Manna Moments

⏱️3 min read

The Valley Between Two Kings

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.” Genesis 14:18-20

We’ve all heard the familiar phrase, “New levels, new devils.” But does that idea consistently align with Scripture? The saying suggests that every step forward in spiritual growth automatically brings a fiercer battle. Yet often the real challenge isn’t the warfare at all—it’s the testing of our surrender.

Abraham’s story illustrates this beautifully. God calls him to leave his country, his relatives, and his father’s house, promising to make him a great nation, to give him a great name, and to bless all the families of the earth through him. So Abram sets out with his wife, his possessions, his servants—literally “souls,” as the Hebrew implies—and, of course, his nephew Lot. Together they journey toward Canaan.

After a famine forces them into Egypt and back again, their growing wealth creates tension. Their herdsmen begin to quarrel, and the land can no longer support both households. They decide to part ways. In that moment, Abram steps into the full obedience God had asked for from the beginning. And immediately, God finalizes the promise—inviting Abram to walk the length and width of the land, a customary act in the ancient world to seal a claim of ownership.

That obedience ushers Abram into a new level of influence. Soon after, he finds himself drawn into a regional conflict when Lot is taken captive. Abram gathers 318 of his trained men, defeats the invading kings, and rescues his nephew. But it’s on the return journey that the true test appears. In the Valley of Siddim, Abram is met by two kings: Melchizedek, king of Salem, offering bread, wine, and a blessing—and the king of Sodom, offering the spoils of victory. Abram chooses to honor Melchizedek by giving him a tenth of the spoils, while rejecting the offer from the king of Sodom.

Abram’s response in that valley reveals the heart of true spiritual maturity. Faced with two kings, he chooses not the path of gain but the path of honor. He gives a tenth to Melchizedek, acknowledging God as the source of his victory, and refuses to take even “a thread or sandal strap” from the king of Sodom. In doing so, Abram shows us that the “next level” isn’t about acquiring more—it’s about surrendering more. New levels don’t necessarily demand that we fight bigger devils; they invite us to become a person of honor—one who trusts God enough to give rather than take, and to walk away from anything that would claim credit for what only God can do.

Lord, keep us faithful in the season ahead. Steady our hearts, purify our motives, and help us grow through surrender as You lead us to the next level.