Rescue 911: Genesis 14:1-24

Sermon By: Bruce Zimmerman

Written and Paraphrased By: Amy Adams

(Based on Genesis 14:1-24. Passage at the bottom of the article.)

Abram is described as the Father of Faith. He is mentioned 300 times in the Bible. Hebrews 11 has 12 verses that describe the faith of Abraham. There are challenges and threats that face families when you’re a person of faith and Abraham wasn’t immune to it. We know the mental trauma that comes about from children being abused, violated and the repercussions of dealing with parents who end up divorcing one another. The family system is under attack. There are gender theorists contorting the way things should be, that it’s not biological but psychological with one of their main points is that being gay is psychological.

There are threats that come upon the family from other places too. The first family was threatened with anger and violence. Remember Cain and Abel? It started early on and continues into today. If you remember how Lot got into Sodom, it started off because Lot was given a choice. Their households were growing to the point there wasn’t enough land to sustain them. “We don’t need to be fighting each other over stuff. It was a peaceful separation,” said Bruce. “Abram got shafted but Abram trusted and depended upon God. He worships God. He builds an altar and then he worships.” Then he hears that Lot has been captured. Abram could have said that “you made your bed, now lie in it. Your choices have consequences. What kind of man are you?” But he didn’t do that. Abram responds as a brother in arms. He sees the need to help and responds to reach out.

“It takes forgiveness because sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones that we get from our own family aren’t they?” asked Zimmerman. “I don’t care what’s been done before because I’m going to stand with you.” Jesus even called the disciples his brothers and friends. Abram was separated but not isolated. He was independent but not indifferent to the needs of Lot. When the need came, he said, “You can count on me.” Lot was blessed to have an uncle like Abram. People of faith will fight for their family. He took the 318 men he had trained for battle at night to defeat the people who took Lot. They were probably outnumbered 10 to 1. He was ready to fight and ready to defend his family and he won the fight with the help of his men. Many of us have done the same thing. Some of you have faced the battles of going to work daily fighting for your family. Some people’s fight of the family is technology: internet and phones. There’s a war going on and you must stand up for your family. Abram says he was going to war to protect his family. Would you do that? Not every war needs to be fought with guns and spears.

“Samaritan’s Purse has been making pathways to help getting people who are being persecuted out of Afghanistan. Some things are worth fighting for, especially when we have the resources and abilities to help get those families out of there,” informed Bruce. The sacrifice is stepping up to the plate. People of faith stand up for one another and are engaged in the battle. “Sometimes the battle is on our knees. They call those people prayer warriors. They will go to battle for you,” said Zimmerman. Would you go to battle? People of faith free others from bondage. People who have been ensnared in substance abuse or human trafficking have been freed from someone who cared. Abram freed Lot from his captors and brought back all the things they took from Lot. It’s about setting them free. People of faith find they are blessed by God.

“Melchizedek was a priest king who had no mother and father, but just appeared on the scene. He was the king of righteousness. Hebrews tells us he was the king of Salem, which became the king of Jerusalem and Jesus was likened unto him. Some say he was Michael the Archangel and some believe he was even Jesus Christ. He honors God, the Lord Most High,” informed Bruce. The point of the passage is that he brings blessings. You have a God in heaven and He wants to bless you. Abram overcame by the blessings of God and to honor God, he gives him a tithe. Giving is a form of worship to the Lord. There are numerous passages in the Bible that describes tithing. It’s a partnership and gives the opportunity to be part of giving and blessing people. Let each one of you tithe periodically and regularly.

A person of faith fears forfeiting his testimony. Abram said to the king of Sodom that he wouldn’t take anything from him so that the king couldn’t say that he made Abram rich. It was the Lord that accomplished getting Lot back. He was guarding his integrity and testimony. “We face battles. We have important choices. Are we going to stand up to the fight? Be willing to fight to protect and deliver your family and be willing to protect your testimony above reproach because the world is watching,” concluded Bruce.

“And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomar king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber kind of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is Zoar). All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Ampraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—Four kings against five. Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. They they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and supply, and departed. They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom. Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Demascus. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people. Then 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 Shavah (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High, He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave a tenth of all. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.” Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”” Genesis 14:1-24