- This story follows the defeat of four kings, primarily led by Chedorlaomer, who had defeated five kings (including Sodom and Gomorrah). In these days, Kings were head of tribes and typically centered in one city. Abram joins the battle for apparently no other reason than to save Lot
- logosres:db:biblical-places-maps;art=AbrahamsTravels
- [[Abraham's Travels In Canaan >> https://ref.ly/logosres/db:biblical-places-maps?art=AbrahamsTravels]] | Biblical Places Maps
- [[Atlas | Four Mesopotamian Kings Invade >> https://ref.ly/logos4/Atlas?IsLegendExpanded=false&IsMediaCollectionExpanded=false&MapId=FIVEMESOPOTAMIANKINGSINVADE-EN&MapStyleKind=Flat]]
- We are not given a lot of info about Melchizedek, but what are we told?
- Worshipper of God Most High (El Elyon) -- apparently one of a small number who continue to worship the one true God after the flood
- He is King of Salem. Some theologians argue that this is Jerusalem
- The other kings who join, the five kings include the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. The names in Hebrew are compounds of a Hebrew word translated "evil"
- What do we see in Abram's responses to the two kings?
- He gives a tenth of the spoil to Melchizedek. Where did the spoil come from?
- Primarily from the five defeated kings, since Abram only caught up to them on the way back
- It was technically all his
- So, he gives a tenth of the gain to Melchizedek as an offering and returns the 90 percent to the five kings (except what the men had eaten and the typical spoil of war that soldiers claimed)
- Why not take up the King of Sodom's offer?
- Implies a relationship
- APPLICATION: Abram knew who the King of Sodom represent. He didn't want to be indebted to a wicked man. Probably he didn't go into the battle to get rich but to get Lot back. To take advantage of God's answer to prayer, would be wrong
- "Christians are really so rich in their own inheritance that it ill becomes them to crave the possessions of others.”(Bush)
- [Dan] The pursuit of Abram enabled him to overtake the booty-laden army at Laish (Josh. 19:47), on the north frontier of Canaan. Laish received the name of Dan after its conquest by a band of Danites, as recorded in Jud. 18. The mention of Dan, therefore, is, strictly speaking, an anachronism, though quite intelligible. That Abram should overtake and smite his enemy at the furthest northern limit of the future Israelite country, is a feature in the story not without symbolical significance. (Ryle, H. E. (1921). The Book of Genesis in the Revised Version with Introduction and Notes (p. 174). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.)
- Why might Abram be afraid?
- Culture considers "losing face" very poorly. Revenge killing is the norm. He now has potentially two enemies, the 4 kings he defeated, and the 5 kings to whom he refused their gift (and to become a "vassal")
- Heb 13:6 (ESV) So we can confidently say, // "The Lord is my helper; // I will not fear; // what can man do to me?"
- APPLICATION: There are times in your life when you will be afraid. The reasons are many. And it is those times that you will need to trust God, and believe that there is nothing the world can do to you. Even death cannot hurt you.
- Abram lived as a stranger in a land with a lot of potential enemies
- Abram had to trust God
- God says Abram's reward will be great or in some versions, God calls himself "Abram's very great reward" -- let's look at the reward
- Heb 11:9-10 (ESV) By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
- Heb 11:13-16 (ESV) These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
- Even though Abram had passed up on the reward from Sodom, God would compensate Abram
- APPLICATION: A lot of people struggle with this concept, but our reward is not here on earth. The pleasures of this life is not what our hope is based upon. Our reward is in heaven, and if it is not, then there is no justice
- Verse on contentment
- Ps 16:5-6 (ESV) The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; // you hold my lot. // 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; // indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
- APPLICATION: Can you like David, learn to say this verse when times are tough as well as when times are good
- God tells Abram that He is his reward, yet what is Abram's concern? Why, what had just happened?
- He rescued Lot, BUT Lot returns to Sodom (Lot could have been the heir)
- By law, since no direct heir was near to take care of him, an adopted son (sometimes a slave) would fulfill that role
- So Abram struggles with fear on a number of accounts (enemies he has made and his future planning--who would take care of his household)
- Abram believes and God declares Abram righteous
- Much later, in Gen 22, Abraham will offer his son on an altar and his works will testify to his righteousness. Works do not make one righteous, unless you could be perfect. Faith in God provides righteousness
- When James makes his argument (James 2:21-23), he quotes this verse but tells the story of the altar, implying that Abram's work (the attempted sacrifice) fulfilled the story of his faith. James point is that his work was his proof. But works do not make a person righteous, only faith
- (OPTIONAL) James 2:21-23 (ESV) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.
- Abraham was considered righteous before he offered his son (his belief). But later on, the proof of his faith was his willingness to do what God commanded (his works)
- APPLICATION: If your life shows no difference despite your claim to have faith, well, then you might reconsider what faith really means to you
- This is one of the most quoted verses in the bible. What seems unusual about God's gift or credit of righteousness?
- It was so simple
- This is one of the most important verses of scripture
- Rom 4:3-5 (ESV) For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.
- Rom 4:20-24 (ESV) No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." 23 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
- It says he grew strong. Faith grows as it is exercised
- Abram made many mistakes, some even seem to represent a lack of faith. In fact, not long after this promise, he and Sarah will try to speed along God's promise
- Gal 3:6-11 (ESV) just as
Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as
righteousness"?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." - APPLICATION: We are called to live by faith. We need to grow in the faith. One way is to spend time in the word
- Rom 10:17 (ESV) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
|
2296 or 2236
|
Birth
of Terah
(dies 2031)
|
Gen 11:24
|
|
2166
|
Birth
of Abram
|
Gen 11:27
|
|
2091
|
Abrams departs
from Haran
|
Gen 12:4
|
|
|
Defeat of the 4
Kings
|
Gen 14
|
|
2081
|
Abram
"marriage" to Hagar
|
Gen 16:3
|
|
2080
|
Birth of lshmael
|
Gen 16:16
|
|
2067
|
Reaffirmation
of covenant
|
Gen
17:1
|
|
2066-2067
|
Destruction of
Sodom and Gomorrah
|
|
(OPTIONAL)
Gen 14:1-16 (ESV) 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.
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. (OPTIONAL)
Gen 14:17-15:1 (ESV) After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.' 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share."
15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.
