13.#Melchizedek blessed Abram

Genesis 14 : 17-20
Size: 38×47cm
Material: silk thread

Abram won the battle and rescued his nephew Lot and Lot’s family from the hands of the enemy. Melchizedek, king of Salem, went out to greet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh. He brought out bread and wine and he blessed Abram, saying, “I bless you in the name of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. All praise belongs to God for helping you defeat your enemies.”
We often want to credit our own intelligence and unwavering effort for enabling us to successfully accomplish difficult tasks and win impossible battles. Praising one’s own abilities and basking in one’s own victories are irresistible.
Melchizedek reminded Abram that it was God Most High who delivered the enemies into his hand. Therefore, all praise belonged to God.
Abram realized that God was the source of his strength and he relied on God entirely. Without hesitation, Abram offered up one-tenth of the plunder to thank God for the Divine’s abounding grace.
A sacrifice of thanksgiving means giving God all the praise and glory. Such a gesture demonstrates that we understand that humans are small, finite, weak, and helpless. As we offer our thanksgivings to God and as we fully believe that God is love, the sweet fragrance of our offering will ascend into Heaven.