Genesis Session 22

Rebellion. Something that kings do not like. Something that will certainly get their attention… and that’s exactly what happened at the beginning of Genesis 14.

Five kings found themselves “subject” to another king who had powerful allies.

These five kings were either paying tributes or taxes to the other king. They were subject to him for 12 years.

We know what it feels like to pay taxes to a governing authority as adults. We know the cost and it is something we don’t necessarily like to do… I have never met someone who LOVES to pay their taxes!

But we do it because it is the law of the land. We do it because we know it is what pays for certain things and services.

But imagine being a king… being the sovereign ruler over your land or city… and having another king demanding you pay taxes or tribute to him.

Details are not given as to the conditions of their subjugation, but what we do know is after 12 years of following the “rules” the five kings say, “that’s enough.”

They rebel. They decide to stop doing what was required of them. Genesis 14:4 tells the details.

Genesis 14:4 NIV

4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Now, rebellion would not be tolerated so the king does what he feels is necessary - Crush the rebellion.

The king, along with a few allied kings, march toward the rebellious territories and take out a few foes along the way. But soon they would be face to face with their foe - four kings against five who said enough was enough. So what spiritual significance does this story hold?

Kings against other kings is not unheard of. War in Scripture is not a rare thing… although this is the first mention of it.

What is significant is who it was that was went to war for their rebellion - The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were among the five. Unfortunately, the five would not be able to stand up against the four.

Genesis 14:10–12 NIV

10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

Where did Scripture say Lot was living? He wasn’t living NEAR Sodom. He was living IN Sodom.

Remember Abram and Lot mutually agreed to go their separate ways and in doing so, Lot chose to go to the land that looked plentiful but it would make him a neighbor to Sodom.

Sodom was a city known for its sin. They didn’t hide their sin… they glorified it. Lot compromised his situation because of the greener grass that was close to Sodom.

Apparently at some point Lot was done with sleeping in tents. He moved into the city and now… he was facing a very real and dangerous situation because of his compromise. Lot had been captured by the enemy!

No one forced Lot to go that direction… Lot decided on his own to move to that region. He didn’t think that anything could go wrong… otherwise he wouldn’t have gone there.

But that is often how we justify doing something we know to be… wrong. We know the dangers but think we can handle it. So we move closer, and closer, and closer, until we are living in the midst of the sinfulness.

Lot was where he was because of the decisions he had made. Four kings overpowered five and Lot was now a prisoner because of his compromising actions.

Here’s the deal, church… when we do what we know to be wrong… when we play with fire… we can expect to be burned.

Lot is is a BAD place! But thankfully, word gets out to Abram regarding his situation and Abram moves on behalf of his captured nephew. Abram doesn’t sit by while his family is carted off to bondage. Abram steps us and plans a rescue attempt.

There are three things we will highlight from the rest of the story in Genesis 14. All three come from Abram’s response to the situation Lot found himself in.

Abram MOVED on behalf of Lot.

Genesis 14:13–16 NIV

13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 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.

Word gets to Abram that Lot was a captive… and Abram says, “Eh… he made the choice to make Sodom his home… he can live with his choice of getting too close to the wickedness of the city.”

NO! Abram receives the word and immediately begins to move on behalf of his relative who was captured. Abram does not stand by and watch. Abram plans to rescue his family from the hands of the enemy.

Many people are drowning in the consequences of their actions. Many people have played with fire, engaged in sin, and got burned. Many people are “captives” to the enemy and his ways with no hope of escape.

If we’re honest, we don’t need a messenger to come and tell us this truth… we see it all around us!

These people may not be our family, but they are made in the image of God just the same. They are precious in the eyes of our heavenly Father. But too often, we are content with the decision to let them suffer in the consequences of their own actions.

God did not do this for us… nor does He desire for us to do this to others.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price we could not pay - a debt we created through our own sin. Every one of us should be perishing under the weight of our rebellious acts against the Lord. But because of His love for us… God moved even though we didn’t deserve it.

Abram was NOT a part of the original fight… but he wasn’t about to let his nephew be carted off without a fight!

Remember, the army that took down Sodom was an alliance of four kings. It was an impressive fighting group that had multiple successful battles in recent history. What could Abram do against such a force?

Abram takes 318 trained men and defeats the opposition with ease. He routed them meaning he defeated them and caused them to retreat in a disorderly fashion. THEY WERE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES!

Everything the enemy had taken from Lot and from Sodom was recovered by Abram.

The point I want us to realize is this: When we see the enemy trying to advance on a friend, a neighbor, a brother or sister, or a family member, we are NOT to standby and hope nothing bad happens. Church, we need to stand up against the enemy!

In this story, Abram was fighting a physical enemy comprised of four kings and their fighting men. We, however, fight an enemy that is not flesh and blood...

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We need to stand against a move of the enemy… even when that move is a result of the choices those close to us are making.

We know what will happen if people remain as captives to the enemy. And we might be thinking, “What can we do in such overwhelming circumstances?”

The blood of Jesus has the power to break EVERY CHAIN. Nothing can stand against our Lord and Savior. We serve the One who is greater than the one that is in the world!

Our job… our calling is to respond. To go to the enemy’s camp and to take back what he has stolen.

Abram Gives God ALL the Praise

Genesis 14:17–20 NIV

17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “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.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

When Abram returns home, Abram is quick to give a tenth of everything he brought home as an offering to God. Why would Abram do such a thing?

Abram honored God, first. He knew that his success against the four kings came from the hand of God. Therefore, we would give God a tenth out of the first fruits of the recovered items he brought home.

Melchizedek gave a blessing, but Abram gave the offering. Melchizedek was right to call out the blessing that resided on Abram… for it was clear that God had blessed his efforts.

Abram wasn’t about to take the credit… He gave all credit to the Lord.

And we need to be careful to give God the credit… the praise He deserves for the blessings we have in life.

God had given Abram the victory. God, through Abram’s willingness to move, had brought Lot back home.

God moves in and through our lives daily. We need to be quick to give Him the praise He deserves.

Let it not be said of the people of God that we receive from the Lord and hoard the glory for ourselves.

However, may it be our immediate response to praise the Lord for the blessings we experience each and every day. For such a life pattern will help us to remain humble and will help us to never forget who it was that brought us the victory in the first place!

Abram does not Compromise

Genesis 14:21–24 NIV

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”

Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God came with a blessing. But the King of Sodom came with a different offer.

“We’ll take our people back but you keep the possessions.” Seems like a generous offer and… it seems like an offer Abram may have accepted in the past.

Remember while they were in Egypt, Abram was quick to receive the gifts from Pharoah that made him rich. But while he was doing this, they were lying to Pharaoh out of fear of what might happen if he knew that Sarai was indeed Abram’s wife.

Now a king is offering Abram wealth, but Abram won’t touch it. In this case, Abram is NOT operating in fear, but in faith and I have to believe that Abram is also making a choice not to be fraternized by the enemy.

Again, Sodom was known for its wickedness. Although Abram’s actions had liberated the captives and returned the belongings of Sodom, Abram is distancing himself from this king and what he has to offer.

Abram’s goal in this conquest was NOT to obtain additional wealth. His goal was to rescue his captive nephew.

Abram declines the offer and remains above reproach concerning his relationship (or the lack thereof) between himself and the king of a wicked city.

Abram had a lot to gain regarding the gift he turned down… but he had a lot to potentially lose as well.

We need to never forget the words of Jesus in Mark 8:36

Mark 8:36 NIV

36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

How many times had gain caused good people… godly people… to compromise their walk with the Lord? What are thought to be harmless actions can lead to a lifetime of regret all in the name of a moment of gain.

BE CAREFUL WHAT OR WHO YOU ALIGN YOURSELF WITH. For once that door of compromise is open… it can be very difficult to shut. And… the consequences that come with even the smallest amount of compromise can be devastating.

Make the choice to steer clear of darkness and whatever “gift” it might be offering. For it is causes you for one moment to turn your back on God’s light, it is NOT worth the gain. In fact… you gain nothing and risk losing everything.

Closing

This story is remarkable. This story is a crazy illustration of what God has done for us.

As stated before, He did not hesitate to send His Son to rescue us from our sin. We messed up… Jesus paid the price… and we received the freedom.

We serve an awesome God!

but that which God has done for us is something we need to be willing to do for others.

We love God, first. But we are to love others as God has loved us. We are NOT to stand idly by as friends, neighbors, family members, etc are taken captive by the enemy, we need to actively pursue as we introduce them to the One who can set them free.

We need to be quick to give God the glory. We need to never forget who it is that is fighting our battles… who it is that gave us the victory! God is worthy of our highest praise and adoration!

And we need to never play nice with the enemy. The devil may try to temp us to compromise… but we recognize it for the trap that it is. He wants to do nothing but to kill, steal, and destroy you. Stand firm in your faith and do not allow the enemy to creep in in any area of your life.