Abram Rescues Lot
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/8/2018 PM
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Text:
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Genesis 14:13-24
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Psalters: |
181, 71, 224, 353 |
- The occasion.
- An escapee went to Abram, the Hebrew, to tell him of Lot’s capture.
- Abram responds as an activity of faith.
- He viewed Lot as “his brother” (14), and he know that God called him to care for his brother - his brother’s keeper.
- Abram then went forward convicted that his cause was just, that he would be fighting the battle of the Lord.
- Abram’s confidence in God’s blessing did not remove his need for strategy, wisdom, and skill.
- This history is very significant.
- Abram is known to be respected even by unbelievers, so he was of “good report of them which are without” (I Tim. 3:7a).
- The escapee went to Abram, and the people of the land sought to confederate with him, acknowledging him as leader.
- Second, he was acknowledged to be the leader of the deliverers by the king of Sodom and by Melhizedek.
- Note that the wicked are powerfully warned. But they do not repent.
- God chastens righteous Lot.
- The capture of Lot with Sodom showed Lot and his family how much they were identified with the wicked, not with Abram.
- But God is gracious and He saved Lot through Abram from the end deserved by the Sodomites.
- Abram’s victory is acknowledged.
- It is acknowledged by the king of Sodom who realizes that the spoils belongs to the victors and offers them to Abram (17,21).
- It is acknowledged by Melchizedek, to whom Abram responds very differently (18-20).
- Melchizedek is an historical person who was king of a city called Salem (peace), and was a priest of God (Heb. 5 and 7).
- Abram humbly received the blessing of God via Melchizedek, while refusing that of the king of Sodom.
- This blessing identifies Abram’s victory over the wicked world as type of Christ’s universal victory.