Living by Faith in a Dangerous World

They Would Have Swallowed Us Up Alive

(Genesis 14:1-16, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, October 19, 2014)

[14:1] In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, [2] these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). [3] And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). [4] Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. [5] In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, [6] and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. [7] Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.
[8] Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim [9] with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. [10] Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. [11] So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. [12] They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.Lot had chosen a life for himself away from Abram. He found himself in the middle of a situation of great political instability. He was on the losing side of a battle between various city-states and their kings. Lot lived in Sodom, and the king of that town had been defeated. That meant exile into slavery for the losers, including Lot and all those who were with him.

[13] Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. [14] When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. [15] And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. [16] Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

God continued to show favor to Abram by granting him a very unlikely victory in war. Our only details are the size of Abram's army (318), his decision to divide his forces, and the surprise timing of his assault against the kings (by night). Abram was able to bring back Lot and all the people and possessions associated with him.

Put the Word to Work: God continued to work wonders in the life of Abram. Lot was blessed too because of Abram's willingness to take seriously the bonds of family loyalty. Even war can be used by God for His holy purposes. Somewhere over the course of Lot's life, he won the designation “righteous” (2 Peter 2:7). Did this experience change Lot? The Lord is able to use every event in our lives toward His own saving plan. We need to hear Him and obey.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 124:1-5 – If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—let Israel now say—if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 15:1-9 – Traditions and Commandments