Abraham Series - 4

Into Battle

Genesis 14 ESV

In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar. Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. So 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 Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And 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. After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

INTRODUCTION

We are following the life journey of our spiritual forefather, Abraham. We have seen Abe as a man of faith - Normal, everyday man from a normal, civilized, urbane culture - who was called by God, though Abe has nothing to offer to the Holy, Almighty God of the universe. Abraham’s own father worshiped the moon god. What does the child of an idol worshiper have to offer the infinite Creator God? But God calls HIM - sets him apart to be His agent of blessing to the world.

Abe answers God's call by faith - and, after a little hesitation, leaves everything behind to follow God to who knows where.

We have seen Abe as a man of failing faith - that we can fully identify with - who grows fearful in a time of famine. In a trying time - he tries to solve his own problem as if God had forgotten him - and what a mess that always leads to - It does for us and it did for Abraham.

We have seen Abe, back on the road of faith -so generous towards his freeloading nephew Lot, that when the family members have to split apart because God’s blessing is so ‘severe’ - Abram doesn’t selfishly cling to his right to the land God promised to HIM … No, he gives the choice of territory to Lot. He trusts that God will work out His promises in His way. He is free to be generous. Abraham’s faith has been restored.

In today’s text - Genesis 14, we see a different side of Abraham - we see him as a victorious warrior in a just war.

READ vv. 1-12

1 THE CAPTIVITY, vv. 1-12

Our story begins with international warfare. In fact, this is the first mention of war in all of Scripture.

In verse 1, we read about 4 kings, who come together in a military alliance. The names and places mean nothing to us, today - but they are important because they firmly plant this account in the bedrock of history. Take a look at v. 1: the first person named is Amraphel king of Shinar - Shinar is Babylon - which is modern day Iraq. Next is Arioch king of Ellasar and the last one in v. 1 is ‘Tidal king of Goiim’ - Ellasar and Goiim - represent the Hurrians and Hittites - 2 ancient peoples from areas inside what is modern day Turkey. Verse 1 also names Chedorlaomer, king of Elam. He’s the head of this alliance - Elam was the territory that is modern-day Iran. So, we have an international alliance of kings of a vast area from the Black Sea in the north, to the Persian Gulf in the south - the whole Mesopotamian Valley.

They have come together to go to war against another alliance of 5 kings from Canaan, who we read about in v 2. Verse 2, “Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela, (that is Zoar).” This is a Pentapolis - 5 city-states, located at the southern end of the Dead sea, each one with its own petty king.

The 4 kings from the east - have had the western kings in subjection and forced them to pay tribute - probably some kind of protection money - sort of like the mob. Year after year, they have been required to pay this ‘protection money’ .... “Keep the cash flowing - and nothing BAD will happen to you.” SO, year after year, the western kings, watch the convoy of trucks roll into their towns, and see their tax money being loaded up and trucked away - right out of their nations. The wealth their people have earned - doesn’t go to pave roads or build playgrounds, or schools or hosptals - it certainly doesn’t help the kings keep up their lifestyles of the rich and famous. It goes to make wealthy foreign kings wealthier. So, after 12 years of handing over the money … in the thirteenth year, they turn away the collection trucks at the border.

The western kings got tired of paying this tribute and decided to come together and with one voice - tell their overlords - "You can't push us around anymore" - "We aren't paying up." "you can't make us pay". The eastern kings say, "Oh ya - You wanna bet?" And they invade the territory.

These kings from the east travel the exact same route as Abraham did when he came to Canaan from his home city in Ur - up the Western side of the Euphrates River to Carchemish and then southwest, down through Damascus and then south into Canaan, along the eastern side of the Jordan River and all the way to the bottom of the Dead Sea.

The western kings clearly know that an attack is coming, so they prepare their troops. The two opposing groups meet for battle in the valley of Siddim (v. 8 tells us) - that's in the Dead Sea Valley. That is inside the territory of the Five Western kings.

So you have Four battling against Five. That's a disadvantage. You have the Five kings fighting on their home turf - that's always an advantage. Every army fights more ferociously when they are fighting for their own homes and families who depend on them. So things look pretty good for the rebel 5 kings.

But v. 10 tells us something that is a little concerning - if you are rooting for the rebels. It tells us that the Valley of Siddim (the battlefield) is full of bitumen pits - that is - tar pits. It’s true - tar pits are common in this area of the Dead Sea, which is so rich in bitumen that large amounts of tar bubble to the surface and even float on the Dead Sea. These ‘pits’ in the text are about the size of wells, dug out.

Verse 10: “Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as thekings of Sdom and Gomorrah fled ...”. Stop right there. “The kings … fled”.

That's concerning - we don't read of their ferocity in battle, don't read of them hodling onto a hill, with the fighting raging. We read that they are running - they've turned their backs and are running for their lives. Hardly brave sounding.

And, second, we read in verse 10 that, as they are running, some of the kings and their warriors fell into the tar pits.

Now, the verb form of the word ‘fell’ here isn’t crystal clar - it might mean that they fall into them (as the ESV puts it), but it can also mean that the kings THROW THEMSELVES into the pits - in other wordss, they use them for hiding places.

...... WHATEVER the verb means precisely, you get the idea here - this is chaos: armies chasing, armies fleeing into the hills to hide, kings ending up in tar pits

Either way - It is pretty hard to win a fight, when you are stuck in hot tar.

Sure enough - there may be more of these western kings and they may be fighting at home - but they are a colossal failure. There doesn’t sem to be any REAL battle in this war - and the eastern kings clean up. Verse 11 tells us that the enemy took ALL of the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions and went their way."

This is the first mention of warfare in the Bible - an intensification of human sin. Brother fighting against brother began with Cain killing Abel, after their parents - Adam and Eve, plunged the human race into sin. But brother against brother violence has now intensified into nation against nation.

WAR

The narrator is careful to make sure we understand that there is one particularly important captive taken - Verse 12, "They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother."

Ah, remember Lot. He chose the lush beautiful land when uncle Abram gave him the choice of territory. And I want you to notice what has happened in his life.

Look back at chapter 13. Lot chooses the territory that included the city of Sodom. Remember how he made his choice? Chapter 13, tells us that "Lot lifted up his eyes and saw" the beauty of the Jordan valley. He chose according to what he saw with his eyes.

13:12, "Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent AS FAR AS Sodom." (NIV - pitched his tents NEAR Sodom).

Verse 13, "Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD." Lot moves his tent AS FAR as Sodom - even though the city was filled with sin.

Now look in chapter 14:12 - exactly ONE chapter later: "They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was where? .... HE was ‘dwelling in Sodom.” Not just camping right next door … but LIVING - firmly planted IN THE HEART of Sodom ..."

Lot has become TOTALLY identified with Sodom.

It is one thing to be in the world - it's another thing to be OF the world. And that is where Lot is.

He has decided, "I'm going where it looks good to my eyes."

And that makes perfect sense from our world's point of view - If we have only one short life to live - and all we get is what we can grab for ourselves in the 90 or 70 or 40 years that we have here in this present life - then of course - look and take!

Along with Lot's choice - comes new company. And the choice that he made introduced him to company that didn't help him at all. "The men of Sodom were wicked, GREAT sinners against the LORD.' Lot chose to pitch his tent near them at first ... but as seems to inevitably be the case with us today - he chose to be close to them and ended up - right in the very middle of their wickedness. And Lot ends up - a prisoner in chains - because of that choice.

The choice that he made with his eyes, introduces him to a life that he had never bargained for.

I don't have time to develop the idea as much as I would like, this morning, but there is a progression in Lot's life that seems to be a biblical principle - an example that you see over and over in the pages of Scripture: a bad choice, leads to bad company, that leads to bad captivity - a prison of misery and slavery.

Lot chose with his eyes - it led him to the company of the people of Sodom - oh the parties they would have. The fun of the dynamic, luxurious culture and vibrant social life ... he had it made! And then, in an instance, it was gone - taken from him - AND, v. 12 tells us - all of his possessions -and he had nothing to show for his choice of wealth - except the chains around his wrists and ankles as he is dragged away from home.

You’ve seen examples of this in a hundred different ways, in your own life: You take your kids fishing - Don't fall in the river. I'm not going to fall in the river - I just want to play here on the shore - in the rocks … “You’re getting too close ...”. “Don’t worry - I’m being careful ...” - I just want to get a little closer - - and what inevitably happens? You're fishing them out of the river. Wisdom says - "I won't play as close to the edge as possible - I will stay as far away from danger as possible."

Young people - know how much we love you. How much we want to protect you. You are our lives. We know the pressures of this stage of your lives. You like the idea of being looked up to - want people to think you are cool or funny. So what do you do? The temptation is to listen to the music that everyone else is listening to. Watch the t.v. shows and movies that everyone at school says is cool. Glorifies a life lived in rebellion against God - Talks about women as sex objects - or money as the great possession to pursue - so you can use it to buy fancy clothes, watches and cars. "Well", you say, "I'm not going to actually say those words or live that gangster lifestyle. Just going to listen to it, so that I can fit in."

You want to be funny - so you tell jokes that are crude or downright dirty. "Hey, it's just a joke" ...

You like stuff on instagram or facebook that is an offense against God’s holiness - - "I'm not saying the stuff - I'm just trying to fit it and be liked."

Oh young person - what happens if you get what you want? What if you are liked and looked up to by that crowd - What if you get everything your eyes tell you that you need to be happy - - - You start out just by pitching your tent NEAR Sodom - “I’m not going in there … I’ll just stay here on the outskirts of town”. But ask your parents or any other Christian that has gone ahead of you in the years - and they will tell you ... Sure - you start out NEAR Sodom - but unless you make a turn around in your life - - you will end up, like Lot - with everything lost, wearing the chains of slavery. And we love you too much to let that happen to you without putting up a fight.

Question: If you were conscious that Jesus was scrolling through your Instagram and TikTok feed - if you could see him, physically with you - spending a day with you and your friends listening to your jokes and watching the shows you watch - - how confident are you that, at the end of the day - He would say to you, "Well done - my good and faithful servant."? Don't settle for anything less than that.

2 THE RESCUE, vv. 13-16

READ vv. 13-16

Verse 13 tells us that not EVERYONE in Sodom and Gomorrah ends up in chains … someone escapes from the route and rushes to Abram to tell him about the devastation.

Veres 13: “Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew ...”.

Notice how the narrator describes Abram’s life right now: Verse 13, “Abram .... who was (STILL) living by the oaks of Mamre ...” This is the place we saw him move to, at the end of chapter 13, when Lot chooses the best of the land. The very last verse of chapter 13 - verse 18, tells us that when Abram moves to Mamre, the very first thing he does is to build an altar - a place of worship. That means, when the war breaks out in chapter 14, Abram is still there - clearly he’s still worshiping.

AND - when v. 13 tells us that Abram is ‘LIVING’ by the oaks of Mamre - the Hebrew word, translated ‘living’ in our English Bibles - means - living in tents. Lot has moved into Sodom and has built a home there - while Abe is content to live in his tent and worship.

So when you read chapter 14, we’ve read about 9 kings - divided into two alliances, waging war against each other. These are the names that are in the news. These are the people who are voted ‘Most Influential’ in Time Magazine - strutting their armies all over the land .... Abraham - in the world’s eyes - he’s just a well-to-do wandering farmer with lots of livestock. But in verse 14, he’s going to take centre stage in the action. Oh, do you see how differently God sees our world than we do. The focus at the centre of God’s vision - is Abraham - God’s people. And the ONLY reason Cherderlaomer or any of these other kings make the Bible - is because of Abraham.

We tend to look at the world around us and the news of he world coming at us on our phones and televisions - and we are consumed by the powerful kings and international alliances and wars … as if Washington, Moscow and Beijing seem to be at the centre of human events - and if I get my name in the newspaper once in awhile, then I’ve got something to brag to my friends about. Do you fight the temptation to feel overwhelmed when you look at the world around you? So many decisions are being made around you - you seem to have no say over the way the world is changing - and you don’t like where it’s going … and you just feel so … helpless. The big players on the world stage are making decisions and you feel so … so … helpless.

That’s not the message of the Bible. Abram isn’t mentioned here, just because he rubs shoulders and draws swords with some of the most important leaders of the day on the international scene.

Chedorlaomer and the rest of the kings only appear because THEY happen to be a mere episode in the big story of Abraham. At the very centre of world history - are not the leaders making decisions in national capitols or at the UN … at the very centre of the world history, eternal in its significance … are the people of God - Abraham’s seed - his family of faith.

If you are a descendant of Abraham because you have put your trust in and staked your life on the finished work of Jesus Christ - THE seed of Abraham … then, Christian - you are at the very centre of God’s field of vision. The power-brokers you see, everywhere you look in the media … Whether it’s an international coalition of kings in GEN 14 or whether it’s Caesar Augustus calling for a census in the first century, prompting a couple of peasants from backwater Nazareth: Joseph and pregnant Mary, to take a journey to Bethlehem … They seem to have ALL the power - but they are simply the background of the show.

God’s attention is ALWAYS on Abraham’s family. He is ordering history - for His glory - and your joy, Christian - and you may not make the evening news - but you are on CENTRE stage.

Abram's response is amazing: In v. 14, "When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive ..." there are SEVERAL different ways he can take the news.

He COULD have said, “Well, that’s unfortunate. But Lot chose that land for himself - there are consequences for our choices, so ‘Buyer beware’. Abram didn’t say that.

He also did NOT say - "Serves the freeloader right. I carried him for far too long - time for him to grow up and take care of himself." I mean, Lot had only cost Abram money and prime real estate. Abram doesn't turn his back.

He doesn't even say, "Well, what am I supposed to do - This is an international conflict, and I’m only ONE man? I care about my nephew - but I value my life."

No Abram steps up to the plate - he straps on his weapons, saddles up his camel - makes sure he peels off the bumper sticker that says, “CO-EXIST” and replaces it with the bumper sticker on that says, "My God can Take Your god" - and he rounds up his men. Notice these are all men who were born in his house, v. 14 tells us. 318 men. That's all Abram has. Reminds me of Gideon’s tiny force of 300 against the massive Midianite army in the book of Judges. Abram takes his troops and heads out against a vastly superior army.

This causes concern for some people - this issue of warfare. Let's be clear - war is a manifestation of just how evil the human heart is - killing other people who are created in the image of God himself - that is certainly not God's ideal for his good creation. Many of us here have been impacted by the consequences of war - we’ve had family members injured - or killed, in battle. Some of us have had to move away from home - some have lost everything. The cost of war in human lives is great.and War is a great evil. The very fact that there is ever warfare in the human race shines a massively bright spotlight on the fact that this world is NOT as it should be. Some people point to warfare as a reason to reject belief in God altogether: “How could a Good and loving God allow humans to do that to each other?”

I come to the exact opposite conclusion: “How can you think that the human race is okay - that we have all that we need to create utopia, right here in the human mind - and as we work together, things are slowly, but surely getting better?!” We are NOT okay. We need a Savior because we CANNOT save ourselves.

Some Christians - entire Christian denominations see the evils of war - and say, "No - we should not ever fight in wars. Not ever." They are Pacifists. And I get their concerns - I get their concerns and I affirm that we want to be about saving lives, not taking them.

HOWEVER - you come across texts in the Bible like this one - or later on, when the Israelites are fighting against the Canaanites ... and God telling them to take up arms and go into battle. What do you do with passages like this, if you are a pacifist AND a Bible-believing Christian?

Either you have to say that God, somewhere along the line of history, changed his mind and decided, after thousands of years - "NO, let's not ever raise weapons again."

Or you have to say that the OT is wrong.

Or you have to say - that holiness means there is a time when going to war is the right thing to do. War is always a terrible thing. But it is not always the WORST thing. It is not worse than doing nothing in a time of great need. God’s word commands us to protect the widow and the orphan to defend the powerless.

What you have here, in Genesis 14, are people who have been taken into captivity - all of their possessions - everything they have worked for - has been stolen from them by force.

You have women and children who are taken into slavery. Some of you know what happens when women and young girls or boys are taken into slavery - abused in all sorts of ways and emotionally as well as physically destroyed.

Sometimes the only way to liberate people who have been oppressed and harmed - is to go to battle and defeat the servants of evil who are doing the harming and enslaving and killing.

I heard of one young woman at a Christian school being taught by a pacifist teacher - she asked the teacher, "So do you mean that if I was your wife or daughter - and some guy broke into our house and ...

That is not to say that every war is justified or that everything should be solved by fighting. Far from it - but when the God of the Bible Himself - sees his people enslaved in Egypt and responds by crushing Pharaoh and killing the firstborn of that nation - then it is pretty difficult for me to see how you can argue that war is, by its very nature, always wrong for God's people - in every time in every place

One thing to note though is that Christians never go to war to defend God's honor - or to spread the faith - as some other religions do.

... Abraham straps on his sword, in our text - to rescue people in oppression and desperate need. This is a holy war.

Oh ya - Did I mention that Abram is 75 plus years old right now?

Abram's one household army heads out in hot pursuit - v. 15 tells us, as far as Dan. That's about a 100 mile ride. A 75 year old man, riding a 100 miles on an animal's back. I sure hope he has the extra, orthopedic seat cushion on his saddle. I can see him getting down from his camel and saying, "What a bumpy ride! Is there a chiropracter in this town? - - my back is killing me!"

Not Abram - he's a warrior.

And v. 15 tells us that he sets out a battle strategy - a good strategy. Verse 15, “And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants ...”.

They attack at night - they attack on multiple points to strike panic in the enemy.

That's a good plan. Here is a reminder that the Bible does not pit prayer against planning. Let's be on our knees - but while we are down there - let's ask God for wisdom to move forward as He leads.

Abe's victory is astonishing. The 4 kings have just conquered an international alliance of 5 nations. Kings and their armies could not stand against the invading force.

Did you notice that when Abram arrives - there’s no mention of actual fighting? Without even a battle being described - Abram's household army, not only takes back everything that was plundered - verse 15 tells us that after defeating the kings - he 'pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus'. That's over a hundred miles more. You know you got beat when you are a hundred miles from your camp by the time they stop kicking you. I mean, that is a beating. all the way out of the land. TAKE THAT!

Verse 16, "Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people."

What a victory! What a statement of God's power.

I'm not sure if you are aware - but Moses wrote the book of Genesis - the first audience of this book of Genesis was the Israelite congregation - in the wilderness - who had just been rescued from Egypt's slavery and

So, if Lot is an example of what happens when you pla

... then Abram is an example of the New Testament saints who trust God enough to help brothers and sisters in trouble. Abram is a living example of passags like:

Galatians 6:1-2, "Brothers,1 if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Passages like ...

James 5:19, 20, "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

Do you hear this, friends? The Bible does not say that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will increase his happiness by 10 percent, or will build his self-esteem. It says that whoever brings back a sinner will SAVE HIS SOUL FROM DEATH. The Bible says - "If you see anyone caught in a sin - you should restore him - rescue him - in a spirit of gentleness " - and so be the hands and feet of Jesus.

So let me ask you brothers and sister - who are you inconveniencing yourself to rescue today? Who is on your radar, as you are preparing your strategy of loving rescue?

At the end of v. 16, the battle is over - Mission accomplished and Abram is on his way home. Now, you would likely think the story ends there - a successful attack and a routing of the enemy … maybe with his senior citizen beauty queen sitting in his lap as he rides off into the sunset on his camel. This is a very different Abram from the coward who handed his wiffe over to the Pharaoh of Egypt, just a couple of chapters ago. He has has proven himself to be a truly great man. But the story doesn’t end here. The climax is still to come - vv. 17-24

3 THE WORSHIP, vv. 17-24

READ vv. 17-24

Two kings come out to meet the returning, rescuing victor. They are polar opposites.

Verse 17, “… the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).” While Abram was still chasing the enemy armies to the northern border of the land .... this king has had a chance to go home already, have a shower to get the tar off of himself … and comes to meet Abram. Notice that he comes empty-handed: No gift of thanksgiving … no words of blessing.

Verse 18, introduces us to the other king - we’ve never met him before. “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine (he was priest of God Most High). This is a mysterious person - He’s a real man - the first priest in the Bible - a priest/ king in what would later become Jerusalem - He has managed to hold onto the true knowledge and worship of God in the midst of the cesspool of Canaan. And he comes out carrying bread and wine -he is preparing a feast for Abram and his soldiers.

The book of Hebrews picks up this man and uses him to point forward to Jesus Christ - the One whose death we celebrate with the bread and the wine, at the Lord’s Supper around the communion table. See the foreshadowing here: He is pointing us forward to The One who died to rescue us from the enemy so that we could be adopted as children of God, by faith.

Look at what he says, "Blessed be Abram and Blessed be God most high."

So Melchizedek has hands full of nourishment and a mouth full of blessing. Isn't that so God's way:

In Verse 17, The king of Sodom goes out to meet Abram and what a contrast he is. First of all he goes to meet Abram with nothing in his hands. And then he brings no blessing. Notice what he says: v. 21, he does make Abram an offer - tell me if anything doesn't sit right with the offer: "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." Really?!

What right does this king have to offer Abram anything?! If not for the man of faith, strapping on his weapons and coming to the rescue - this king would have nothing - except a prison cell or an appointment with the executioner in a foreign country. Abraham got it all back for him.

This pagan king is like Satan with Christ: "I'll give you all the kingdoms of this world … if you bow down and worship me." He had no right to the kingdoms of this world. He's pretentious - Pretending to an authority he absolutely does NOT have. That's satanic: "I have the right to do this". Only God has that right.

Abram sees right through it - he will not take a thing from the king. He trusts in the LORD:

Verses 22-24, "But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'i have made Abram rich'. 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me."

"We will take what my men ate - my men can get their paycheques

Abram doesn't want a thing that the king of Sodom is offering. Not only does he not accept anything from the king

--- he gives a tenth of everything he has - to the LORD, offering it to Melchizedek - the first tithe in the Bible. Why so generous?

Because Abraham believed the truth of Melchizedek’s words:

v. 20, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, WHO HAS DELIVERED YOUR ENEMIES into your hand!"

Aha! Here is the rock solid foundation that gives us the confidence to not cower in helplessness when the world seems to be acting ON us, but to reach out in self-sacrificing efforts to go to battle, to take great risks to rescue our loved ones from evil's traps. The foundation is - that when we step out on a rescue mission from God - we are stepping out in the power of God himself - "WHO DELIVERS OUR ENEMIES into our hands."

That faith-filled confidence in God is what gives Abram the freedom to risk his life to rescue someone else and then to not look for payment after it's done - but instead, to worship.

I'm not sure whether you are aware of it or not - but it was Moses who God used to write the book of Genesis. The first readers of this book were the Israelites, in the wilderness - on the way to the Promised land - this very land of Canaan, by the way. They were a ragtag nation of former slaves - no trained military and they were headed into a land that was already inhabited. Nations and armies were ready to defend their land against these ex-slave worshippers of their peculiar God.

Do you see how this example from Abram's life would encourage them?! If their 75 year old ancestor could smack around 4 kings and their entire armies, with his home-made army - because GOD delivered his enemies into his hands ... then hey - Abram's God is their God. So that MUST mean that there is no nation, no superpower that can stand against them.

Do you see the application for us - Christians? Are you seeking to serve the Lord with your life - seeking to minister in the church? Who is in your face? Who, or what is threatening your peace? Is there an international armed force saying: "Nope Sorry -

If there is no international force - what is your enemy: a tenuous financial situation; an individual that you think is out to get you? Take heart, Christian!

No weapon formed against you shall prosper!