More successes come with more tests. Our faith must mature if we are going to conform to Christ’s image. As an older man, Abram does something most elderly men wouldn’t do, or already did in their youth—fight a war. Abram fulfilled his role to God in the past. He was the nobody that God took and started to mold. He moved when God said move but didn’t stay when God said wait. After learning his lesson, Abram has three more roles: the watchman, the soldier, and the priest. All three of these are roles each believer in Christ should also fulfill. “In those days King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim waged war against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, and King Shemeber of Zeboiim, as well as the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All of these came as allies to the Siddim Valley (that is, the Dead Sea). They were subject to Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 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, and the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as El-paran by the wilderness. Then they came back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they defeated the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 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 lined up for battle in the Siddim Valley against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. Now the Siddim Valley contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, but the rest fled to the mountains. The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom, and they went on.” (Genesis 14:1-12)
Interestingly enough, this is the first war the Bible mentions. Now, that doesn’t mean it was the first war in all history (in fact it most likely wasn’t considering all the evil that was going on in the days before the flood), but it’s the first one recorded. There were four city-states on one side and five city-states on the other. And so the five kingdoms of the Jordan plains were overtaken and defeated. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Loving the world was Lot’s view when he went into the plains of Jordan. It was the lifestyle of the kingdoms there, specifically Sodom and Gomorrah. God explains this in Ezekiel. “Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable acts before me, so I removed them when I saw this.” (Ezekiel 16:49-50) This lifestyle didn’t make them prepared to fight a war. They probably believed that no one would wage war against them. Think about this in today’s terms. With the Western lifestyle of luxury and satisfaction, are we prepared to fight a war?
Lot was captured as a prisoner of war. This was no doubt a chastening of God to rely on Him and not on the world. Remember, Lot was a righteous man, but he was worldly. Abram was watching this and knew about the war going on. He watched and waited as a watchman, acting only when it was time. He was not directly involved in the conflict, but he sought to provide relief, especially for his nephew. Abram didn’t take sides in the war, but he went to help the less fortunate, serve them, and help in any way he could. We, as believers in Christ, are to do this. When we see those in need, we help. We care for the widows, the orphans, and the poor. We are called to serve and show others who Christ is; the best way to show Christ is by serving and acting as He would.
Abram had formed an alliance with his neighbors for just such an occasion. He cooperated with the Canaanites—with unbelievers—but he still glorified God. We can cooperate with nonbelievers to help others, but we must never forget that God gets the glory. “One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he and his servants deployed against them by night, defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.” (Genesis 14:13-16)
Notice he is called Abram the Hebrew, even before the Hebrew nation was born. This indicates that he is already set apart from the rest of the world and is different. It’s interesting to learn the history and meaning of the Hebrew word. It means to cross over or to pass through, which can be used in many ways. Still, in Scripture, it is specific to cross bodies of water, most prominently, the Jordan River. The Hebrew/Israelite nation crossed the Red Sea out of Egypt and then crossed the Jordan River to enter the promised land. Abram crossed the Euphrates River and then the Jordan to enter Canaan. So he was the first one to cross the river or to come from the other side of the river. As believers, we cross the river in our baptism. We cross over from death to life, from the old sinful life to the new life in the Spirit.
Abram didn’t fight for his glory or gain. He fought for the well-being of his nephew. Some translations say the word brother instead of relative in verse 16. This would indicate how close Abram and Lot were. They were more like brothers instead of uncle and nephew. And so Abram went out to rescue his ‘brother.’ Abram gathers 318 men born in his household. They were born under Abram’s rule, and they undoubtedly knew about and believed in the Living God. He and his men were armed and trained. Abram had physical armor and weapons. But he also had the armor of God. He trusted in God, and he lived and acted in righteousness. The Apostle Paul details the armor of God in Ephesians 6. This is the spiritual armor that each believer in Christ must wear if we are to fight in the spiritual war going on around us. They were trained in righteousness. Not only must we put on the whole armor of God, but we must know how to use it. We must be trained to read and understand Scripture, pray, and live out our faith.
These men went out and fought. They were united and trusted their leader, Abram, who trusted his God. If the church today needs anything, it needs more unity. There are too many disputes and hardened hearts to realize our common foundation—the Rock of Ages. How can we expect others to come to Christ if we don’t unify in Christ? Lot was rescued but didn’t repent and realize his dependence on God. He still settled in Sodom, but it didn’t last much longer after this battle. “After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself.”” (Genesis 14:17-21) Upon Abram’s return home, he is met with two kings, each with their offer. There was the king of Sodom, who offered all the spoils in exchange for the people. The word Sodom means burning, foreshadowing what happens to the city. Then, the king of Salem offered a blessing and anointed Abram in God’s name. The word Salem means peace. Abram is given a choice between the two and makes his choice.
“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand in an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing except what the servants have eaten. But as for the share of the men who came with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—they can take their share.”” (Genesis 14:22-24) This choice had consequences. As mentioned, Sodom means burning. The king’s name was Bera, which means gift. Bera and his city represent the world and its ways. The world will bargain for your allegiance, just as the devil does, as he is its god. But bargaining with the world leads to a burning disaster. This is accurately represented in Lot’s life, especially in a few chapters. But Abram was to be set apart and different from the world. Thus, he could not accept the offer of the world.
Again, Salem means peace. The king’s name was Melchizedek, which means king of righteousness. Righteousness leads to peace; both are representative of Jesus, the king of peace and the king of righteousness—the King of kings. Melchizedek offers bread and wine to Abram: bread, the body given for us. Wine, the blood poured out for us for the forgiveness of our sins. He blessed Abram and blessed God. Here is another name of God, El Elyon—God Most High. He is the highest; there is no one above Him. No other acclaimed deity is above or on the level of El Elyon. Just as El Shaddai demonstrates, He is the most powerful being. All the nations and kingdoms of the earth are His. He gives them to whomever He wishes, just as Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:25. Paul also makes this same assertion in Acts 17:24-27, “The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Why worship something lesser when you can worship the greatest?
And Abram gave a tenth of what he had to Melchizedek. This was before the Mosaic law that commanded a tenth be given. It was almost like Abram set the precedent. But this emphasizes the giving we are to do in our lives for others. We are to give more than we receive. Here, Abram gave more than he received, as he received nothing from the king of Sodom by rejecting his offer. But he did receive God’s blessing, which is more than we could ever give and the most beautiful gift we could ever receive.
Since he won the battle, Abram had the legal right to take all the spoils. But that did not make it morally right. As Abram said, Bera could have said, “I made Abram rich!” But Abram relied on God, not on other people. So all the glory goes to God for making Abram who he is, not anyone else. That was the gift or the bargain. Abram would have even more possessions, and Bera would get the glory. The world wants that glory; the flesh and the devil most certainly want that glory. But Abram knew only one deserves all the glory, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, as Melchizedek rightly put it. Blessed be our God for who He is and what He has done for us. Peter calls believers a royal priesthood. Each believer is a priest. Abram was a priest. He gave his offering, his very best, his whole life to God. And he walked with God and trusted in Him.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,” (Deuteronomy 30:19). These two kings represent this verse. Abram was presented with a choice. Melchizedek, life and blessing. Or Bera, death, and curse. God or the world. God or the flesh. God or the devil. Abram made the right choice. May each of us make that same choice.
“Be thou solely chief love of my heart. Let there be none other, O high King of Heaven.” – Be Thou My Vision.