Daily Devotions
Genesis
"You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great." Psalm 18:35
Text: Genesis 14:1-24
ANOTHER GREETER
Melchizedek wasn’t the only one who met Abram after his great victory in battle. The king of Sodom also went out to greet him.
“And the king of Sodom went out to meet him
at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley),
after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer
and the kings who were with him…
Now the king of Sodom said to Abram,
‘Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.’ ”GENESIS 15:17, 21
The king of Sodom acknowledged the rights of the victor. The old dictum, “To the victor belongs the spoil” was apparently practised and upheld. Abram’s conquest meant that he now possessed all the prisoners of war and whatever goods recovered in the battle field and more! He humbly came to Abram to let him have his people back. He knew that he could not run his kingdom without help. He did not dare to ask for the “goods” (booty).
A RESPONSE OF GREAT HONOUR
What a different response Abram gave when King Sodom approached him. The contrast between his response to Melchizedek, King of Salem must be noted!
“But Abram said to the king of Sodom,
‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High,
the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing,
from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything
that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’-
except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion
of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre;
let them take their portion.”GENESIS 14:22-24
1. A Just-War Mindset
Abram did not go to war for any personal gain! He went into battle for one reason only – to rescue his nephew Lot. Thus, he swore before the Lord, that he did not want to benefit from this war.
2. Mindful of the men who fought alongside
Abraham had a private army of his own. He also had three young men who went with him into battle. They were allies from Mamre’s tribe. He wanted them to take what was due to them. But personally, he refused to be enriched from this war experience!
What a man of honour Abram was turning out to be! If he became rich, he wanted that blessing to come from none other than the Lord, God Most High!