Genesis 13-14

September - September 9, 2018

Last week we had a great lesson and compared two men

Abraham and Lot. Abraham had a God-filled life and Lot did not have a God-filled life.

Many times in the book of Genesis - we see that Abraham called out to the Lord.

We know that Abraham was not perfect - but when he did mess up - He called on the name of the Lord - He did not quit. or stay in a pity party.

Also, we see that Abraham built altars to the Lord - asking for forgiveness and spending time with God. Prayer was essential in Abraham’s life. We see Abraham praying and building altars - in front of everyone. He does not care what others think - His focus is on Christ. Just like Abraham - Prayer must be central in our lives.

On the other hand - we never see Lot praying or building an altar to the Lord.

The lack of prayer in Lot’s life is apparent.

We don’t see Lot listening to God either. There is no record of God speaking to Lot.

If we want to hear from God ourselves, we have to spend time in the Word.

We are so

When you spend time in the Word -

God will lean out of heaven and give us words of wisdom, comfort and encouragement. We have to spend time with God because the words of the Word/satan are screaming at us.

We live in a world full of knowledge. We get wake up to the news, then we check our phones for email, then we scroll thru social media. We scroll all day long looking and reading about the world and other peoples lives. We go to women’s conferences and meetings. All good but it does not satisfy. This massive amount of knowledge the world throws at us never satisfies us - we still feel empty. The only knowledge that will satisfy us is the Word of God which is the Bread of Life. God’s Word lodges in our spirit and doesn’t leave us. The biggest attack on your life right now maybe distractions. These distractions silence the voice of the Holy Spirit. Reading God’s Word has to be the majority of knowledge you take in daily. The Holy Spirit is waiting to reveal wisdom and direction into your life that the world does not give.

We have to daily-self-feed ourselves. This is where the aha moments come and we know God is speaking to us. Don’t you love when you see a scripture over and over and you know God is speaking to you!

2 Peter 3:18

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 3

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Lot was a very blessed man - because of God and Abraham but we never see an attitude of gratitude from Lot.

Abraham was a generous man - who gave Lot the pick of the Land. Lot eagerly took

it without asking Abraham what he wanted. Lot wanted the things he could see with his eyes. Lot wanted the country club life, the private schools for his kids, a place where everyone would know his name. I can see Lot posting pictures of his new home - country club of sodom and Gomorrah, New friends, fine dining with the politicians on his Instagram and Facebook page. Look at me now! He just got 150 new followers and 100 likes on his post - He thought he was somebody now.

Nothing wrong with these things -

but he never asked God what he should do. He never asked God what would be the best yes for him and his family.

Then we have a conflict between Abraham’s employees and Lot’s employees. Lot stays silent where Abraham takes the initiative to solve the problem. The reason this is so important - When we have problems with believers and nonbelievers - people are watching and our testimonies are at stake. God allows problems in our lives to give others the opportunity to see what a difference Jesus makes in our everyday life.

The New International Version Chapter 13

12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Lot knew he was moving his employees and his family near a very wicked town.

Because of this decision - his life is a downward spiral - He loses everything.

I mean everything - he loses his reputation, his career, his home, his family.

Lot and his clan have left. I often wonder what went thru Abraham’s mind.

I was also thinking how many people split from Abraham to go with Lot -

So reminds me of a church split today. Quarraling among members - taking sides -disunity-looks just like the world - people are so preoccupied with their circumstances they don’t look up and ask God for direction. Too busy trying to prove they are right.

Because the grass looked greener on the other side.

Abraham let everything go, including first choice of the land God promised to give Him. He impressed me as someone who wanted to be right with God more than he wanted to insist on his own rights. Abraham was more interested in his testimony more than he wanted to accumulate the world’s treasures. He desired peace in his home more than he wanted property and possessions. And so he had to just let everything go. Have you ever had to let anything go to save your testimony - maybe you stayed quiet on a political issue - instead of voicing your opinion.

I am more concerned about your salvation or my testimony than you knowing my political issue or more stand on this issue.

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

I also thought - was Abraham surprised when Lot took everything and bascially walked all over Him? Abraham could have been very bitter and resentful - thinking I am the leader of this home, Lot you are nothing but an orphan and I took you in.

more than he wanted to insist on his own rights.

Gave you this great life - and you leave me. Some people today would have posted this dirty laundry on social media . I know myself - I would have been hurt and disappointed - you do so much for someone and they walk away not even grateful.

We have all been here before. I love learning from Abraham because look what happens next -

The NET Bible Chapter 13

13:14 After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Look from the place where you stand to the north, south, east, and west. 13:15 I will give all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever. 13:16 And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted. 13:17 Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you.”

13:18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, and he built an altar to the LORD there.

Abraham spent time with God. I heard this illustration I love. A grandfather was with his grandson and the grandfather told the little boy to reach in and get himself some jelly beans from the jar. The little boy said No. He said - grandfather you reach in and get the jelly beans from the jar. So the grandfather did and he asked the little boy - why he didn’t do it. He said I knew your hands were bigger and I would get more from you.

So here we See God reached into the Jelly Bean Jar for Abraham. I know it delighted God to give Abraham more than Abraham could ever have taken for himself. Abraham received much more than he could have ever thought to ask God to give him. it is obvious Abraham received much more than Lot had seized for himself.

Abraham was a man of faith. You know we all say we have faith. Has God ever told you to do something and you procrastinate. I have because of lack of faith - even when I knew it was so clear - and God had even gave me a scripture about my circumstances.

To me Faith is obedience to God and you have no idea what the next step looks like.

Back in 1859 Charles Boldon became very famous. How did he become famous - He walked on a tightrope stretched over a quarter of a mile and spanning the breadth of Niagara Falls? He walked 160 feet above the falls several times back and forth between Canada and the United States as huge crowds on both sides looked on with shock and awe.  He took a wheelbarrow and pushed it over the tightrope. The crowds went nuts and the applause was thunderous. The next time he crossed the falls he put burlap bags of sand in the wheelbarrow and began to push it across the tightrope. The people held their breath in suspense and they kept watching. When he finished they burst into applause with cheers and whistles. Then he said I can do something even greater. Who believes I can do something more spectacular than this.

They all chanted - we believe you can do that. You can do it. You can do it.

Well since one bag of sand weighs the same as an-average size man - which one of you will be that man and get into my wheelbarrow and I will push you across Niagara. Dead silence - No one moved. Then one older man raised his hand stepped forward and said - I have seen what you have done and I have heard what you have said. I believe you can push me across, so I’ll so it. He got in the wheelbarrow - they crossed the falls, everyone in the crowd held their breath and watched. On his final return the crowd roared. The man gets out of the wheelbarrow and Charles told the man - thank you sir for really believing in me. You see everyone in the crowd at Niagara Falls said they believed in Charles, but only one older man demonstrated genuine faith. He so the only one who trusted the acrobat so completely he was willing to climb into the wheelbarrow and let himself be pushed across the tightrope.

This is what Abraham has done - he has let everything behind and let go of what he had to have a God-filled life.

The Message Chapter 13

After Lot separated from him, GOD said to Abram, “Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I’ll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I’m giving it all to you.”

The Message Chapter 13

Abram moved his tent. He went and settled by the Oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to GOD.

Amazing Lot lost his family but Abraham was promised a family so large it could not be counted. Lot was living for the possible, but Abraham was trusting God for the impossible. Love that in verse 17 - God ways lift up your eyes and look and it was followed by Lift up your feet and walk.

It is our faith in God that determines how much of His blessing you will enjoy.

It is our faith in God that determines if we will live the God-filled life.

We leave this chapter and Abraham is worshipping God. We have Abraham the worshipper and now in chapter 14 - we see Abraham the warrior.

When you live a life of faith God continually puts challenges in your life that keep you going and keep you growing! God wants us to mature in every area of life. but maturity doesn’t come easily. There can be no growth without challenge, and there an be no challenge without change. If circumstances never changed, everything would be predictable; and the more predictable life becomes, the less challenge it presents. God has called us to a life that is continually striving toward excellence.

That is what we see Abraham doing in these chapters - he is pressing on toward the things ahead.

Chapter 14 - we have the first war recorded in the bible. It is not the first war but because Abraham was involved this one is recorded in the bible.

Chapter 14 we have two sets of kings. You have 5 kings from the west and 4 kings from the east. For twelve years the kings and people of the west payed high taxes to the 4 kings of the east. Mainly to the king Kedorlaomer was was a big shot and very powerful. Five cities for 12 years paid extremely high takes to this King. After 12 years of paying incredible taxes the people of the west decided to revolt, gambling that these kings from the east would not bother thee 5 small provinces located 800 miles away. They refused to pay the taxes. But they lost their bet.

King Kedorlaomr reacted swiftly reconquered all of the 5 cities again. King K and his men destroyed everything in their past. Those they didn’t kill, they captured. What they didn’t loot and cart off, they burned. No one could stop them or stand up against the. These 5 cities of the west - cowered and hid in the tar pits sprinkled throughout the valley. When the eastern King’s came to lot’s highly prized cities of the plain, they looted, pillaged and carried off the inhabitants as slaves, including Lot.

verse 13 -a man escapes from this war - and he ran a long time to find Abraham. Abraham minding his own business -sees a man that I can only imagine that he was filthy dirty, covered with tar. He finally sees Abraham - I am sure he is out of breath and he says Abraham did you know that the kings of the East have swept through and destroyed everything-

Abraham says calmly - Yes I heard that.

The man says they took me captive too and Abraham says I am sorry to hear that. But I am glad you escaped. But Abraham did you know your nephew Lot has been taken back to Babylon to be a slave. Abraham probably says - are you sure- yes I saw it with my own eyes. Now Abraham chose to get involved in a political, social, military issue of his day because it had become personal. Today there are a lot of worthwhile political and social issues but we can not be distracted by them unless God calls us to be involved. In verse 13, One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. They make a point in this verse to let you know Abraham is a Hebrew - he is an outsider. He was different than those around him.

So Abraham in verse 14 prepares for War.

He gets 318 trained men that were born in his household to go and get Lot back.

So Abraham in verse 14 gets 318 trained men that were born in his household to go and get Lot back.

He wasn’t fighting from selfish motives to get personal gain; he fought because he loved Lot and wanted to help him. I love the fact that these 318 men traveled 154 milesNorth to make a surprise attack on the 4 kings. They believed in Abraham - they even were willing to sacrifice their lives.

verse 15 - Abraham has a plan.

Verse 15 -Abraham has a plan - I am sure this plan came from God.

Abraham is not a fighting man. These kings were powerful just wiped out 5 cities and now look what Abraham does with only 318 men.

The New International Version Chapter 14

15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

He divided his men into small groups - and they took on the undefeated easter kings by complete surprise while they were relaxed and enjoying the spoils of their victories. These kings ran like scared rabbits - they chased them for approx. 30 miles. Abraham recovered all the goods and brought back Lot and his possessions together with the women and the other people. Abraham’s army was unified. Their goal was not personal revenge or private gain - but they wanted victory over the enemy to set the captives free.

I would love to have been part of the conversation back home with Lot and Abraham. But that is not shared with us in scripture. What a victory to celebrate.

I know Abraham trusted the Lord with direction and wisdom in this battle. Because he obeyed Abraham won the war.

verse 18 - Abraham returns as a victory and he was greeted by Melchizedek, (meal kis a check)the King of Salem or Jerusalem. King of Salem means peace. The King of Salem blesses Abraham and gives him bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High and he blesses Abraham.

The New International Version Chapter 14

Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth.

20 And praise be to God Most High,

who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

We never see this King of Salem again - They were strangers that met but both worshiped and served the one God who made heaven and earth. Melchizedek set the record straight by blessing Abraham and tells him you have been blessed by the God Most high - He is the one who delivered your enemies into your hand. After Abraham received his blessing - Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. Abraham was showing him the respect he deserved.

The victory was short-lived. Beware - Satan always loves to attack after you have had a great spiritual victory.

21 - After Abraham returns from defeating those 4 kings the King of Sodom must have slithered up out of the tar pits where he had been cowering. I can see his arrogant, puffed up self approaching Abraham. No humility at all - King of Sodom says - Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.

I am surprised Abraham didn’t laugh in his face. Abraham was probably looking at a king covered in tar and he had just been defeated. In reality - all the people and all the goods belonged to Abraham by right of conquest. But Abraham refused to touch any of it -

ha ve slithered up

The Message Chapter 14

22–24  But Abram told the king of Sodom, “I swear to GOD, The High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, this solemn oath, that I’ll take nothing from you, not so much as a thread or a shoestring. I’m not going to have you go around saying, ‘I made Abram rich.’ Nothing for me other than what the young men ate and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; they’re to get their share of the plunder.”

Abraham did not want anything from the King of Sodom - All he wanted was for equal shares to be given to each of his three neighbors to repay them for their time and trouble before returning the rest back over to the sodomite king.

If Abraham would have taken the spoils of the war would have even been richer.

but Abraham wanted the focus not to be on Him or the King of Sodom. Rather he wanted the focus be be on God, the giver of victory. When people look at our lives we want to them see what God has accomplished in our lives. We are ordinary people but when we are obedient to God he will do extraodorinary things in our life that we can not even explain.

Abraham returns to his tent and Lot has the perfect chance to return with Abraham. But he chose not to. I will never understand why Lot returned to Sodom with his friends and neighbors. Abraham again gives us everything because he wants the God filled life. 4000 years later we learn by watching Abraham trust God completely with everything including his fears. Our live is a story that someone is watching.

They are watching the small things we do - they are watching everything we do. Do we have an unwavering faith in a country that does not respect our God. How we live our lives is louder than our Words. We will make mistakes - Abraham has and will continue to - but he continues to strive toward God and he desires to have that God-filled life. Abraham made sacrifices for this life - We are called to make sacrifices -

maybe God is telling you to let something Go.

Maybe God is calling you to get involved.

Seek God in His Word - don’t listen to the content of the World - listen to the voice of God.