April 9, 2006

Gen 14:1-11

PRAYER: Before we get into the thoughts for today, let me give a brief historical note about this skirmish: All The Kings identified in this section are not known. The names used here, though, are recognized as common enough names for the early second millennium BC and late third when Abraham lived. Also characteristic of that time were coalitions of political power. We need to note that fourteen years previous to this event, Cherdorlaomer , King of Elam, had subjugated the whole plain of Jordan.

Possibly at that time Abraham was still in Haran. Five cities of the plain revolted and This king and three allies marched against them. Why they wanted this plain is only a guess, but we can make an educated one. They certainly came a long way to control this area and possibly it is because of the large copper deposits and mines south and south west of the dead sea. The Sinaitic Inscriptions show that they were worked for hundreds of years. Later Solomon worked them. The course for this invasion seems to have been an approach from Damascus on what is known as "The King's Highway." This was a caravan route running from the North southwards to the gulf of Aqbah, by passing the cities of the plain and then North into the Negev circling back on the "Valley of Siddim". The battle was fought in that valley near the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Slime pits were holes from which bitumen had been excavated. The kings of the plain, expecting to use this rough ground as a defense were rushed into it to their own demise. It is the capture of Lot that brings this record into the inspired record.

Now to the main thought for the day

Recall that Abraham and Lot had had a disagreement, that was solved by Abraham's unselfishness, and now Abraham acts the true "brother" and watches out for Lot. I want to pose a question here for you. Be honest with yourself, God already knows the answer.

If a brother or sister in the Lord offends you or steps on your rights in any way, How do you treat them afterward?

How would you respond when or if they "got what was coming to them?"
Do you gloat about it? Do you say "They got what they deserved?" Or do you do your best to support and restore them to favor in your circle?

Abraham has a perfect chance here to get it all back. To get back the land, that Lot chose, to get revenge on Lot for choosing the best, All he has to do is NOTHING.
Abraham, were he one of us, might say,"Well, you could see it coming. Look, Old Lot moved on to Sodom and we all know about that place.

Or perhaps “ Hey, when you dance you got to pay the fiddler right?" Well, old Lot has paid the fiddler (bout time I might add). It catches up sooner or later We'll just leave the outcome to God."

Do you remember ages ago when we were in the early chapters of Genesis? Do you recall when two brothers offered offerings to God? Do you remember that one brother got angry at God and at His brother because his own sacrifice was rejected?
Then you recall what Cain did? He Killed his brother? Then when God asked Him "Where is Abel your brother?" And what was his answer? AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

That is a common question and though we do not always say it in the same way, it is still the same question. Sometimes it sounds like this: Hey, if he has a problem with what I do thats his problem." Or maybe "I can't live my life for other people."

Ever hear yourself say that? Listen to these thoughts from the eternal God :

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Ro 12:9-10 [Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

Ga 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ga 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Eph 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

1Th 4:9-10 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

I1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1Jo 2:9-10 He that saith he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one ,that loveth is born of God, and knows God.

1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

I think that you can see the very high priority the Heavenly Father places on unpretended love for the brethren. Yes, but what about those who have wronged us? What do we do about them? I'm glad you asked: Luke 17: 3 - 4 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

I think we have rewritten the Word of God in our day folks. We have said things that contradict this precious book things like: “I know I'm supposed to forgive but I Can't put up with this, Am I supposed to put up with this?" Or "Hey, I'm an Aquarius and you know that with us its three strikes and your out." (Someone told me that). That is not of God, and let me tell you a little secret, God is not pleased when we ignore his word and do What WE feel like instead. Not at all! Children, if we really are His he will chasten us for it. If He doesn't, then we are not His, As Hebrews 12 says 5 -10 clearly states.

"The issue here is who is the Lord? You see Abraham could forgive and move into real love because He was one who recalled God's word and was submissive to the will.

The difference here is living a life that is surrendered to God and His will and letting Him take care of the outcomes. Abraham could do that and we'll see next time what God tells Him. So when Lot is in trouble Abraham doesn't say all the "spiritual stuff that we say, just goes and gives aid.

Have you ever been called on to give help to someone you'd rather not help? What was you response? I know what mine has been, sometimes good sometimes not, But I also have learned that Godly response is Giving your brother or sister aid.

It is easy to say words, to say "Be warmed and filled, but if you don't give the man a coat he'll be cold. if you don't give the man a hoagie he'll be hungry. And oh so often we are content to mumble "I'll pray for you brother" when what God is saying is "HEY YOU!!! I heard your prayer and the answer I am sending to this man or woman's need is YOUR SANDWICH.

Having seen first off the necessity of brotherly love lets note the sacrifice of brotherly love. That is seen in verses 14-16 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained [servants], born in his own house, three hundred and &eighteen, and pursued [them] unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which [is] on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.:

Now notice what kind of sacrifice Abraham is making here. Abraham musters his trained servants to help. He takes people away from their normal work and calls them to arms and giving up home and hearth, places himself in danger and discomfort to rescue Lot.

Listen, That is exactly what God wants to see from His children, we are to help each other and uphold each other even if it causes us personal discomfort and even if we have to leave off doing our own thing for a while.

I have seen good examples of that since I've been here, I will not call names, but many of you have benefited greatly one way or another from the sacrifices of people who truly desire to do it God's way. You have seen people who have set aside their own plans to help you or someone else. That is what God wants us as His children to do.
I remember a number of years ago when Christi and I were broken down, well actually the car was broken down. My brother left work and came and got me, had me take him back to work and gave me his car. He's my brother and he does those things even though it cost him time and effort.

You know what? Someone from the body in Greenville offered to come to Bangor and pick us up in that swirling storm and you know why? Because they are my brothers and they're like that.

That should be the example of each one of us. But we get too busy sometime to help others and we feel imposed on if "They": bug us again.

Notice once more in verse 14 what Abraham sees Lot as: When he heard that his NEPHEW??? NO! His BROTHER. There was a larger kinship involved and it was to honor the Father of that kinship that Abraham went out.

If you will recall several verses we read a short time ago, you will recall that a mark of being in God's family is love for the brothers, UNPRETENDED. Let me tell you children that when the call comes late at night or on your day away, or right in the middle of something important you have to have the Love of God in you to respond in a Godly way.

It is so very easy to be too busy when your brother calls that you miss the real voice on the line, the voice of one who in another context might say, "As you did it unto the least of these..."

What was Abraham's basis of justification? GRACE BY FAITH. What was Abraham's vindication of faith? He followed the Lord who called him. And that following involves some sacrifice at times doesn't it? And if you are going to help someone out in real love, it is going to cost you... "I like that song ..or at least sometimes I do, "I will not offer anything that cost me nothing."

Listen! the nature of sacrifice is that it is costly; your best lamb or dove, your finest grains; and in Abraham's case as in our Father’s case , his only son. So when you display Unselfish giving of your time and talents to aid in other's lives, you can expect that it will cost and that God will be honored by your love.

There are times when it would be tempting to let people stew in their own juice, live with the results of their error, and you might even feel justified in doing so. But consider this: What if The heavenly Father had taken that attitude? Where would you be?

I charge you before God that you get on your knees and Ask God to make you willing to sacrifice as HE sacrificed, to be willing to show the greatest love that is this: That a man lay down his life for his friend.

That is the essence of true faith isn't it? First, God in flesh laid down His life in payment of sin. He loved us that (2nd) we might love Him, and lay down our lives in service motivated by love for God and our brothers.

And listen please, As Abram set aside his time tasks and the comforts of home, set aside revenge too and gloating and went all out to save Lot his brother, see that you do the same for your brethren. One of my brothers is a firefighter and also an E.M.T. He had a very good friend in high school who was shot and killed by another young man. The courts ruled the death an accidental death but my brother couldn't accept that.

He had heard the young man whom we will call Randy, threatening to shoot his friend only a few days earlier and in His mind it was not accidental. My Brother was determined to bide his time and one day he would get even with Randy.
Years passed and one night he had his golden chance.

The phone rang and my brother raced out the door to render aid to the victim of a high speed car accident. As the beaten up body was pulled from the wreckage and placed in the ambulance, he saw that it was Randy, and my brother was the only one in attendance at that moment.

All he had to do was nothing and Randy would die and the debt would be cancelled. It was that easy.

But my brother is not only an E.M.T. He is also a child of God, and I said he was the only one in attendance? Well that is not so. In that ambulance rode also the Holy Spirit of God who whispered in the heart of his child."vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord."and "My little children, love not in word but in deed as well."

He gave the proper aid and Randy was on the road to recovery. Oh by the way, Randy was a long time in the hospital and week after week this preacher would come in and talk to him, and one day Randy bowed his bandaged head and asked God to forgive him for his sin and became brother.

Please think about that...Amen