Transcribed from a journal entry of my bible study from July 13, 2020.

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The cities that Chedorlaomer conquered served him for 12 years, but on the 13th year, they waged war against him.

However, Chedarlaomer and the kings that were with him defeated and reconquered the cities again on the 14th year (v. 5). The 5 kings battled against the 4 kings in the valley of Siddim, which was full of tar pits, and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell into them. Chedarlaomer took all the people and possessions of Sodom and took them captive. Lot was one of them, since he lived in Sodom.

→ Lot initially desired to live near Sodom, despite its sinful nature. He risked falling into this trap for the sake of his personal desires (prosperity, riches, security). If our desires are not aligned with God’s and we go our own way, we can be enslaved or taken captive by them, which will lead to greediness and destruction.

(v. 13) Thankfully, a fugitive went to Abram to tell that Lot had been taken captive. Hearing this, he immediately led out his trained men to rescue Lot.
Abram brought 318 men with him.

• Abram was willing to ACT IMMEDIATELY to save his nephew, even if it might cost him and his men their lives. (v. 14)
• Abram and his men were TRAINED → PREPARED in case a sudden attack or conflict appears (v. 14)
• Abram was COURAGEOUS because he relied on and TRUSTED GOD.
  318 men versus the king’s people seemed impossible to defeat, but God was helping Abram throughout
• Abram was WISE and STRATEGIC – he didn’t just tell his forces to attack all at once. He divided and conquered (v. 15)

Because of these and God’s guidance, Abram rescued Lot and recovered the possessions, women, and people (captives) (v. 16)

God’s Promise to Abram

King Chedorlaomer has been defeated and the king of Sodom went to meet Abram at the valley of Shaveh (King’s valley), then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.

Melchizedek – king of Salem (king of peace), name means “king of righteousness”, priest of God most High

Melchizedek blessed Abram and acknowledged God as the “Most High”. Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all that he had (like tithing or giving a tenth of one’s earnings). However, Abram did not take anything from the possessions of the king of Sodom, even if the king offered because :

• (v. 22-23) Abram did not want the king to say that he has made
  Abram rich (remember that Sodom is a wicked city and led by an ungodly ruler). He wasn’t greedy for the possessions even if it will make him very wealthy.
• Abram wanted the focus of the accomplishments to be on God, not on himself or what he or the king had done. He wanted God to be glorified through his accomplishments because God made it possible.

Lessons Learned

• When people need our help, we should be willing to act immediately.
• Always train and prepare ourselves (work, finances, health, spiritually, etc.) because we will never know when we will be faced with tough situations.
• Be courageous. Do not fear, and trust God whatever the circumstance we are in. Everything is variable, but only God is constant: The situation we might be in might seem impossible to defeat, but if we trust and depend on God while doing our part, there is victory and freedom.
• Do not trade the Christian lite for a life that is easy, prosperous, wealthy it the trade-off is living a sinful life (destruction). The Christian life is impossible to live through our own strength and requires dependence and obedience to God, but the reward is eternal, even more than the riches the earth can give.
• Be humble and do not take full credit for what God has helped you accomplish. Always point it all to Him. Glorify God in how we live our lives so that more people will see who He is and what He can accomplish.
• Be influencers of Christ! ♥️