Active Faith - Part 1 (Genesis 14:1–24)

“. . . They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.” (Genesis 14:11–12, NIV).  Let's try to unravel the story here:

Kedorlaomer Alliance		Sodom/Gomorrah Alliance
King Amraphel of Babylonia,		King Bera of Sodom,
King Arioch of Ellasar,		King Birsha of Gomorrah,
King Kedorlaomer of Elam		King Shinab of Admah
King Tidal of Goiim		King Shemeber of Zeboiim
		King of Bela (also called Zoar).

The Group on the right had been under the rule of the group on the left.  They rebelled.  Now the Alliance on the left marched into the area to resume control. The fight is 4 against 5!  Four beat five!  In the process the Sodom/Gomorrah Alliance had been defeated.  They headed for home with all their spoils, including Abram's nephew, Lot and his family.

This draws Abram into the battle. This narrative is the only time Abram is depicted as a warrior.  “A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.” (Genesis 14:13, NIV).

This is the first instance that describes Abram as a "Hebrew."   "Abram is in the line of Shem . . . as was Eber—the progenitor of the Hebrews. The word for “Hebrew” could also come from the preposition 'eber, meaning “beyond,” resulting in the translation “Abram, the one from beyond (the river Euphrates).” [1] “When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household . . ..” (Genesis 14:14, NIV).   This term "trained men" "is a hapax legomena [2] found in the Egyptian Execration texts (nineteenth-eighteenth century B.C.). This term indicates the might of Abram, especially the size and strength of his entourage . . . He is called a mighty prince in Genesis 23:6 and thus is recognized by the inhabitants of the land as an influential person, possibly a ruler of a section of the land." [3]

Father, strength and influence is not an ungodly trait.  We can sometimes think of the true and faithful as being placid and weak.  Power and authority can certainly be used in many wicked and deceitful ways, but it is not evil in itself.  Your Son and our Savior was no wimp. Jesus was a strong and forthright man.   He could clear a Temple and later cuddle children on His lap.  Father you have given us power and influence.  Help us to use these gifts in ways that bring glory to Your Son and freedom to Your people.  Help us not to be wimpy Christians, but people who are strong in the Lord and the power of His might.  Faith is not feebleness.  

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1.  Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ge 14:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

2. Hapax legomena; sometimes abbreviated to hapax, pl. hapaxes) is a word that occurs only once within a context, either in the written record of an entire language, in the works of an author, or in a single text.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (47). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.