Gen 14:1-16
A: Introduction:
· Here we have the first war of the Bible:
· Seems to me as if it was a huge war.
· Something similar to Hitler’s war.
It’s estimated that from 2 678 wars in the 12th century, the total increased to 13 835 in the first quarter of the 19th Century. Wilbur Smith estimated that up to the close of the 19th Century - 14 Billion people have died in wars of the human race.
B. Body:
I. WAR -- Abram
This war were between Chedoelamer and his followers and the kings of Sodom and Gamorra.
A list has been given: 4 Kings
Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations
· Amraphel means “Sayer of darkness.
· Arioch was Chedeolaomer’s nephew
· Chedeolaomers “Handful of bundles”
They fought against 5 Kings:
that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
· Bera means “Son of evil”
· Birsha means “with iniquity” (Wickedness)
I believe that God wants to show us here not to choose sides for both sides were bad.
Chedeolaomer was conqueror
We know what came from Sodom and Gamora
Here is Lot, caught up in the whole thing.
You will be known by your friends!
·Notice: It was not Lots choice to be dragged into
this, but he was.
·Chedeolaomer and his “bundle” started a conquering
voyage.
·Impressive one might say
·They defeated 8 nations and cities, before slaying
Bersa, king of
·Sodom and his four allies.
Now that’s impressive!
They made one mistake though!
They took Lot with them.
12. They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom
John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.
·One of the men broke loose and came to Abram.
·13. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew
·Told him everything!
OH! HOW GOD LIKES TO USE UNDERDOGS!
Look at Abram’s reaction:
he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house
Have you noticed?
·He didn’t say, “Oh, Lord they are so powerful or they are so mighty I won’t make it”
·I Mean this was an impressive Army he was against.
·They were sweeping the land.
·They had the numbers!
My friend I believe that God is not looking at the numbers or power of people.
He is looking for availability and willingness.
Listen! He uses the weak to put shame on the mighty.
I Cor 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
II WAR -- Gideon
Let’s look at a similar situation:
·Look at Gideon in Judges 6 and 7
·Same thing! The Midianite multitudes came against them.
·An angel appeared to Gideon and called him a mighty man of valor!
·For he is the one who will free the nation.
I like his reaction: Judg 6:15
So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house."
He was the weakest!
God used him with just 300 men to slain the mighty Midianites
III WAR – The four men with leprosy
Here is how God do it:
·Go with me to II Kings 7:6
·We’ve got four men with leprosy.
·Remember the weakest.
·Castaways in this case for that’s what happened to them.
·The mighty Syrians have taken the Samaria hostage.
·These four leper men decided to go to the Syrian camp to die or to get food.
·When they came there they found the camp empty.
·How was this possible?
FOR GOD AGAIN USED THE LEAST AND WEAKEST (IN MAN”S EYES) TO BRING THE VICTORY!
V6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses--the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, "Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!"
God used these men’s footsteps and it sounded like an army!
Abram sought 318 men and slaine chedeolamers forces
15. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants
Attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of
Damascus.
16. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot
and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
Hobah means “hiding”
Conclusion:
God’s not looking at how big your church is,
`How strong you are,
How influential or rich you are.
He’s looking at your availability and willingness.
