Abraham Watches (Gen. 14:1-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 05/25/2006

My Worship Time                                                                       Focus:  Abraham Watches

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Genesis 14:1-12

            Meaning of the verse:  “1 And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,

2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).  3 All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness.  7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar.  8 And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.  10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country.  11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed.  12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.”

           

            In these first twelve verses of Genesis chapter fourteen there is recorded the first war that is in the Scriptures, and that does not mean that there have not been any other wars before this, but this is the first recorded war.  The Bible does not recorded all historical events, but only those that the Holy Spirit wants to include, and this is for spiritual reasons, and there is spiritual meaning seen in this story.  In verse twelve the spiritual reason is seen, at least a part of it and that is that Lot who is Abraham’s nephew was taken as a prisoner of war in this battle. 

           

            When Abraham went down to Egypt because of a famine in the land, as seen in an earlier chapter, Lot had gone with him and seemed to become attracted to the “world” at this time and never got over his attraction of the world.  He left Abraham to move toward Sodom and in this chapter we see that Lot was living in Sodom and that is why he was captured.  Lot moved toward Sodom and then moved into Sodom and then Sodom moved into Lot, yet Peter records that Lot was a righteous man and the sins of Sodom vexed his soul.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:   The Bible shows snapshots of Abraham’s life and in some of them he lives by faith, in fact most of them, but in some of them he tries to handle things by himself apart from the Lord’s leading. 

            God brings things into all believers lives in order to bring maturity into there lives, different things for different people, but the same goal in mind.  If I am to be successful in living by faith, then trust in the Lord is very important, and trust means that I trust the Lord to work out these things that He brings into my life as a means of bring maturity into my life.  Maturity in the life of a believer means change, and change is something that is not pleasant all of the time.

The Word of God has been a challenge to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord as He leads me through different changes in my life, that He will bring about maturity in my life as He directs my path, and that He will teach me contentment in every circumstance.