Friday, October 07, 2005
Genesis 14
Genesis 14
“Motives”
We pick up the journey of Abram some time after he and Lot separate. Lot has gone his own way, and Abram has gone his. We know that God has eventually promised this land to Abram, and to his descendents. However, Abram has not yet taken possession of the land. At this point, both Abram and Lot are living as foreigners in the lands they are in.
Vs. 1-10
We see here a dispute not so different from something we might see today. 4 kings, and their armies, go to war against 5 kings, and their armies. The cause of the war was the oppressive governing of King Kedorlaomer. So he and his allies decide to fight against the kings that are oppressed by Kedorlaomer.
Vs. 11-12
Kedorlaomer and his alliance win the battle and loot the land. They take all the spoils of land, and all the people that are left they capture as slaves. This includes Abram’s nephew Lot, and all that Lot and his family owned.
Vs. 13-16
God had been blessing Abram and he had become a very powerful man with strong ties to the people around him. So, when Abram heard about the capture of Lot, his nephew, he called to the men around him and they went to retrieve his family. It appears that Abram, even though he allied with others that were near him, probably had less fighting men to work with. However, we also get a good indication that Abram fought smart, instead of hard. He divided his men, and attacked at night. Undoubtedly God gave him a plan, and he followed it. So, Abram retrieves Lot.
Vs. 17-20
An interesting person comes onto the scene in this passage. Melchizedek, which means King of Righteousness, and he is called King of Salem (peace). Many believe this to be either an appearance of Christ, or at least a foreshadowing of Christ to come. It is truly interesting, that he blesses Abram, and Abram tithes to him.
Vs. 21-End
The defeated kings come to Abram, and they ask for some of their stuff back. Things that had been taken by the kings who allied with Kedorlaomer, were now in the possession of Abram. But he says, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you.” Abram tells the defeated kings that money was not the object in this battle for him. He came to set his captured nephew free.
A great insight to our Christian life is in this passage. It lies in the motives. Where is your heart? If you are in life for the gain, you may miss the opportunities of blessing others. What are the motives in your heart?
Do you help others, only when it benefits you?
Or, do you help others for the pure pleasure of helping?
Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”
“Motives”
We pick up the journey of Abram some time after he and Lot separate. Lot has gone his own way, and Abram has gone his. We know that God has eventually promised this land to Abram, and to his descendents. However, Abram has not yet taken possession of the land. At this point, both Abram and Lot are living as foreigners in the lands they are in.
Vs. 1-10
We see here a dispute not so different from something we might see today. 4 kings, and their armies, go to war against 5 kings, and their armies. The cause of the war was the oppressive governing of King Kedorlaomer. So he and his allies decide to fight against the kings that are oppressed by Kedorlaomer.
Vs. 11-12
Kedorlaomer and his alliance win the battle and loot the land. They take all the spoils of land, and all the people that are left they capture as slaves. This includes Abram’s nephew Lot, and all that Lot and his family owned.
Vs. 13-16
God had been blessing Abram and he had become a very powerful man with strong ties to the people around him. So, when Abram heard about the capture of Lot, his nephew, he called to the men around him and they went to retrieve his family. It appears that Abram, even though he allied with others that were near him, probably had less fighting men to work with. However, we also get a good indication that Abram fought smart, instead of hard. He divided his men, and attacked at night. Undoubtedly God gave him a plan, and he followed it. So, Abram retrieves Lot.
Vs. 17-20
An interesting person comes onto the scene in this passage. Melchizedek, which means King of Righteousness, and he is called King of Salem (peace). Many believe this to be either an appearance of Christ, or at least a foreshadowing of Christ to come. It is truly interesting, that he blesses Abram, and Abram tithes to him.
Vs. 21-End
The defeated kings come to Abram, and they ask for some of their stuff back. Things that had been taken by the kings who allied with Kedorlaomer, were now in the possession of Abram. But he says, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you.” Abram tells the defeated kings that money was not the object in this battle for him. He came to set his captured nephew free.
A great insight to our Christian life is in this passage. It lies in the motives. Where is your heart? If you are in life for the gain, you may miss the opportunities of blessing others. What are the motives in your heart?
Do you help others, only when it benefits you?
Or, do you help others for the pure pleasure of helping?
Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”
