November 14, 2023
Genesis 14 (HCSB)
Abram Rescues Lot
14 In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2 waged war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, as well as the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All of these came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). 4 They were subject to Chedorlaomer for 12 years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as El-paran by the wilderness. 7 Then they came back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they defeated all the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and lined up for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, but the rest fled to the mountains. 11 The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. 12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom, and they went on. 13 One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.15 And he and his servants deployed against them by night, attacked them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.
Melchizedek’s Blessing
17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20 and I give praise to God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand in an oath to Yahweh, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing except what the servants have eaten. But as for the share of the men who came with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—they can take their share.”
Andrew Ivey
In today’s scripture, we see a great example of the principle: choices have consequences. Lot chose to live in a wicked city surrounded by debauchery. Abraham chose to live, walking with God, in the land God had given him. When war came, Lot was taken captive; Abraham was not. Consequences. Then, obedient Abraham, who walked with God, gathered up his fighting men and overpowered the four kings who had defeated the five kings. Consequences. Afterwards, obedient Abraham is blessed by “the priest of God Most High”. Consequences. Yesterday, I referenced these verses. Today, I’ll give them to you for further reflection: Deuteronomy 11:26-28: “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord...and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord....” Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Are you walking in obedience?
Abram Rescues Lot
14 In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2 waged war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, as well as the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All of these came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). 4 They were subject to Chedorlaomer for 12 years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as El-paran by the wilderness. 7 Then they came back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they defeated all the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and lined up for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, but the rest fled to the mountains. 11 The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. 12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom, and they went on. 13 One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.15 And he and his servants deployed against them by night, attacked them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.
Melchizedek’s Blessing
17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20 and I give praise to God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand in an oath to Yahweh, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing except what the servants have eaten. But as for the share of the men who came with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—they can take their share.”
Andrew Ivey
In today’s scripture, we see a great example of the principle: choices have consequences. Lot chose to live in a wicked city surrounded by debauchery. Abraham chose to live, walking with God, in the land God had given him. When war came, Lot was taken captive; Abraham was not. Consequences. Then, obedient Abraham, who walked with God, gathered up his fighting men and overpowered the four kings who had defeated the five kings. Consequences. Afterwards, obedient Abraham is blessed by “the priest of God Most High”. Consequences. Yesterday, I referenced these verses. Today, I’ll give them to you for further reflection: Deuteronomy 11:26-28: “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord...and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord....” Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Are you walking in obedience?
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Sunday Connect Lesson for January 1, 2023A Note From Pastor H.D.ColossiansJanuary 2, 2023January 3, 2023January 4, 2023January 5, 2023January 6, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKJanuary 8, 2023January 9, 2023January 10, 2023January 11, 2023January 12, 2023January 13, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for January 15, 2023January 16, 2023January 17, 2023January 18, 2023January 19, 2023January 20, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for January 22, 2023January 23, 2023January 24, 2023January 25, 2023January 26, 2023January 27, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for January 29, 2023January 30, 2023January 31, 2023
February
February 1, 2023February 2, 2023February 3, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 5, 2023February 6, 2023February 7, 2023February 8, 2023February 9, 2023February 10, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 12, 2023February 13, 2023February 14, 2023February 15, 2023February 16, 2023February 17, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 19, 2023Outline of 2 PeterFebruary 20, 2023February 21, 2023February 22, 2023February 23, 2023February 24, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 26, 2023A Message from Pastor H.D.February 27, 2023February 28, 2023
March
March 1, 2023March 2, 2023March 3, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 5, 2023March 6, 2023March 7, 2023March 8, 2023March 9, 2023March 10, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 12, 2023March 13, 2023March 14, 2023March 15, 2023March 16, 2023March 17, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 19, 2023March 20, 2023March 21, 2023March 22, 2023March 23, 2023March 24, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 26, 2023March 27, 2023March 28, 2023March 29, 2023March 30, 2023March 31, 2023
No Comments