Abram Delivers Lot

Genesis 14:13-24

"And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram." (Genesis 14:13)

The armies of the four allied kings had defeated the alliance by Sodom and Gomorrah, forcing their armies to flee to the mountains. One person escaped from the sacking of Sodom and told Abram what had happened. Living among the Amorites on the plain of Mamre. Abram had formed a friendship and agreement with them. Chedorlaomer and his allies had attacked the Amorites on their way to Sodom and defeated them.

“And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.” (Genesis 14:14)

Learning of Lot’s capture, Abram decided to rescue him and took over three hundred of his own servants, all men who’d been born into his service, and went recover him and his belongings. Smarting from the allies attack, Abram’s Amorite friends were happy to bring their forces and accompany him.

“And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.” (Genesis 14:15-16)

Having defeated and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah’s armies and being clear back in present day Syria, near Damascus, nearly a hundred fifty miles away, Chedorlaomer and his allies were not expecting retaliation. Abram and his three hundred eighteen servants, accompanied by his Amorite friends attacked them at night and recovered Lot and his belongings, the captive women, and those who’d been taken to be enslaved as well as their belongings. God definitely blessed that such a small group could defeat a coalition of four armies,

“And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. ” (Genesis 14:17-20)

Learning of Abram’s successful foray, the king of Sodom traveled north to meet him, but before he arrived, Melchizedek met him, blessed him, and received tithes from him. The word tithe means literally a tenth. Hebrews 7:1-3 tells us more about Melchizedek. “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually” Clearly, from this description, Melchizedek was not an ordinary man, since he had neither father or mother and his life was without beginning or end. Many believe that Melchizedek was in fact Christ himself.

Hebrews 7:9-11 then establishes that the Levitical priesthood is limited and requires a higher priesthood, represented by Melchizedek. “And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:9-11) Hebrews 6:22 declares that Jesus fulfills that priesthood forever. "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” There is no need for additional priests after the order of Melchizedek.

“And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” (Genesis 14:21-24)

When the king of Sodom arrived, he offered to give all the spoils they had recovered in appreciation for his efforts to recover the captives. Abram had promise God that he would accept nothing beyond the food they had eaten for himself or his servants, because he did not want the credit for his success to go to the king of Sodom. When we accept the world s provision, we obligate ourselves to them. Far too many religious groups hve sacrificed some of their control to gain financial support, and lost their autonomy and biblical stance as a result. Abram refused to give the Sodomites any kind of hold. He recognized that the appreciation was deserved and the Amorites were free to receive it if they chose.