(continued)

Noah, also, has three sons, one of whom is cursed, and one of whom receives blessings (Japheth receives blessings as well as Shem, but Japheth’s blessings are rather “neutral,” compared to Shem’s). Now God chooses one of Shem’s descendants to carry on His message, and to prepare the way for the Messiah, by creating a nation that bears His name—Israel. Abram is this son.

What would be more natural than for Abram to be blessed by the son of the man God chose to carry His message, and life itself, through the Flood? What if Melchizedek is [...]

I generally find the hardest passages to understand in the Scriptures are also the ones that end up bringing me the most understanding about God, in the end. Take this passage, for instance:

After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was upriest of God Most High.) And he blessed him… And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:17-20

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