Genesis 14:13-1613And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. (Genesis 14:13‑16)
“And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram... and when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan... and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah.” 10:13-15.
This event presents a lovely picture of the way God will sometimes use a faithful believer to help one who has fallen into worldly ways and grief. After Lot separated from Abram there was apparently little, if any, communication between them. Lot dwelt in Sodom. It was not one standing only for God, but one striving to care for himself. His portion lay, by choice, in the comforts and prosperity of a wicked city. On the other hand, Abram’s portion was seeking God’s desires and he therefore had no interest in the world and its follies.
In his faithful walk, Abram enjoyed more prosperity than Lot. Spiritually, the faithful walk of a believer is always more rewarding than a path of self-will and pleasure-seeking. These rewards may not always be recognized by others, but the earnest Christian proves that God is liberal, that He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. One who seeks to please the Lord finds an enjoyment in his Christian pathway that a caress or worldly believer cannot experience. When word of Lot’s disaster reached Abram, it drew out his feelings of loving desire for his deliverance. He immediately determined to go to his rescue and he did so at no small expense and effort. In this unselfish act we are reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to the believers at Corinth: “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:1515And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (2 Corinthians 12:15).
By this time, Lot’s captors had taken him and his family more than 150 miles north. A weaker or less devoted man than Abram would have considered going after them a hopeless task. But Abram loved Lot in spite of his past misbehavior, and displays the power of grace which arises above whatever had been personally wrong. Together with 318 armed servants, he made the long trip, smote the enemy, and successfully brought back Lot and all those who had been taken captive.
If Abram lived in peace and in the blessings of God, how did it happen that he could raise such a large company of well-trained men on a moment’s notice? Well did he know the hazards of the country where he dwelt, and made provision against the day when he would encounter the enemy. This is what should characterize the Christian today, only in a spiritual and not in a fleshly way, “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but... against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Then in 1 Peter 5:8,98Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8‑9), we are told: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith.”
Let us consider this large company of trained men, born in Abram’s house. They had witnessed his faithfulness to God, and were ready and able to fight together when called upon to do so. Timothy was admonished in a later day: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ....” 2 Timothy 2:33Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3).
ML 04/25/1965