By: Georgetta Head
Bible Study

(Life of Abram – Part 5) To The Rescue

Photo by Henry Hustava

We finished Part 4 with Abram and Sarai settled in their new homeland, establishing themselves with the neighboring communities.  As a woman, I would venture to say this 700-mile relocation had to have had a big impact on Sarai. Just image leaving everyone and everything – with thoughts of having to “start life all over again!” You had meaningful relationships in a thriving community, in which you were a part of for 65 years – then suddenly without warning or planning you are told, “Sarai we are moving, where I don’t know, but we are moving.” Holy Spirit doesn’t record anywhere in the Holy Bible that Sarai complained about Abram’s decision to relocate.  But, what Holy Spirit, through Apostle Peter, did write should be encouraging to women: “Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement” (1 Peter 3:6).  Now, this scripture tells us Sarai lived her live by faith in Abram and faith in God Almighty.  She didn’t need to know the end result because she knew she could trust her husband whose faith also was in Almighty God. This means, our husbands should be the leader within the home with God as his Guide.  For men this is a great responsibility and we women should be lifting them up in prayer daily!

Now let’s continue our journey with Abram.  Genesis chapter 14, in my opinion, is a very interesting chapter with 4 points of interest:

1) vs. 1:11 the first battle recorded in the Bible

2) vs. 12-16 Abram rescues Lot and his family

3) vs. 17-20  Abram meets Melchizedek

4) vs. 21-24 satan tempts Abram

This chapter opens with 4 kings planning to battle the kings of Sodom & Gomorrah and three other kings.  These are all Gentile idol worshiping kings battling over power (submission) and territory.  Notice this battle takes place after Lot, Abram’s nephew, made his home in Sodom!  Abram and Lot had great possessions! So great that the land they shared couldn’t contain the both of them without quarreling between their herdsman.  The solution was for them to part ways. So, Abram humbly gives Lot first preference in choosing his new home in Canaan.  Genesis 13:10 tells us that Lot looked upon the land and chose with his eyes “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comes unto Zoar.”   Lot choosing what he could see, chose materially instead of spiritually.  As we will learn throughout the Bible, Abram walked by faith, whereas Lot by sight!  Lot coveted in his heart the beauty of the land.  It appealed to his senses, God says He doesn’t look at the outward appearance,  He looks deeply inward!  Lot didn’t do his homework nor consult God before choosing where to live!

We should learn a lesson from this, “what looks good, isn’t always good for us!”  Eve also learned this “big” lesson!  We should acknowledge Father God in all that we do by asking Him for His wisdom in our decision-making!

Genesis 14:1-11 – The Battle Between Kings
The kings of Sodom and Gormorrah along with Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar, decided to revolt against king Chedorlaomer whom they served for 12 years. Chedorlaomer along with 3 other kings came against these 5 kings and fought in what is called, “the vale of Siddim.”  This vale of Siddim was full of slimepits causing the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other three to be defeated by king Chedorlaomer.  Those that didn’t die or taken as captives fled to the mountain.

Satan loves to keep people in bondage with intimation and control, and He especially loves to oppress the children of God.  As God’s children we do have to fear satan or run to a mountain to hide, instead Jesus says we can speak to that mountain and level it.  We defeat satan with the Word of God and God will fight our battles for us.  We stand by “faith” on the solid Rock of Jesus!

Genesis 14:11 – The Rescue

Lot soon found himself in a situation!  He with many of the citizens of Sodom along with all their possessions were taken captive by Chedorlaomer.  Verse 12 reads “and they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”  Unfortunately, Lot left the “plain of Jordan” and compromised his values by moving into the city of Sodom.

A confederate of Abram escaped the battle of the kings and ran to Abram to tell him the news that Lot and family were taken captive.  Verse 14 is very interesting and encouraging to me, it reads:  “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.”  Now let’s think about this for a moment!  At this season of Abram’s life he was probably around 80 years old; we are told he trained 318 men that were born in his own house; and he had the strength and ability to pursue the enemy.  This tells me we serve an awesome God, that nothing is impossible with Him!  Father God called Abram at the age of 75 to walk a 700-mile journey and now we read at 80 years old he doesn’t hesitate to “pursue” the enemy to take back what the enemy has stolen.

Do you get the full picture here:  “Nothing is impossible with God, including age!”  Father God can quicken our mortal bodies for whatever journey He sends us on!  Father God gave Abram supernatural strength and a confident mindset!  Awesome!

Verses 15 & 16  tells us that Abram “pursued” them (the enemy)! Meaning it was in Abrams mind to overtake the enemy by means of force or to kill them in order to get back what the enemy stole.  We too have to kill the enemy of bad habits, old mindsets, or an unforgiving spirit.  Father God gave Abram favor!  “Abram brought back all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.”  When we place our faith in God and His might, nothing is impossible for us.

Genesis 17-20 Abram Meets Melchizedek

We are now introduced to two kings meeting Abram after the “slaughter of Chedorlaomer.”  The king of Sodom and Melchizedek king of Salem.  Melchizedek we are told was the “high priest of the Most High God.”  Melchizedek is a “type of Christ.”  He was of a Priesthood of another order ordained by God (Hebrews 5:1-6) and was sent by God to meet Abram after his pursue of Chedorlaomer. Many Bible Scholars, and myself, believe that Melchizedek was a “theophany” (the Lord taking human form for a specific purpose before His arrival on earth as Jesus) because Melchizedek has no history of birth or parents (Psalms 110:4).  Two beautiful events happen next in verses 18-20:

1) Melchizedek brings bread and wine to Abram which is a representation of Jesus and the “Last Supper” sharing bread and wine with the disciples.  Bread for Jesus’ body and wine for His blood.

2) Melchizedek blesses Abram “….Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.  And he (Abram) gave him tithes of all.”  Abram, then pays Melchizedek tithes on all he possessed.  Blessings from our Heavenly High Priest is what we should all desire!

When we live our life’s purpose within God’s will, we will be richly blessed with godly peace and godly contentment, which is wealth unspeakable, and we will desire to give back a portion or more of what the Lord blesses us with to Him and to others.

Genesis 14:21-24 “The Temptation”

Here we have the king of Sodom showing his gratefulness to Abram for pursuing king Chedorlaomer and taking back all that was stolen, including the people. The king of Sodom wants to reward Abram by giving him all the possession Abram recovered when rescuing Lot.  Abram refuses the king’s offer.  He tells the king, “I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich…”  Notice that the king of Sodom waits after Melchizedek the high priest blessed Abram to show his gratitude.  I believe Abram prayed to our Most High God for strength and wisdom to pursue Chedorlaomer and in doing so made a “vow” unto the LORD God.  Satan hearing this “vow” also was now using the king of Sodom to tempt Abram with worldly possessions in an attempt to have Abram not honor his “vow” to the LORD God.  Abram living his life by faith, knows that this world’s possessions can never do for Him what a blessing from God can do.

Friends satan will do the same to us!  Anytime we are in God’s will and living a victorious Christian life, satan can’t stand it, he will use anyone or anything to defeat us mentally, physically and spiritually.  Abram didn’t fall for satan’s trick.  Abram’s faith was firmly rooted in the LORD God, possessor of heaven and earth.  Is your faith firmly rooted in the LORD God?  If not, repent and reaffirm your faith and relationship with Father God!  Call upon Him today, He will forgive you!

Today, we learned some valuable principles:

1) Age is not a factor with God.

2) God will strengthen us to do what He has called us to do.

3) Faithfulness is rewarded.

4) Satan will always tempt a child of God to get them to get out of the will of God.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

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