CONFLICTS

GENESIS 14 CONFLICTS In much of the ancient world in which Abram lived, people lived under the authority and guidance of leaders of city/states. In this chapter, there are nine that are named. Four of them come from Shem’s seed and five are from Ham. Even before Lot left Abram to move to Sodom, kings from Shem’s lineage had been in conflict with the giants and other tribes in Ham’s line. The world in which we live has been in constant conflict because of the sinfulness of human nature. Sinners can’t help sinning and sin always brings conflict. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”

The dark rebellious-minded powers had been overcome by those of a more reasonable bent even though they were fallen and debased themselves. For twelve years there was an unsettled calm until another branch of Ham’s descendants, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, rebelled and were overcome by those who were more controlled and steadier. There will always be a certain degree of controversy between those who are atheistic and/or agnostic in their beliefs and those who are religious, even though their “religion” may only be a form. The Babylonian religion of the world system is very strong in our day, although many people in Western world countries have turned away from Christianity as a religion. Those who believe in the gods of their religion can often overcome those whose god is only themselves. Religionists can become fanatics who are willing to die for what they believe because they have hope for a better future. Those who believe in themselves are generally fatalists who just live for the present and die without any hope for the future.

Like Abram in the high place among the beauties of the trees, and separated unto God, people who put their faith in God alone, remain out of the wars going on in the valleys below where “There is no peace saith my God to the wicked.” There are some things we are not to get involved in. The conflicts of the world system, whether political, social, or religious, are things we should stay away from. How difficult and daunting it must have been for a “just man” like Lot, who knew what was right but chose what was wrong, to have lived in Sodom! His spirit was “vexed from day to day” but he still remained in the valley of conflict, and dwelt in the hotbed of it all – Sodom.

The teaching of the world system is that believers should not be separated from the controversies that continually afflict people and nations. Pilgrims are wanted from both sides of conflicts, to support those who lead those conflicts. Abram never joined either side: Shem’s descendants, who were the religious people, or the ungodly people of Sodom who were irreligious. He had prepared himself and his people to defend what was his, in the same way, believers today should be constantly learning what we know to be true from the word of God. We should know how to defend what is right, and how to seek the lost who are living without God, without Christ, and without hope in the world.

It is no small matter when something so serious arises that we can’t avoid getting involved. There are obvious and potential dangers, but “If a brother be overtaken in a fault, ye that are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness (power under control), considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.” Abram didn’t join with either the religious or irreligious. He remained separate but did what he did “as to the Lord” and went with his own trained men under the guidance and strength of the Lord to deliver Lot.

The result was, Lot was freed by Abram and his three-hundred eighteen trained men. Through the pilgrim, the Lord brought deliverance to the captives. That principle and practice remain today for us. God uses those who are ready to serve Him, not the world, and through the power of His Gospel, souls are delivered from the chains that bind them and God sets them free in Christ. The pilgrim was the one who could truly help his brother who was helpless to save himself then, and it is the same today.

Even though there was a failure on the part of Lot, Abram could not ignore the need of his brother in the flesh who had deliberately associated himself with “them that know not God.” God vindicated His own servant who was the needed helper in time of need. When we go in the power of the Spirit of God to do the work of God in delivering souls from the bondage of sin, it is our responsibility to do what God tells us in His word to do, and it is God who delivers and saves the lost souls.

At the triumphant return of Abram and his private armed force, two different kings came out to meet him. The king of Sodom must have avoided capture by running away during the battle. That is the way of the world. As long as you conform to it and the way it wants, you will be all right – until the crunch comes. Then you are left on your own. Lot and his family were not part of the conflict, but because of where they lived and what Lot had chosen, they were captives because of the conflict. If a believer has not separated himself or herself from the world, even though they may not be involved in all the ungodly people do, they will still not be untouched by the events in which unbelievers are engaged. They will suffer because they were in the wrong place by their own choice.

When people of faith are tempted, we must remember to whom we belong and resolve to “not touch” the unclean things of the world, even when they are freely offered. A thread or a shoe-lace isn’t much, but when it comes from the favor of those who are wicked, those small strings are attached to the “appearance of evil.” Those who are rulers of darkness may seek a means to trap a person of faith in God into some form of compromise. The results of that subtle conflict may not be known for quite a while, but to take anything from the unclean fruits of wickedness is to invite trouble in the future.

The king of Salem (peace), Melchizedek (king of righteousness), was an unknown believer in the Most-High God. There are believers in many parts of the world whom we will never know about, but who are God’s chosen people placed where He wants them, to do what He wants them to do. What a joy it will be to meet those unknown people of faith in God in the future! We are not told of his pedigree, his history, or any of his exploits, but it is enough to know that he brought “bread to strengthen and wine to cheer.” Men of faith, after conflict, may be faint. Especially if the rulers of darkness come out to meet them and praise them. The blessing of Melchizedek, the king/priest was gladly received. He knew who had won the battle. He knew God. “The Most-High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand,” was the One who brought victory.

Abram refused to be enriched by Sodom, but he was a giver when he had the opportunity, to one who represented “The Most-High God Possessor of heaven and earth.” After the conflict and the victory, Abram gave God, through Melchizedek, that which belonged to Him. When God’s people are true to God according to how God prospered them, their glory is not in themselves and their gifts, but their glory is in the cross of Christ. Conflict concluded under the divine deliverance of God, is a cause for rejoicing, responsibility, and remembering the One who delivered us.

EMERGENCY The Battle. The whole world is seen as a place of conflict and emergency measures are always needed. In the battles of evil people against each other, those who belong to Christ need to remember where our citizenship is and not become entangled in the deeds of the darkness of this age. The Capture. Lot only lived for the moment and for immediate advantage. To be near what was wrong was not enough for him. He wanted to live where he could be a part of the action, although he was not a participant in all of the evil practices. The Bold Action. Abram was a brave, thoughtful man who knew the value of being skilled himself, and of training those who followed him so they would be ready for any contingency. He pursued those who took Lot. He had a strategy he followed and with his skillful leadership under divine control, he rescued Lot. Strangely, there is no record of Lot even expressing appreciation. The Brave Man. A godly man living a godly life is a man God can use. He had sympathy for those who were lost as he went to rescue the perishing. He made a decision to act with courage, initiative, and trust in God. He had taken the time and thought, to prepare himself to be capable of doing what needed to be done. A faithful man living before the Lord, and in contact with God, is a man God can use. He had experienced the grace of God himself when he was astray. He knew the power of God and the wonders of God and was stirred into action. Faith purifies our lives, instructs our minds, softens our hearts, stirs our actions, strengthens our resolve, and controls our will. “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.”

Success and adversity are both good tests of character. How a person conducts themselves when a victory has taken place in their life, reveals their inner character and spiritual power. “To God be all the glory,” is an important phrase to remember whenever He chooses to bless us through adversity or success. When Abram returned with Lot and all the things that had been taken from Sodom, the king of Sodom naturally came out to express his gratitude for what Abram had done. There was another king who had come out to meet Abram before him, the king of Salem.

Royal Recognition, v.17-18. There was a striking contrast in the attitude of Abram toward those two kings. To the king of Sodom, he asserted his independence from him entirely. To the king of Salem, he acknowledged his dependence on the Most-High God of whom the king/priest was His representative. To the king of Sodom, he was an equal. To the king of Salem, he admitted his inferiority. To the king of Sodom, Abram had the attitude of dignity. To the king of Salem, he showed the spirit of humility.

The reason for the obvious difference was faith. Faith recognizes a spiritual person. Melchizedek was God’s representative and Abram quickly discerned that fact. Faith also recognizes spiritual peril. The temptation to be made rich in this world’s goods is often the result of success and victory. Faith is able to resist the pressure to be exalted by sinful people. Faith rests on the fact that if “In all our ways,” we acknowledge God is in control, “He will direct [our] paths.” Priestly Blessing, v.18-20. Priesthood gives a person access to the presence of God on behalf of others as their representative. That is what we do when we go to the “throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Melchizedek blessed Abram and prayed for God’s blessing on him. He also blessed God for His deliverance on behalf of Abram. God blesses us by taking action on our behalf. We are able to bless God with our words. Abram’s Acknowledgement, v.20. He was willing to receive the blessing Melchizedek offered, conscious of the power and position of the king/priest. He acknowledged the authority of Melchizedek, by giving a tithe of all he had. God has that absolute right to what He has given us, and when spontaneous gifts are given by those who are redeemed and grateful, God accepts that as a sweet- smelling savor to Him. Natural Proposition, v.21. The king of Sodom acknowledged his indebtedness to Abram and it was his obvious intent to show his gratitude by having Abram keep all the goods he recovered. What he really wanted for himself was the people over whom he would rule. Abram was guided by divine and spiritual principles to not take the smallest thing. His desires were not natural but spiritual. Abram’s Refusal, v.22-24. He would not take the smallest gift that would compromise his testimony and integrity. “That which is of the earth is earthy.” Lot is an example of the spiritual, moral, and personal dangers of cooperation with this ungodly world.