Scripture Reference: Genesis 14
When you enroll in the “school of faith,” you never know what may happen next. Visit Abraham one day and you’ll find him settling a boundary dispute. Visit him another day and you’ll see him gearing up for a battle. Why is this so?
For one thing, God wants us to mature in every area of life, but maturity doesn’t come easily. There can be no growth without challenge, and there can be no challenge without change. If circumstances never changed, everything would be predictable; and the more predictable life becomes, the less challenge it presents. William Cullen Bryant wrote:
Weep not that the world changes;
did it keep a stable changeless state,
’twere cause indeed to weep.
When you walk in the light (1 John 1:5-10), you can see what is going on, and you experience variety in your life. But in the darkness, everything looks alike. No wonder unsaved people (and backslidden believers) are so bored and are constantly seeking escape! The life of faith presents challenges that keep you going, and keep you growing!
In this chapter of Genesis, Abraham, latter known as the “father of faith,” fulfills three special roles we want to discuss: the watcher, the warrior, and the worshiper. In all three roles, Abraham exercised faith in God and made the right decisions.
1. Abraham the Watcher
Please read Genesis 14:1-12 for the background to this section.
This section records the first war ever mentioned in the Bible, and it would not be included here if it hadn’t involved Abraham. The Bible records a great deal of history; but, as the late great Pastor, A.T. Pierson said, “History is His story.” What is written helps us better understand how God worked out His great plan of salvation in this world. In the Bible, historical facts are often windows for spiritual truth.
The five city-states in the plain of Jordan (see Genesis 13:10) had been subject for twelve years to the kings of four eastern city-states and finally revolted against them. This, of course, was a declaration of war; so the four kings invaded the plain of Jordan to bring the five kings into subjection. From our modern viewpoint, the invasion was a minor skirmish; but in that day, it was considered a major international conflict.
Certainly five kings should be able to defeat four kings, especially when they are fighting “on their own turf.” But the army of the cities of the plain was soundly defeated by the invading kings! Apparently the five kings didn’t even know their own land because they were trapped in the slime pits. All their army could do was flee for the hills.
It is said that while reviewing his troops, the Duke of Wellington is supposed to have stated, “I don’t know what effect these men will have on the enemy, but they frighten me!” Ezekiel in his writings suggests that the lifestyle of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah did not prepare them for conflict. (Compare Ezekiel 16:49-50 with 1 John 2:15-17).
Whatever purposes the kings may have had in this war, God had something special in mind for Lot: he became a prisoner of war. Lot had looked at Sodom and moved toward Sodom (Genesis 13:10-13), and now he was living in Sodom (see Psalm 1:1). You might not guess it from his conduct, but Lot was a righteous man (2 Peter 2:6-8). Where did he fail?
While in Egypt with Abraham, Lot had gotten a taste of the world and enjoyed it. Scripture doesn’t record that Lot ever built an altar nor ever sought the Lord, as did his uncle Abraham. Abraham was called “a friend of God” (James 2:23), but Lot was the friend of the world (James 4:4). In time, Lot conformed to the world (Romans 12:2); and when Sodom lost the war, Lot was condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:32). If you identify with the world, then expect to suffer what the world suffers.
Lot’s capture was God’s way of disciplining him and reminding him that he had no business living in Sodom. No doubt Abraham was praying faithfully for his nephew that he might separate himself from the world and start living like a true “stranger and pilgrim.” God disciplines His children because He loves them and wants the best for them (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-11). If we don’t listen to His rebukes, then He has to get our attention some other way; and that way is usually very painful.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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