Burning Bush Blogs
Equipping Men with Biblical Knowledge and Leadership Skills
Category: Group Study
Thread: Significant Battles and their Impact on God’s Plan
Post Topic: Abraham Saves Lot
Post in Thread: #1 (divided into 3 parts)
Next Post: The Fall of Jericho
Scripture: Genesis 14
14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
Genesis 14:14-16
Note – This story is divided into smaller sections in order to keep with the Burning Bush Blog’s pledge to produce less-demanding studies. But there is no right or wrong pace. Use in whatever manner works for you and your group.
Part 1 – Prelude: The Bible’s First War
Scripture: Genesis 14:1-12
Key Verses:
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, 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 when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills… 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
Genesis 14:8-10; Genesis 14:12
Observations
Context
Lot was the nephew of Abram (who God later named Abraham). Earlier in Genesis, Lot and Abram had separated. Lot was seduced by the liveliness of the city, while Abram remained a prosperous nomad.
Geography
Lot’s city of Sodom and its neighbors were located in the south near the western side of the Dead Sea. The invaders came from the east and the north – Mesopotamia, Edom, Babylon (modern-day Iran and Turkey).
Events
- Verses 1-7 – the invasion begins
- The conquered city-state of Sodom and its neighbors had been paying tribute to Chedorlaomer the King of Edom for 12 years.
- Finally the five kings had had enough. They decided to stop paying.
- Chedorlaomer wasn’t going to stand for it. He gathered his allies and began the campaign in the north. They worked down the east side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, plundering as they went.
- Verses 8-12 – Rebels routed
- Finally the four invading kings arrived in the area of Sodom (Valley of Siddim), where they faced off against the five rebellious kings.
- The invaders routed the rebellious kings, who either hid or fell into tar pits.
- They plundered the cities, including Sodom. Lot and his family were taken captive.
Discussion
Would Lot have been made a slave? Conscripted as a soldier?
Interpretation
Setting
The two sides set up battle lines in the Valley of Siddam, somewhere west of the Dead Sea. Lot’s city, Sodom, was likely located on the Dead Sea, a desert area with oases and tar pits.
Abram and his growing contingent of servants and associates would have been reasonably close. Because of their nomad lifestyle, he likely would have heard rumors of the invaders, but wouldn’t have been engaged with the very pagan cities and their rebellion against Chedorlaomer.
Genre/Author
Narrative. This is a historical story recounted by Moses generations later.
Takeaways
- Lot was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Sodom and its sister-cities were a lawless bunch who didn’t follow God. Their decision to rebel was made rashly.
- Although Lot was a believer, he chose the bright lights of the corrupt city.
Discussion
Why did Lot choose to leave Abram and live in Sodom? Was he too enamored with the worldly lifestyle? Or did he think he could be a witness to the people of Sodom?
Correlation
- 2 Peter 2:8 calls Lot a righteous man who was tormented daily in his soul by the lawless acts he witnessed.
- Genesis 13:12-13 – when Lot and Abram separated, Lot chose to pitch his tent near Sodom, even though as v13 says: the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.
Application
Generic Applications
- Lot’s choice to live in Sodom does not appear to have been the will of God. Decisions have consequences.
- Even if Lot had good intentions, he needed a better understanding of his limits. He wasn’t able to make a difference in this corrupt place, and likely got caught up in their evil ways, or at least had to turn a blind eye.
Group Discussion
- Would you go to Happy Hour with your unbelieving friends? How about a strip club? What’s a good way to say thanks but no thanks?
- Do we know our limits when hanging out with unbelievers? Can we stay true to our beliefs?
- Was Lot living outside God’s will? How do we know if we are living in God’s will? Not always easy to know.
Part 2 – Surprise Attack
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother[b] of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
Genesis 14:13-16
Observations
Events
- Abram already had 318 trained men in his household.
- He also had allies in Mamre, Eshkol, and Aner.
- He didn’t hesitate to attempt a rescue.
- He pursued them all the way to Dan.
- Abram devised a daring nighttime attack. His 318 men and his allies had to be much smaller than the forces of the four kings!
- He divided his forces in separate teams.
- They attacked the invaders in the middle of the night, who probably thought they were in the clear and headed home.
- In the chaos, the enemies ran for their lives. Abram pursued them deep into modern-day Syria (north of Damascus).
- Abram saved Lot and his family, as well as all the other captives.
Discussion
Don’t you wish the Bible said more about this battle? How do you think it went down?
Interpretation
Setting
The area of Dan is a spectacular, luscious landscape, with natural springs feeding rivers leading to the Jordan. Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient city here dating back to Abrahamic times. They were shocked to find an arched gateway into the city that many believe Abraham himself would have entered.
Genre/Author
Narrative. This is a historical story recounted by Moses generations later.
Takeaways
- Abram didn’t hesitate to launch the rescue party.
- Abram trusted God, yet he was also ready for whatever might come. He had over 300 hardened men in his household.
Discussion
- If you knew nothing about Abram before reading this, what traits would you be assigning to him after reading this far?
- What was Abram’s first thought was when the messenger arrived to tell him that his estranged nephew Lot had been taken captive with the other Sodomites?
Application
Generic Applications
- When someone needs help, don’t let disputes stand in the way. Worry about differences later.
- We need to be prepared for what life may throw at us, as Abram was prepared. We may not experience an actual war, but spiritual warfare is real. We can be prepared by learning from God’s Word.
Group Discussion
- If you’re having a dispute with someone, and they need help, does the dispute need to be settled before we act? How do we balance healthy boundaries with assisting those in need?
- Thinking of Abram’s persistent, courageous actions – Can anyone share a story of courage that impacted your life or someone you know?
Part 3 – Spoils of War
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came 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 priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram…Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
… 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
Genesis 14:17-19; 21-23
Observations
Context
Melchizedek was the king of Salem (which we think eventually became Jerusalem). He was also a priest. It’s unusual for someone to hold both titles.
Events
- Abram’s forces liberated Lot and his family, as well as the captured citizens of Sodom and the other neighboring cities.
- He also recovered all their possessions. Likely, he captured a lot of the defeated kings’ possessions too.
- Triumphant return – Abram met with Melchizedek first, and gave him one tenth of the spoils.
- Melchizedek blessed Abram but gave God the glory for delivering the enemies into Abram’s hand.
- Melchizedek provide bread and wine for the celebration.
- The king of Sodom wanted the people back, but offered to allow Abram to keep the possessions.
- Abram declined, not wanting anyone to be able to claim that the king of Sodom had mad him rich.
- Abram treated the King of Sodom in a completely opposite manner to Melchizedek.
Discussion
Was Melchizedek’s bread and wine the first recorded communion? Over a thousand years before Christ?
Interpretation
Setting
The king of Sodom and Melchizedek met the victorious forces in the Valley of Shaveh. This is probably the Kidron valley, which sits between the famous Mount of Olives and Jerusalem.
The king of Sodom and his allies would have had to travel north a distance from the Dead Sea area to the valley in order to meet Abraham and the others.
Genre/Author
Narrative. This is a historical story recounted by Moses generations later.
Takeaways
- Righteousness meant more to Abram than material possessions.
- Abram gave credit to God for his wealth and successes.
- Abram was too smart to be beholden to a godless man, even though Abram could have kept all the plunder and even the liberated citizens as his own slaves if he’d so chosen.
- It seems interesting that this scene took place near the spot where Abram would eventually be asked to sacrifice his only son. Also the spot was within sight of the garden where Jesus would be betrayed and arrested. He might have been walked in chains across this very spot on his way to trial in Jerusalem.
Discussion
Did Abram really have to give all the spoils back to the liberated cities?
Correlation
- Hebrews 7:1-10 – The writer of Hebrews marvels at what a righteous man Melchizedek was. He writes more about this man in the New Testament than we know about him from Genesis. The writer of Hebrews finds it amazing that one of the patriarchs felt the need to give him 1/10th of the spoils of war.
Application
Generic Applications
- Be smart about how people perceive you. Avoid deals with wicked people, even if the deals are innocent.
- Give God respect for your successes in life. In the next chapter, Genesis 15, God establishes his covenant with Abram. He’ll bless you for honoring Him.
Group Discussion
- How embarrassing must Abram’s rebuke have been to the king of Sodom? Abram didn’t mince words. Yet Sodom remained sinful. Within Abraham/Lot’s lifetime, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God. Why didn’t the king didn’t change his ways?
Historical Significance
This battle elevated Abraham’s significance throughout the region. Although as a nomad he wasn’t a king, his legendary rescue would have bolstered the status of him and his descendants throughout the Canaan. His clan was firmly established as a force to be respected.
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.