God Pursues Us

With: Our Design According to Genesis  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Man’s Protection

Genesis 14:1–12 (NIV)
At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley). For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
The setting is that of two alliances pitted against one another.
Sodom and Gomorrah are reliant upon the strength and might of their armies and not the Lord. Lot too has found himself wanting as all that has been gained is now lost. Take note of the absence of any call upon the Lord.

Deliverance by the Hand of God

Genesis 14:13–16 (NIV)
A man 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 Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 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. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
The first mention of the line of Abram as Hebrew
God had blessed Abram with 318 trained men in his household.
Abram goes after what is his. This follows the promises of God to bless those who bless and curse those who curse.
God overcomes with much smaller numbers

All for the Lord

Genesis 14:17–24 (NIV)
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).
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
In Jewish tradition, Melchizedek is the king of Salem, the place where Jerusalem will be established. Zedek means righteousness and Salem means peace, two characteristics of the Lord.
Melchizedek is the only priest of the book of Genesis. He is a precursor to the priestly line that will be established for the people of God. Take note of the similarities offered as to what the Lord desires from the Lord’s supper.
Note that the blessing is directed at the Lord and not Abram. Abram’s blessing comes from his relationship with the Lord.
This is contrasted to the response of the King of Sodom who wants Abram to give him what he believes he is owed.
Abram’s response shows the purpose of relationship between God and Abram.
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