All throughout the following chapters, we see God making and confirming His promises to Abram whose name was eventually changed to Abraham.
Genesis 13:16 “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth:so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.”
Read Genesis 14:13-14,16
Abram had been in battle, won the battle and received the spoils of the battle. Pay close attention to what Abram does with his “increase.”
Gen. 4:18-20
Right in the middle of this covenant being made, we see this man bringing in the tithe to Melchizedek the king of “Salem” or modern day Jerusalem.
Then another king, the king of Sodom says… read vs 21-23. Most people don’t catch this at all and usually attribute it to Melchizedek. But it’s not Melchizedek he’s talking to. What’s he saying to him? I don’t want anything from you. I’m going to continue to tithe. I’m going to give my firstfruits to God. and no one will be able to say they made me rich but God himself.
In chapter 15 they are getting ready for the covenant ceremony, Abram wanted to know how he would inherit all the things God promised him. Read Genesis 15:18.
Then going into chapter 17 – God says something fascinating about this “pre-law” covenant which answers the question so many have about whether this is an OT issue.
Genesis 17:6-7, “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THEE AND THY SEED AFTER THEE IN THEIR GENERATION FOR AN “EVERLASTING COVENANT, TO BE A GOD UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED AFTER THEE.”
God changed Abram’s name to Abraham when the covenant was cut between them. If tithing was a part of that covenant making process between God and Abraham, and the Bible says this is an everlasting covenant, then who else is included in the covenant?
Galatians 3:29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” That means everything God promised Abraham, He also promises to us. Through the High Priest, He promised Abraham that He would bless him to be a blessing. Abraham brought the tithe to the High Priest and he was blessed. Bringing the tithe was the avenue by which Abraham could partake of the covenant promises of God.
to be continued…
