Please turn with me to Genesis 14.

Today is our third Sunday looking at the Patriarch Abraham.  God holds Abraham up as an example to us of a man who lived by faith.  An example for us of what means to live life with God.

We being seeing that - like us - Abraham struggled with faith just like we struggle in our faith.  His faith wavered.  He messed up.  He had lessons to learn.  But, with whatever Abraham went through - every time he turned to God - God was there - ready to take him to next level - in his faith - in their relationship.  Through all those struggles Abraham grew in his relationship - his faith in God.

Chapter 14 begins a new lesson of faith in Abraham’s life.

Genesis 14:1  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, 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).  All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is the Salt Sea).  Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Let’s pause there.  That’s a lot of names and geography to take in.   Verses 1 to 12 are The Setting for us.  Say that with me, “The setting.”

What we’re going to see here are the circumstances that are going to test Abram’s faith. 

If you look at the picture - which is of the Middle East - you’ll see the Mediterranean Sea on the upper left - moving right we go through - what is today - Syria and on into Iraq.

The first group of kings - mentioned here in verse 1 - are all from the east - from Mesopotamia - three who are allied with the fourth king Chedorlaomer - who controlled the main trade routes between Mesopotamia and Egypt - the fertile crescent between the Nile Valley and the Tigris-Euphrates rivers.  For 12 years Chedorlaomer and this coalition had controlled that trade route.

What’s important for us to grab on to here is that these four kings represent an extremely wealthy and powerful coalition.  These are the powers of the day to be reckoned with.

Then notice back in what is Israel today - this little red circle - around the southern end of the Dead Sea - also known as the Salt Sea - the southern end of which is the Valley of Siddim.  We’re going to blow up that area.  Excuse me - we’re going to enlarge that area.

In verse 2 there’s a list of the five kings that ruled the cities in that small area -  in what was known as the Valley of Siddim - who - for 12 years - had been subject to these 4 powerful kings of Mesopotamia - paying tribute - homage - etc.  In year 13 these 5 kings get together and rebel.  “We ain’t payin’ no more tribute.”

Verse 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, and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness.  Then they turned back and came to Enmishpat (that is Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

If you look at the map you’ll see that these verses are describing a southward march of these four kings - down to what today is the Gulf of Aqaba - the Red Sea - and then the march north to just west of the Dead Sea.

On the way they take out the Rephaim and Zuzim who were families of giants.  Later on in history - Goliath comes from these people.  These men were at least eight to ten feet tall.  A mighty race of warriors.

These four kings just plow through them - seemingly conquering at will.  Pillaging and plundering cities and gobbling up vast expanses of real estate.

Scripture doesn’t give us gory details of how these battles went.  How many people got slaughtered and so on.  What’s important is that there really isn’t any significant opposition.

Point being that these are very powerful kings.  A invincible - relentless - unstoppable - military juggernaut - striking fear in whoever happens to be in their crosshairs.  How powerful are these four kings?  Very powerful.  Say that with me, “Very powerful.”

Verse 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, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar - four kings against five.

Better odds.  Five against four.  They’re defending their own home turf.  Maybe they’ll have a chance. 

Verse 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. 

Anyone ever been to the La Brea Tar Pits in LA?  Lovely place.  Asphalt pools.  Go swimming and become a permanent resident. 

This is a picture of an asphalt bubble at La Brea.  Notice the leaves covering the asphalt.  Hiding the death trap underneath.

The Valley of Siddim was like that.  Tar pits with dust blown over the top of the pits so these death traps looked like all the other ground.

Probably these 5 kings had the clever idea that these tar pits - on their own home turf - would be a natural defense - in their favor.  But, when they started loosing the battle they panicked.  As they’re running for the hills - on the way many of them got trapped in their own tar pit death traps.

So these five kings become another notch on the belts of these four powerful kings.  How powerful are the four kings?  Very powerful.

Verse 11:   Then they - these four powerful kings - then they took all the goods 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.

Verses 11 and 12 are the bottom line of this scene.

Remember back in chapter 13 - the conflict between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen over the seeming lack of good grazing land?  How Abram - trusting God - gave Lot the choice of what land to graze his flocks on.  Remember that? 

Lot - with his flocks and herds - Lot chooses the lush - green - well watered Jordan Valley.  Lot chooses what was appealing to his own eyes rather than waiting for God’s direction.  Lot trusting himself rather than trusting God.

What we read here in verses 11 and 12 is a sad result of that choice.  Lot - choosing to dwell in the valley with his flocks - no longer lives outside the city of Sodom - out in the fields.  He’s been enticed inside the city - with all of its immorality and sin.

Lot who had chosen to trust in the wealth and power of Sodom and Gomorrah is hauled off in defeat.  Hauled off with all his possessions and family - with all that he’s trusted in - hauled off as a spoil of war - by these four very powerful kings from Mesopotamia.

Its not much of a stretch to put ourselves where Lot is.  Is it?  We often get impressed with our own cleverness - trusting our wise perspective of life.  Only to find out that all that misplaced trust is really a trap - pulling us away from God and all that He has for us.   

The scene here - in verses 1 to 12 - what’s happened to Lot - the scene that confronts Abram is very sad.  It many ways hopeless - seemingly without a solution.

Put simply:  This scene really is the pits.

Verses 13 to 16 focus on Abram’s Response.  Try that together, “Abram’s response.”

How can Abram possibly respond to these hopeless circumstances - Lot’s captivity - the overwhelming power of these four kings?

Verse 13:  Then a fugitive - probably someone who barely escaped death and capture - or both - a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew.  Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram.

Let’s pause there.  This is the only place in Scripture where Abram is called a Hebrew.  The Hebrew word is “ibree” - which has the idea of someone who’s come from beyond - out there someplace - a pilgrim who’s crossed over into our land.

Abram - this pilgrim - is dwelling by the oaks of Mamre.  The word “mamre” means “fatness” or “strength.”  What we saw last Sunday - was that this place was for Abram a place where his soul was made fat - full - by God.  A place of spiritual supply and fellowship with God where Abram comes and pitches his tent and builds an altar - worships God - dwells with God - experiences the strength and supply of God in his life. 

Gathered with Abram - apparently under the leadership of this pilgrim from another land - Abram - gathered together - in the face of this hopeless situation - gathered together in God’s presence - are Abram’s Amorite allies.

Grab this - Abram’s response begins is with God.  Let’s say that together, “Abram’s response begins with God.”

Which should be true of us.  Being continually in the presence of God - focused on Him - seeking Him - waiting on Him.  So that no matter what we’re confronted with - we’re already in a place where God can lead us through our circumstances according to His will.

Verse 14:  When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.  He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.  He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

The custom of the day was that a conquering army - after a great victory - the winning army would travel to a place they considered safe.  “Hobah” means “hidden.”  These four kings head off to a place - just north of Damascus - a place considered “hidden” - to make camp - and then - according to the custom of the day - they probably spent several days getting totally toasted - drunk and carousing around celebrating their victory - partay.

Abram - when he hears that Lot has been captured - not that Sodom or Gomorrah or any one else has been captured - when Abram hears that nephew Lot has been captured - his nephew that he’s been given responsibility for - Abram takes his own 318 men - specially trained for battle - takes his men and his allies men - does a forced march up the Jordan River valley to Dan - where he splits his troops into two groups - attacking the drunken army from two sides - and utterly routs them.  A huge victory.

In the midst of this overwhelmingly horrible circumstance - Abram begins with God - dwelling with God.  So his response isn’t about  the wealth of Sodom - or what he gains for himself - or even a fear of getting creamed.   Abram’s response is to do what pleases God and to trust God for the results.  Which here is this huge victory in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

Verses 17 to 24 focus on Abram’s Heart.  Try that together, “Abram’s heart.” 

The hardest things about preaching isn’t the hours of research and study and trying to organize my thoughts.  The hardest things about preaching is when people come up after the service and say something like, “That was a great sermon.”  And I know they’re right.  That was a great sermon.  Awesome sermon.

The hardest thing about preaching is my own ego.  How success messes with the heart.  I start thinking that preaching is all about me.  My ability.  My understanding of Scripture.  My winning personality and awesome delivery style.

You laugh.

But, when I begin to think that success is about me - then the pressure’s on to do better next Sunday - perfect exegesis - amazing graphics - heart shredding illustrations.  But without the work of the Holy Spirit - with out humility and openness to God - trusting God to work in and through me - I’m in serious - stressful - spiritual trouble.

Friday night our softball team played two games.  We won the first game by forfeit.  The second game we played against a team that had only 6 players to begin the game with.  We had all our guys - and Heidi - and they were short handed.

The sporting thing to do was to lend them a few players to start the game until the rest of their players were able to be there to play.  But, this was a team that had beaten us - several times - and they were vulnerable.  So, in my loving Christian way of thinking I suggested that we share nothing and bury them while we had the chance.

Because - after all - victory is what’s important.  Its all about bragging rights.  Being able to point to what we - by our skills and ability - what we were able to accomplish.

Ability - success - are dangerous things.

How powerful are the four kings?  Very powerful.  Totally mowed down everyone in their path.

Abram - this pilgrim tent dweller - with only 318 men with his Amorite allies - totally routs them.  Total victory.  Brings home the goods - Lot and all his possessions - the women - the people.  What was a sad hopeless situation is now legend fodder.  A victory for the ages that even today we remember.  Songs will be written.  Speeches given.  Banquets held in Abram’s honor.

Its an ego moment well deserved.  “Abram - you just defeated the most powerful military alliance in the world.  What are you going to do now?” 

“I’m taking the lot of them to Disneyland.”

Looking at the heart attitude of Abram - here in verses 17 to 24 - thinking about how we get messed up in our faith - look with me at how Abram handled success.

Verse 17:  Then after his - Abram’s - return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the  kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he - Melchizedek - was a priest of God Most High.  He - Melchizedek - blessed him - Abram - and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”  He - Abram - gave him - Melchizedek - a tenth of all.

As Abram’s heading back down towards the oaks of Mamre - he’s met by the king of Sodom - who we’re going to see comes with an offer of all the wealth and power and ego stroking stuff of this world.

Then there’s Melchizedek the king of Salem.

The writer of the book of Hebrews - the passage that Bob read earlier (Hebrews 7:1-10) - Hebrews tells us that Melchizedek is a type of Christ - an example in the Old Testament helping us to understand Jesus Christ today.

The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness.”  And that fits Jesus.  Melchizedek is the king of “peace” - “shalem.”  Jesus is called the Prince of Peace.

Melchizedek is both the king and priest of Salem.  A man who has authority over the people - who represents God to the people and the people to God.  Jesus is prophet, priest, and king.

Their meeting takes place outside the village of Salem - which down the line of history becomes Jerusalem - the capital of Israel.  The King’s Valley is where this little brook runs down the eastern side of Jerusalem - which later is called the Valley of the Kidron - which separates the Mount of Olives from the city itself.  The same valley Jesus went through on his way to Gethsemane.

Point being:  This isn’t just a few guys who happened to bump into each other on the road some place.  This is a set-up.  God is at work here making sure that Abram - and us - that we don’t miss God’s point.

In verse 19 - Melchizedek reminds Abram that its God Most High - the owner and ruler of heaven and earth - the God who is infinitely more powerful than any earthly king - even four of them put together - its God Most High Who’s blessed Abram.

In verse 20 - Melchizedek testifies that its God Most High who’s won this incredible victory - not Abe and his band of 318 men and a handful of others against this military juggernaut.  Its not because of Abe’s clever strategy that they don’t get themselves creamed - that they’re utterly victorious.  There’s more going on here.  God Most High is worthy of blessing and honor and glory and adoration for all that He - God Most High - has accomplished.

What demonstrates Abram’s heart is this almost hidden statement at the end of verse 20 - Abram gives to Melchizedek - God’s representative - in that holy place - gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything he’s hauling back down to Mamre.

Imagine what that represents.  One tenth of everything plundered as these four kings made their way down to the Red Sea and then back up again to loot the five cities in the valley of Siddim. Plus everything these four kings had brought with them in the first place.  Its not hard to imagine that these four kings traveled with lots of good stuff.

Abram just hands it over.  Without hesitation.  Without thinking through all he’s gone through to get all that stuff - the long march - risking his neck - having to put up with Lot’s foolishness.

Just hands it over.   Because Abram understands that this victory isn’t about him and how clever he is.  The victory is God’s.  God is God Most High - not Abram.  All the stuff is God’s stuff.  Given to Abram because God Most High is gracious and merciful and loving.  Because God has blessed Abram.

Verse 21:  The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.”

That’s a tempting offer - appropriate.  A payment for services rendered.  Let me keep my people - take them back to their homes.  You don’t need them as slaves.  Its the right thing to do.

And, you keep all the wealth.  Whatever’s left after paying your tithe to Mel here.  After paying off God certainly you can do what you want with what’s left.  All that stuff is what you have coming to you.  You earned it.  Consider it part of God’s blessing.  Hasn’t God said He’d bless you?

Which of one us could honestly say that we wouldn’t be tempted by that offer?  It is an ego twisting temptation.

Verse 22:  Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’  I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.

Where did that wealth come from?  Sodom.  Where was Lot living?  Sodom.  What was Lot trusting in?  The wealth and power of Sodom.  Sodom’s stuff.

“Let these other guys make up their minds what they’re going to do with what’s theirs.  But, there’s no way I’m going to get hooked into any indebtedness to you.  This victory isn’t about you - or me.  Its about God.”

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 12 - verse 3:  For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Saul, the great persecutor of the church.  A man zealous in his faith dragging Christians from their homes to their martyrdom.  Saul is on his way to Damascus - same route Abram took.

What happens?  Jesus - God Most High - graciously stops Saul - a man destined for the judgment and wrath of God - Jesus stops Saul dead in his tracks.   On the road to Damascus Saul comes to believe and trust in Jesus as his Savior.  Saul becomes Paul - by God’s grace - one of the greatest evangelists and theologians the church has ever had.

Paul writes, “Through the grace given to me I say this to you.”  Grace is what?  getting what we do not deserve.

Hear this.  Our being here is not because of us.  Our being here is because of God.  We wouldn’t know what to believe or in Whom or for what - if God - by His grace - hadn’t shown us.

Nothing that we have - whatever’s sitting in the bank no matter how much or how little that may be - our homes - our cars - whatever stuff we call “our stuff.”  All that isn’t because of our cleverness - our inventiveness - our strength - our abilities - or whatever else we may be tempted to count on or involve ourselves with.  Its because God is gracious.

Whatever circumstances we face in life - especially when life’s the pits - that we have any measure of achievement.  Whatever victories and successes.  Its because God is gracious.

Just being able to breathe is a demonstration that God Most High is gracious to us.

That’s an ego buster isn’t it?

Sound judgment - clear thinking - comes as we humbly see ourselves as recipients of faith that God by His grace has awakened in us.

When we begin to see ourselves and our lives as God sees us - to understand who we are before the God Most High - then - like Abram - we’re going to have a heart attitude - that God will use to teach us to let go of anything - any self-destructive attitudes - that keep us from fully trusting God and living in His victory.