Genesis 14 Living out the promises - The Lord at work in the life of His friend

Lots of shows on TV – The day in the life of ‘xxxxx’

Often of celebrities. Famous people. What do they look like as people? As they face daily issues.

The Crown on Netflix depicts the behind the scenes view of the royal family of Queen Elizabeth. Often not a very favorable picture but one of disfunction and arrogance.

What would it look like if someone made a TV series of your life?

In a way the book of Genesis does that for a few characters. We have been looking at the life of Abraham. The Lord will later give a summary of his life as ‘a friend of God’. Lot’s of major events. Major victories. Major defeats.

Today the passage feels more behind the scenes. More like ‘a day in the life of Abraham’. Still impactful. Still of significance. Yet it reflects characteristics that reflect living out the promises of God. The Lord is at work in the life of His friend.

Some things the same/some different in the daily life of a friend of God as he lives out the promises of God.

I. Living out the promises: A contrast of situations

A. In the midst of a chaotic world v 1-10

(ESV) Genesis 14 1 In the days of Amraphelking of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 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). 3 And all these joined forcesin the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 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, 6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness.

7 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. 8 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

9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five.

1. Had the advantage – 5 against 4 ---- but not

10 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.

B. Lot - Swept away with the world v 11-12

(ESV) Genesis 14 11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

1. Chose to assimilate to the world

2. No longer in tents

3. Moved and settled among the ungodly

4. Association with worldly conflicts

5. Shared consequences with world

a. Lose the very thing that drew him away from God

b. Lose blessings / Lose his own freedom

C. Abraham – an influencer of the world Genesis 14:13

(ESV) Genesis 14 13 Then one who had escapedcame 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.

1. Reputation of caring/acting

2. Chose to identify with God –

a. The Hebrew - From word – “cross/pass over” – followed God

b. Not blended into the godless (like Lot)

3. Respected among men

a. Respected (alliances)

A distinguishing characteristic of a friend of God is his concern for others as the promises on His life involve other people as well.

II. Living out the promises: An active response to those in need

A. Cared about others enough to act v 14a, c

(ESV) Genesis 14 14 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.

1. Lot deserved what he got - Lot had moved into the city – no longer tents – received reward of the wicked

2. Abraham had real love – grace / unmerited favor – cared for the condition of those who had gone astray

3. He acted with urgency - Didn’t sit on the sideline and wait to see if God would work directly – time was of the essence

4. Pursue at great risk – Put self aside on behalf of others

B. Moved by faith v 14b

(ESV) Genesis 14 14 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.

1. An army that had just defeated 5 kings

2. Smaller? Army

C. Exerted effort v 14d

(ESV) Genesis 14 14 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.

1. Forced march

D. Developed strategies v 15a

(ESV) Genesis 14 15 And he divided his forcesagainst them by night,he and his servants, …

1. Surprise attack

E. Won victories v 15b

(ESV) Genesis 14 15 …, and defeated themand pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus.

1. Defeated Kings of plain

F. Impacted lives v 16

(ESV) Genesis 14 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

1. Bore fruit – not just sowing

A friend of God is constantly under attack to (often subtle attacks) to move away from living out the promises and look instead to the world.

III. Living out the promises: Handled subtle attacks

A. Not taken in by worldly show v 17

(ESV) Genesis 14 17 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).

1. Major show

B. Refused compromises v 21, 23-24

(ESV) Genesis 14 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” … 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 nothingbut what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

1. Beneficial - goods

2. Allegiance required

C. Stayed committed to the Lord v 22-23a

(ESV) Genesis 14 22 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, …

1. Dependent only upon God’s reward

2. Intent God alone to get the glory

But the faith friend of God is blessed by the Lord as he lives out the promises.

IV. Living out the promises: Blessed by the Lord

A. Via the Lord’s intermediary v 18

(ESV) Genesis 14 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him …

1. Melchizedek

a. Name Points to true God – “my king is righteous”

b. King of Peace

2. Priest - God Most High

B. By the true God v 19b-20a

(ESV) Genesis 14 19 … and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

1. The God supreme

2. The God who owns all

3. The God who delivers

C. Responded with tangible commitment v 20b

(ESV) Genesis 14 20 … And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

1. Recognition that all belongs to God

2. Gift of 10 percent of first / best - faith