Genesis 14:1-24 Key Verse: 14:19, 20

WAR TRAINING

This passage shows the continual spiritual growth of Abram.

Part I: The battle of the kings (1-16)

1. Read verses 1-12. A. Skim through 14:1-12 and describe the power structure of those days.

For 12 years 5 kings had been subject to Kedorlaomer (4) His rule had been oppressive since they rebelled in the 13th year. Kedorlaomer was the King of Elam, an ancient Mesopotamian kingdom located in modern day Iran.

In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and his allies defeated the Rphaites, Zuzites, Emites, Horrites, Amalekites, Amorites all in one year effectively conquering the promised land and all but 4 kings remained.

Verse 9, “…four kings against five.” Now there was a battle 5 vs. 4 in the valley of Siddim, which was right next to Sodom and Gomorrah.

This battle was for military and political supremacy of the entire land of Canaan.

Abram was outside of this power structure, which is much like today, countries ally and fight for their own benefit, but Abram stayed away and stayed focused on God.

B. Who won the war (10, 11)?

Verse 10, 11, “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.”

Kedorlaomer and his allies completely defeated the five kings and completely seized all their woman and children and all their goods. Total and utter victory.

C. In the meantime, what happened to Lot (12)?

Lot was living in Sodom at the time. Since the last passage he had moved into Sodom and was now a POW being seized by the victorious army.

Verse 12, “They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was

1 living in Sodom.”

2. Read verses 13-16. A. When Abram heard about Lot, what did he do?

Verse 14-16, “One 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 [c] of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 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.”

Abram immediately went to rescue Lot. He was not mad at Lot or bitter, but loved him unconditionally and raised his own small army and called his allies and went after this large army just to save Lot. The passage says that Abram perused the enemies to north of Damascus destroying them completely.

Also this shows that Abram had influence on his servants and neighbors that they would follow him without hesitation. Now Abram’s sheep security force would become an attacking force to rescue Lot. This shows Abram’s unconditional love for his nephew Lot, much in the way that Jesus continually loves us despite our rebellion.

B. What was his tactic?

He divided up his men and attacked at night, and attacked relentlessly until he achieved his goal to rescue Lot (15).

C. With what result?

Complete Victory. Abram had rescued Lot, and now was in possession of all the people and the possessions that had been captured from Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram was now the most powerful man and military in the Promised Land.

Verse 16, “He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.”

Part II: Abram meets two kings (17-24)

3. Read verses 17-20. A. Who came to meet him (17, 18)?

Verse 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

2 King's Valley).”

The King of Sodom, whose name was Bera (2), who had fled from battle, now came to meet Abram.

Verse 18, “Then Melchizedek king of Salem [d] brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,”

Also Melchizedek, (pronounced Mel-ki-ZED-ek) king of Salem, which means peace, came out to meet him.

B. How do you characterize these two people?

King of Sodom: He was only interested in getting his people back. He couldn’t be a king without any people. He also tried to get Abram to take all the money for himself as a favor so that Abram would owe the king of Sodom. We remember that Genesis 13:13 said that Sodom was a wicked city, so we know his motives were wicked too.

King of Salem: Melchizedek was priest of God Most High. Hebrews 7 and Psalm 110:4 explain Melchizedek and his background. He came out to pray with and for Abram and teach Abram an important spiritual lesson. He was not interested in any goods.

C. What did Melchizedek teach Abram about God?

Verse 19, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator [e] of heaven and earth.”

Verse 20, “And blessed be [f] God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

At this moment of Abram gaining vast power, wealth, and military strength, his life could have been drastically changed. Abram was at a moment of spiritual crisis.

First Melchizedek indicated to Abram that God Most High delivered everything into his hands. Melchizedek did this so that Abram would not become proud or depend on his new found power, but give glory to God. Melchizedek reminded Abram, that God was the creator and maker of all the entire earth. Abram needed this reminder to make the right decision. This was not God’s will for his life to become king of Palestine.

In times of victory and success we learn that we must first give glory and God who provides all good things.

D. How did Abram respond to his word?

“ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Abram recognized him as a priest of

3 God and gave him a king’s share of everything. We can see that Abram accepted and agreed with Melchizedek’s words because he gave him a tenth of everything.

Also Abram accepted his prayer because he had wine and bread fellowship with him.

4. Read Verse 21-24 A. What did the king of Sodom say to Abram?

Verse 21, “The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."”

This sounded reasonable. He recommended that Abram take all the money – Real message – King of Sodom seemed like he was doing a favor for Abram.

C. But how did Abram respond to him?

Abram rejected the glory for himself and rendered glory to God. Abram chose to remain as a servant of God rather than become a king. Abram also used the exact words he learned from Melchizedek to refuse the king of Sodom. Abram believed that God would provide not the king of Sodom. Leaders of God’s people must have this clear attitude as well.

Verse 22 – 24, “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong 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, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share."

D. What did he learn about God from this war training?

That it is God Most High who moves all armies and all political situations. God is the one who gives victory and who makes us rich or poor. Abram made God’s promise real in his life by standing up and rejecting the king of Sodom’s offer. This was a turning point in his life. Abram learned that God is Most High and that victory comes from God. But more importantly, he was God's man, and he had a great shepherd heart. He was very humble in the time of success, rendering glory to God and giving his tithe to God.

We too must engage in spiritual warfare like Abram for the glory of God.