Genesis 14:18 - And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

In the battle of the five kings vs the four kings in Genesis 14, Abraham’s nephew, Lot, is carried away:

Genesis 14:11-13a - the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abraham’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. Then one who had escaped came and told Abraham the Hebrew.

And Abraham won’t stand for it:

Genesis 14:14-16 - he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan… he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

The passage says Melchizedek meets Abraham in the Valley of Shaveh as he’s returning from battle. That’s probably 125+ miles distance from north of Damascus where Abraham rescued Lot. Abraham and his men have had a long journey.

And, here, Melchizedek, this previously-unknown king-priest comes out with a banquet for Abraham.

For one man (Lot), Abraham left the comfort of home to rescue him.

So, too, Jesus has done this - left heaven to rescue humanity one person at a time.

One night, after Jesus eats dinner with Zaccahaeus, the tax collector, Zacchaeus is brought back from his far-off place of sin:

Luke 19:9 - Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

May we realize any ways we’re in the far-off lands. May God come rescue us through friends/family. May we be incredibly happy in being at home with him. And may we go bring others back home, too.

In the end, another banquet awaits in heaven - just like Melchizedek presented to Abraham - for those who love God and endure to the end:

Revelation 19:9 - And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”