Genesis Chapter 14
Here in this Chapter of Genesis we have an account of the first war recorded in scripture. it was a rebellion and in the midst of it all Lot and his family get captured and taken away as prisoners of war.
Now Lot had chosen to go and live near Sodom the people of whom were described in Chapter 13 as wicked and who sinned against the Lord. It is not wise nor good for Christian people to voluntarily go and mix and live with those who are wicked and whose life styles are contrary to the will of God. Such a move is dangerous both physically and spiritually. Nevertheless this was the path that Lot chose. It brings to mind does it not Revelation 18 and verse 4 where the fall of Babylon is being described. There we read, "Then I heard another voice from heaven, saying, " Come out, my people! Come out from her! You must not take part in her sins; you must not share in her punishment!" And this echoes quite clearly the whole teaching of scripture concerning our relationship to the world. Consider also what we read in 1st John 2v15 & 16, "Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father. Everything that belongs to the world - what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of - none of this comes from the Father...."
The result therefore of Lot's folly is not unexpected. Now it does not say so explicitly in scripture but I feel that it is obvious that Lot would in this dire situation pray earnestly and fervently to the Lord for deliverance from his trouble. Do you see though how the prayer is answered. It is there at verse 13. "but a man escaped......". Isn't that how the Lord so often answers prayer? It is through another person who does something and in this case this then sets of a chain of events that leads eventually to Lot and his family and other prisoners all being set free. And yet the cynic could see in this incident men helping themselves and a lot of luck. A mere coincidence. Say for example the doctor diagnoses cancer. We pray for the cancer to be healed. A few days later we hear the diagnosis was wrong and that it wasn't cancer after all but something else. Someone else has cancer and we pray for that person to be sustained in their time of trouble. Months go by and they get no worse. The wonders of modern medicine? Coincidence or answered prayer? It all requires faith. But what I will say is this .... that when the praying stops the coincidences stop as well.......
We read starting at verse 13 of Abraham's military plan and victory. Matthew Henry has this to say:
"The preparation he made for this expedition show that Abraham was
1. A great man who had so many servants depending on him
2. A good man, who not only served God himself, but instructed all about him in the service of God
3. A wise man, for, though he was a man of peace, yet he disciplined his servants for war. Though our holy religion teaches us to be for peace, yet it does not forbid us to provide for war."
And so Abraham goes off to rescue war. There is no time now to be concerned about their quarrel. Rather he goes off with little thought for himself to rescue those who are in need. Even although Lot may have drifted from the faith, even although he may have been lacking in charity towards Abraham nevertheless Abraham goes off to help. We must never forget our Christian duty to others whether they are enemies or friends. He also rescues the others involved in this terrible incident even although he was under no obligation to do so. Matthew Henry put it this way, "As we have opportunity we must do good to all men."
Now in coming to the last part of the Chapter we come to Melchizedek. And we can't hear that name without recalling Hebrews 7. Here the name Melchizedek is explained and I quote, "The first meaning is King of Righteousness and because he was King of Salem his name also means King of Peace. There is no record of Melchizedek's father or mother or any of his ancestors; no record of his birth or of his death. He is like the Son of God; he remains a priest for ever." Paul then lays before us that Christ is like Melchizedek and he quotes Psalm 110 verse 4 - a messianic psalm that speaks of Jesus, "The Lord made a solemn promise and will not take it back: You will be a priest for ever in the priestly order of Melchizedek."
This great but somewhat shadowy figure brings refreshment to Abraham and blesses him and look at the words, "May the most High God, who gave you victory over your enemies, be praised." And Abraham makes an offering. A tenth of all he has taken in battle. A tithe. Again my friends we come across the biblical principle of giving. I do not wish to labour the point but there really is no doubt in scripture about how much and what we should be giving to the Lord's work.
And then we see the beautifully gracious and godly way that Abraham behaves when he meets the King of Sodom. This is after all the King of Sodom. Sodom whose peope were wicked and sinned against God. But what does Abraham do? Does he keep the loot? Does he grow rich on the spoils of war? He keeps nothing. He gives it all back, lock stock and barrel. He keeps what he has used for the furtherance of the campaign to free the captives. And as he does so he makes an oath, "I solemnly swear before the Lord, the Most High God, Maker of Heaven and Earth that I will not keep anything of yours, not even a thread or a sandal strap."
SO we have laid before us in this chapter, the folly of living in the world as part of it, the power of answered prayer and the gracious way to respond to those who are in need and lastly we saw yet another indication of what it means to give an offering to the Lord. There is a great deal in this Chapter to feed the hungry soul. Much to cause us to think. Blessed be the Lord for his word!