Abram Rescues Lot [Part 1]

At first glance the ties between chapters 13 and 14 seem meager. With respect to both the time and the place, the two narratives seem only distantly related.There are several indications within the narrative, however, that suggest the author intended chapter 14 to be read closely with what has preceded. In 14:12 the focus of the account of the war between nations is quickly reduced to the scope of chapter 13 by recounting that Lot had been captured along with the sack of Sodom. Immediately following the report of Lot’s capture, the narrative returns to the scene of 13:18, with Abraham dwelling at the “great trees of Mamre” in Hebron (14:13b). At that point Abraham is brought into the center of the account of the battle with the four kings.

TITLE

Abram Rescues Lot

TEXT - Genesis 14:1-24

ISRAEL

Waring over the promised land

Wars that never ended

HOW ABOUT YOU?

What are you at war with right now? What should you be at war with?

THEME

God's people can CONQUER any FOE because the LORD their God HAS BLESSED them.

LET'S PRAY

Boldness

Strength

Faith

TEXT

XXX

Genesis 14:1–4 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.

THE KINGS AND THEIR LANDS

AM-RAPH-EL KING OF SHINAR

Shinar = Babylon - First Mentioned

Reminder of the scattering

Out for themselves

KING OF BELA = ZOAR

Insignificance Of Zoar

THE VALLEY OF THE SEA

BIG PICTURE

REDEMPTION STORY

Adam / Noah / Abram

Isaiah 11:11

In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

Acts 2:5-12

Pentacost = Elamites And Others

King of kings / lord of lords

The end / the beginning

Genesis 14:5–7 ESV

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.

REBELLION HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES

GIANTS

Rephaim / Zuzim / Emim

this was the warm up!

CHEDORLAOMER = Ked-or-lay-o-mer

The Boss

12 years served him then rebelled

He is seeking to take his kingdom!

Are I seeking to take the KINGDOM of God by FORCE?

Luke 16:16

16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

Ephesians 2:8

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Genesis 14:8–9 ESV

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.

FOUR AGAINST FIVE

GREAT ODDS

Out Numbered

Exhausted

"WE THREE KINGS"

THESE FOUR PLAN ON WINNING

Luke 14:31–32

31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

Proverbs 20:18

18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

Genesis 14:10–12 ESV

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.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ADVERSARY

Am I UNDERESTIMATING my ENEMY?

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

BITUMEN PITS

Pits / Snares / Darts

armor of God!!

WHEN WE SOW TO THE WORLD WE REAP THE THINGS OF THE WORLD.

LOOK AT THE FATE OF LOT

First He Leaves Abram

Then He Camps

Then He Dwells

his continued correspondence condemns him!

Psalm 1:1–6

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

1 Corinthians 15:33

33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Like Lot, will I too receive consequence by correspondence?

-- TIME? - END HERE?--

Genesis 14:13–14 ESV

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.

Gen 13:18

So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

GENESIS = BOOK OF BEGINNINGS

FIRST WAR

National Unrest

Babylon's scattered

Noah's flood

Man's wickedness

HEBREW

His Designation Of Separation

Family name (line of Noah)

Do not wait until it is to late to call out on the name of Jesus!

ABRAM THE HEBREW & HIS ARMY

KINSMAN = BROTHER

A Common Enemy

Verse 7 - Amorites defeated

318 TRAINED MEN

Gideon's Army Of 300

Born in his house

Trained men - [hbrw] = only here in scripture / Deut 20:5 speaks of dedication of ones house before battle

Against 4 kings

Are we trusting that God is able to do something BIG with us even if we are relatively SMALL?

BUT HOW DOES HE DO IT?...

Genesis 14:15–16 ESV

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.

RESCUING THE CAPTIVES

HIS VICTORY IS COMPLETE

Divided And Conquered

All the possessions

All the people

WHY DID ABRAM DO THIS

Why Not Just Let Him Go

Why Not Just Buy Him

Why go out of his way bringing danger on himself for a deserter and strangers?

Luke 10:25–37

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Am I willing to go out of our way to FIGHT for people who don't BELONG to our FAMILY yet?

WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US

ARE YOU IN CAPTIVITY TODAY?

Christ Can & Will Set You Free

John 8:31–36

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 6:1–11

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:31–39

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Am I willing to go out of our way to FIGHT for people who don't BELONG to our FAMILY yet?

--TIME? - END HERE?--

Genesis 14:17–21 ESV

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.”

EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE

Proverbs 14:20

20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

THE KINGS WHO BROUGHT & SOUGHT

Salem Brought

Refreshment and blessing

Sodom Sought

Thanklessness and demanding

Am I one who seeks to GIVE or RECEIVE?

XXX

Genesis 14:22–24 ESV

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.”

TRUE RICHES

LIFTING ONE HAND / STRETCHING OUT THE OTHER

Abram Made An Oath

Yaweh - used here in chap

el-elyon = God Most High [used here]

Possessor of all

WHAT ABRAM KNEW

ABRAM KNEW WHO HIS GOD WAS

Had No Need For The Possessions Of Men

Do we know God like that?

Matthew 6:11 - Give us this day our daily bread

Matthew 6:19–34

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Where am I STORING up my TREASURES?

GOAL

THEME

God's people can CONQUER any FOE because the LORD their God HAS BLESSED them.

GOAL 4 ISRAEL

What are you at war with right now? What should you be at war with?

War with the ITES

GOAL 4 US

Do not cease to FIGHT, regardless of the FOE, because great is the VICTORY we have through Christ!

CLOSE / PRAY

This week I will declare war on and seek the victory of Jesus in this area of my life: _________________________________

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Abram Rescues Lot [Part 1]

INTRO

TITLE

THEME

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LET'S PRAY

TEXT

GOAL

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CLOSE / PRAY