
Malki Tzedek brought forth bread and wine; and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of The Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth; And Blessed be God The Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ [See Genesis 14.18 – 24] Even though Malki Tzedek’s intentions were good, he should have Blessed the Lord God first and then Abram second. As a result, the priesthood was taken from Malki Tzedek’s descendants And given to Abram’s descendants years later.
Dear Ones, Right now throughout our country, we have individuals who are fussing with each other. We have the Nimrods and intimidating giants. Anger, bitterness, and hatred are evident in their speech and actions. While they go at each other, people are suffering. Loving-kindness is absent. Obedience to God is being pushed aside.
As noted above, Genesis 14 describes a similar situation to the present time. Four kingdoms made war with five kingdoms that refused to continue being governed by them. The five kingdoms were defeated. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, his wife, children, servants, and all they owned were taken captive and carted off. Defeating the enemies fell upon Abraham and the 318 servants born and trained in Abraham’s home. They were trained in Torah, not warfare. Still, they successfully defeated 16 kingdoms without a single loss.
Dear Ones, we want to avoid settling into and living in the wrong kingdom. That is what Lot did. We want to learn from Lot’s mistake. We want to teach our children and those we love to interact with Spiritual people. We want to help those we love to guard their entrances. Corruption is very accessible to each of us. We must be diligent in protecting those we love. It is necessary to protect our access to ourselves and those we love. That requires us to take active roles in the lives of those we love.
May we stay within the Torah’s Guidelines of righteous living and repentance. May we help others, May we bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.
Good Sabbath!
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
