My question is from Genesis 13-14 with Abram and Lot. After he rescued Lot, Melchizedek, priest and king of Salem and the king of Sodom meet Abram. For what purpose are Melchizedek and the king of Sodom together? Sodom was wicked and full of great sinners and Melchizedek was the priest of God and also the king of Salem. Why were a king of such a sinful and wicked city and a king and priest of God together like that when God could easily have made their meetings separate with the same outcome?
I don’t think Melchizedek and the King of Sodom were there together. They had come from different directions. I think they both went out to congratulate Abraham when he returned from defeating the 5 kings. But there’s a good reason for them being there at the same time. Notice how Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20) but then refused to accept even a thread or the thong of a sandal from the King of Sodom (Gen 14:22-23). He knew that God had won the battle, not him, and he knew that God had promised to make him rich (Genesis 12:2-3). Doing this in the presence of others gave witness to Abraham’s faith in God’s promises. Notice also how Genesis 15 opens with God telling Abraham, “I am your very great reward.” Abraham’s faith was justified.