Genesis 14:14 - Forerunner Commentary

Genesis 14:14

12 They also took Lot, Abram’s ^abrother’s son ^bwho dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the ^aHebrew, for ^bhe dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; ^cand they were allies with Abram.

14 Now ^awhen Abram heard that ^bhis brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were ^cborn in his own house, and went in pursuit ^das far as Dan.

15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants ^aattacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

16 So he ^abrought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

17 And the king of Sodom ^awent out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, ^bthe King’s Valley), ^cafter his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Abram and Melchizedek

18 Then ^aMelchizedek king of Salem brought out ^bbread and wine; he was ^cthe priest of ^dGod Most High.

19 And he blessed him and said:
^a“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
^bPossessor of heaven and earth;

Commentaries:

No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for Genesis 14:14.

Genesis 14:14-17

Alright, the second positive example. This one I call, "Get on the Offensive!" This is part of the story of Abraham. The background of this is the Confederation of Kings which make war against Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot lived.

What he had told him was that Lot had been taken by these kings.

And if we would go on we would find that Abraham also put God first and gave a tithe of all that he had there to Melchizedek, and then he gave everything else back to the owners. He did not keep anything for himself.

Here was another catastrophe. Lot, his nephew, was taken captive by an enemy army, and was being hustled off to their homeland. Abraham could have just sat their and said, "Woe is me! Woe is me! What am I going to do?"

But there is no hesitation. Abraham got his people together and they were off. He took action. He did something constructive. He did not just sit there and pile dirt on his head. He made the best of the situation. He tried to help.

I think that the worst thing one could do is nothing!

We, like Abraham in this example, can in wisdom go on the offensive, and restore peace and tranquility to our lives, and others who have been affected by the disaster. Take action in wisdom, of course, but take action. Do not just do nothing and sit there.

Excerpted from Responding to Catastrophe

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Abram and Melchizedek

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