Abram Rescues Lot – Genesis 14

Abram Rescues Lot

I had originally sent in the title “A Great Chapter” with the text, and by that morning I decided I needed to do better, so I called it Abram Rescues Lot. We were working through Genesis 12 to 26, Abraham and Isaac, one chapter at a time. One commentator said, “Genesis 14 is one of the most unusual chapters in the Bible.” Another said it is odd, and if you removed it, you would not miss it, “but to leave this chapter out would be to leave out one of the greatest chapters found in the Bible.” There are many names, places, and details, but I did not want us to get lost in them. Verses 1 through 16 are a battle, and verses 17 through 24 are about two kings.

Some details are worth noting. The word kings appears 28 times. It is the first war recorded in Scripture, the first mention of tithes, and the first time Abram is called a Hebrew, meaning one who crossed over. Giving is 500 years before the law: “giving is not a matter of the law. It’s a matter of grace and honor and respect.” Verse 14 mentions 318 trained men born in Abram’s household. If each had a wife and a child, Abram traveled with an entourage of 1,000 to 2,000 people, which is why he and Lot had to separate. For the first time, Melchizedek appears, and God is called the Most High four times in the chapter.

The Battle (Verses 1-16)

Four kings came against five. For twelve years the five served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth, he came and defeated all of the nearby peoples. The Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, where some of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell as they fled. Later fire would fall from heaven on a land known for oil and asphalt. Sodom’s sin was a stench in the nostrils of God, and it was fitting that its king be hauled off covered in slime. The enemy took all the possessions and provisions, and verse 12 says they also took Lot, who was dwelling in Sodom. Last week Lot only pitched his tent toward Sodom, and now he lives in it.

Abram could have said, Lot, you are getting what you deserve, why should I risk my life? He did not. When he heard his kinsman was taken, he led out his 318 trained men and pursued them as far as Dan. “The claims of a brother’s trouble are answered by the affections of a brother’s heart.” Last week Abram’s faith was gracious and passive. Now “his faith is active.” He divided his forces and attacked by night, and he chased the enemy to north of Damascus. He brought back Lot, the women, and the people, and all the possessions. Think about being hauled off by an invading army to an unknown place.

The Two Kings (Verses 17-24)

Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness, and Salem means peace. He was a king and a priest of God Most High. Some think he was the pre-incarnate Christ, but I think he is a type of Christ. Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron and the Levites, a king who will never fail us, and a priest with the perfect sacrifice. Notice the first three words Melchizedek says: “Blessed be Abram.” He comes to give, bringing bread and wine to tired men. Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

The king of Sodom, Bera, speaks next. The first two words he says are “give me.” He insults Abram, since the victor gets the spoils. Abram’s reply in verse 22: “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.” He will not take a thread or a sandal strap, lest you say you made Abram rich. Ross, a commentator, said, “the more subtle threat came after the success in the conflict and was an offer that would confuse worldly benefits and divine blessings.” In verse 24 he does take what the young men ate, and lets Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share. He does not hold his allies to his own standard.

Takeaways

First, “we are more like Lot than we like to admit.” The Lord rescues us from our stupidity, and we go right back. Lot is rescued from the battle and goes back to Sodom. There is nothing positive about Lot in the Old Testament, and it gets worse. Yet 2 Peter 2 calls him righteous Lot, tormented by the lawless deeds he saw. One day in heaven we may say, you made it?

Second, “character matters.” Abram got involved. He showed wisdom in battle, stood for justice for the oppressed, worshiped, and would not partner with Sodom. Money was not his motivation. He wanted no one to say that they made him rich, because his success was only because of God. He was gracious and considerate.

Third, where is God in this passage? He is sovereign over all of it, giving Abram wisdom and the victory. He is the Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, He is to be worshiped with our words and our giving.