Abraham, or Abram as he was called at the time of this story, was seriously outnumbered. His men were shepherds, servants from his own household, untrained warriors. Abram himself was an old man, well into his 80s. Nonetheless, he left his home, taking all of his servants with him, and went off to face a huge army of four combined kingdoms who had just completely overthrown a coalition of five other kingdoms.
Was he crazy? How could he even think that he would win? What would possibly have motived him to even leave his home for this?
The story is found in Genesis 14:1-16, and I invite you to read it. Not because I think you will ever be in the place where you have to go after a coalition of four kings and their armies who have just overthrown another coalition of five kingdoms. Or at least not literally. Rather, I believe there is a lot of important tips on spiritual warfare in this short story…
First of all, what could have possibly motivated Abram to do such a thing?
The answer lies in verses 11-12: “Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed.They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.” (Genesis 14:11-12 NASB). One of the people taken in the raid was none other than Abram’s beloved nephew, Lot! Sure, they had had some differences (See Genesis 13). Otherwise Lot wouldn’t have been living in Sodom in the first place. Nonetheless, Lot was Abram’s blood relative and Abram cared about him.
But love or not, going up against four victorious kings with such a small army of shepherds and herdsmen was crazy, for we know that he was seriously outnumbered: “When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, numbering 318” (Genesis 14:14 NASB). Abram wasn’t just your normal, everyday guy, however. Abram was a man of faith: “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed … By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise…” (Hebrews 11:8a, 9a NASB)
Abram had a promise that God would make a great nation of his seed, and Abram had faith in God to keep ALL of His promises! He had already experienced God’s protection time and time again on this trip, and there was no doubt in his mind that God wouldn’t let him down. And so, he set out with his 318 men and pursued the warriors who had taken his nephew captive. And because of his believe that God would help him do the impossible, he did the impossible: “he and his servants … defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah … He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.” (Genesis 14:15b-16 NASB)
Abram had something more than just faith, however. He had God’s wisdom. Remember that he was not a man of war. He had no experience in combat. Nonetheless, God gave him the wisdom and the battle tactics that he needed: “Then he divided his forces against them by night…” (Genesis 14:15a). Abram knew from experience that God’s wisdom was his for the asking. The book of James hadn’t been written yet. Hey, none of the Bible had been at this time. Nonetheless, he knew and practiced the truth of James 1:5-8: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,being double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (NASB) Abram had faith to believe that when he sought wisdom, God would give it to him!
The next time you are, or one of your loved ones is, up against spiritual attack, remember this story of how Abram rescued his nephew Lot. First of all, love that person (even if it is yourself!) enough to want to rescue them. Then put your faith in God’s promises to deliver us from evil. Finally, seek God’s wisdom on how to proceed. When you do, you have a sure recipe for victory.
I don’t know about you, but my go-to in trouble is generally panic. Take the time, for example, when my husband’s dementia-related comprehension problems took a turn for the worse, and I couldn’t figure out how to make him understand what he needed to understand in a particular situation. First I panicked. But then I sought God’s wisdom. What God told me to do what seemed ludicrous, but I decided I loved my husband enough to want to resolve this issue, and I decided to put my faith in God who had given me the idea. Is anyone surprised that it worked? No more tension about this particular issue!
Our prayer? Lord, help us to skip the panic. Help us to love enough to risk all for the fight. Help us to remember to seek Your wisdom, and then put our faith in You and You alone!
There are two more important lessons to learn from captive Lot and his rescuing uncle, Abram. Please join us next Saturday for “How to Stay Humble: Uncle to the Rescue, Part 2”
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
