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Genesis 14:1-24 The Many and the One

by fol CHURCH on January 15, 2019

The first 13 verses of this chapter are devoted to the complicated conflict between kings is the area that Abram was told to go to.  Lot is the hapless victim of their fighting Abram gets involved because his family are involved.  Abram is a very different leader: He is head of a household that does not have land, but instead has a divine promise.  God has promised him all this land, yet now he has none. He isn’t a king, but he has a promise from the King of Kings.   When the other kings produce armies, Abram produces members of his household – it’s FAMILY (v.14 – all the fighting men were born in his household – as for me and my house!).   Abram is deliverer, he goes out to rescue one of his own:  a pre-echo of Joshua; a pre-echo of Jesus.

It also feels like the arrival of Melchizedek, king of Salem reminds us of Jesus too.  Here in the 14th Chapter of the Bible’s first book it’s like a hint - Jesus is coming! That the one who will bruise Satan’s head is on his way. God has walked Abram through His promise at the end of Chapter 13 – the tussling little kings contrast with the commanding figure of Melchizedek the King of Righteousness and with the God Abram is getting to know. Abram’s involvement in the battle is only to rescue Lot. Abram’s motives, outlook and behaviour are completely different from those around him. 

Abram has an alliance with and a promise from God.  He is prospering and successful despite the less-fertile looking land he chose because The One he has aligned himself to is The King of Everything.

The challenge is to trust Him – don’t take the booty, trust Him. God’s able to glorify Himself, provide for us, transform the situation from conflict to peace.  Abram is given a ‘more excellent way’ he has ‘raised my hand to the LORD, God most high, Creator of heaven and earth’ 14.22 and the challenge for us is to do the same too.  Whatever the circumstance to trust the Creator of heaven and earth; to raise our hand to acknowledge the POWER in HIS HAND that is not too small, as HIS ARM is not too short to deliver us and to continue to do that as we look to Him and listen for Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Let’s remind ourselves of the promises of God to each of us! The times when the promises in the Bible were proved true in our lives. Thank God for His faithfulness to us.

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