Genesis 14:13-24 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage s Genesis 14:13-24. Let’s go!
Genesis 14:13-14 (NIV)
13 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 of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.
14 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.
On verses 13-14: The moment Abram heard about his nephew Lot being taken captive, Abram was able to call out 318 trained men born in his household to go and rescue Lot. Notice that though Abram did not yet have a son of his own, he had over 300 men born in his household trained for battle.
It’s a reminder that we want the people born in our home to be trained well for battle. The Bible teaches that we are in the middle of a war between God and Satan. If we do not train those in our homes and churches to fight and do battle against our enemy Satan, Satan will inevitably take captive the people and things we hold dear, and we will have no idea how to recover what he has stolen. That’s why it is so important to grow up spiritually and to arm yourself in the ways Ephesians 6:10-20 describes. One of those ways is knowing and declaring God’s Word for it is the sword of the Spirit, our weapon in battle.
Genesis 14:15-16 (NIV)
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.
On verses 15-16: It is amazing to me that Abram, who was not a king or a political leader but a businessman, was able to defeat Kedorlaomer the strongest king in the region as well as the other kings allied with him. It goes to show that you don’t need a title or a position to overcome a more powerful enemy. What matters most is your preparation, the strength of your character, the quality of the people you surround yourself with, the size of your God and the size of your faith in such God.
Genesis 14:17 (NIV)
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 King’s Valley).
On verse 17: The king of Sodom meets Abram and thanks him for doing what the king of Sodom himself should have done: defend and protect his own people. You don’t need a title to be a leader.
Genesis 14:18-20a (NIV)
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”…
On verses 18-20: In the midst of all this talk about kings at war, all of a sudden here we read of Melchizedek, king of Salem (“Salem” means “peace”). Not only is Melchizedek a king. He is also a priest. As he meets Abram, he comes with bread and wine, and blesses Abram. In addition, Melchizedek’s name means “My king is righteousness”. Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7 tell us that Jesus was a priest “in the order of Melchizedek”. All of this points to the idea that Melchizedek is a type of Christ, that is, a person pointing us to the appearance of Jesus Christ later on in the New Testament. For more on Melchizedek and his importance, see Hebrews 7.
Genesis 14:20b (NIV)
20 …Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
On verse 20b: To tithe means to give the first 10% of what you earn to God. A “tithe” means one tenth. Abram tithing to Melchizedek was written as an example for us to follow. Just as Abram paid the tenth to Melchizedek, we, as children of Abraham, are to pay the first 10% of what we receive to Jesus, who is a priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:21-24 (NIV)
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 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.”
On verses 21-24: Previously Abram willingly received riches from the king of Egypt (Genesis 12:16). But now Abram refuses to receive riches from the king of Sodom as a prize for rescuing Lot and saving the people of Sodom. Why? I believe it’s because Abram learned his lesson not to put his hope in any king other than God. He did not want any other king to get the glory that God alone deserved for the blessings in his life. Abram was simply interested in rescuing his nephew Lot. Place your hope in God, not in people, for in the end every blessing comes from Him.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Abram’s example in training those around him to fight their battles, in fighting for the lost, in putting You first in his finances, and in placing his hope in You. May I do the same. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
