The Rescue of Lot

INTRODUCTION:  Though Lot is a righteous man in his personal life (2 Peter 2:7-8), he runs with the wrong crowd (Genesis 13:12-13).  Abram rescues his nephew but he keeps a good distance from the king and goods of Sodom.  We should do the same.

1. THE BATTLE OF THE KINGS (Genesis 14:1-12)
1. The Participants in the Battle (Genesis 14:1-3)
1. The kings of the east (Genesis 14:1)
1. Amraphel of Shinar (see Genesis 10:8-10; Genesis 11:2; Daniel 1:2)
2. Arioch of Ellasar [a kingdom in Mesopotamia]
3. Chedorlaomer of Elam
1. Elam is a kingdom in Persia  (Daniel 8:2).
2. Chedorlaomer is the leader of these kings (Genesis 14:4, 17).
4. Tidal king of nations
2. The kings of the cities of the plain (Genesis 14:2; see Genesis 13:12; Genesis 19:28-29)
1. Bera of Sodom
2. Birsha of Gomorrah
3. Shinab of Admah
4. Shemeber of Zeboiim
5. King of Bela which is Zoar (see Genesis 14:8)
3. The place of battle the vale of Siddim
1. Probably at the south end of the Dead Sea (the salt sea)
2. Perhaps under water now; the southern portion of the Dead Sea is very shallow
3. A place of slimepits (Genesis 14:10); these were pools of natural asphalt or tar (Genesis 11:3; Exodus 2:3).
2. The Circumstances of the Battle (Genesis 14:4-9)
1. The rebellion of the cities of the plain (Genesis 14:4)
1. They served for twelve years.
2. They rebelled in the thirteenth year.
2. The military campaign of Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:5-7)
1. Against the Rephaims, the Zuzims and the Emims (Genesis 14:5)
1. Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim
2. Zuzims in Ham
3. Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim
4. People east of the Jordan
5. Giants (see Deuteronomy 2:10-11)
2. The Horites in Mt. Seir (Genesis 14:6)
1. The country of Edom (Genesis 32:3)
2. Later inhabited by Esau and his descendents (Genesis 36:8)
3. The Amalekites and the Amorites (Genesis 14:7)
3. The battle in the vale of Siddim (Genesis 14:8-9)
3. The Results of the Battle (Genesis 14:10-12)
1. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated (Genesis 14:10).
2. The goods of Sodom and Gomorrah were taken (Genesis 14:11).
3. Lot and his goods were taken (Genesis 14:12).
2. ABRAMS RAID ON THE VICTORS (Genesis 14:13-16)
1. Abram Hears of the Defeat (Genesis 14:13).
1. First use of the word Hebrew
2. Confederate with
1. Mamre the Amorite
2. Eshcol brother of Mamre
3. Aner brother of Mamre
3. The plain of Mamre was at Hebron (Genesis 13:18).
2. Abram Arms his Servants (Genesis 14:14).
1. Lot is here identified as the brother of Abram.
2. Abram has 318 servants.
3. They are trainedevidently to fight (see Psalm 144:1).
3. Abram Defeats the Kings of the East (Genesis 14:15).
1. Abram is joined by his confederates (see Genesis 14:24).
2. He pursues them to Dan (Genesis 14:14b).
3. He divides his army (Genesis 14:15).
4. He attacks by nighta surprise attack.
5. He defeats them and pursues them to Hobah next to Dasmascus.
4. Abram Recovers the Captives and Goods (Genesis 14:16).
1. Recovered all the goods
2. Recovered Lot and his goods
3. Recovered the women
4. Recovered the people
3. ABRAMS MEETING WITH MELCHIZEDEK (Genesis 14:17-20)
1. He Returns to the Valley of Shaveh (Genesis 14:17).
1. In the kings dale (2 Samuel 18:18)
2. North of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley
2. Melchizedek Comes to Meet Him (Genesis 14:18).
1. King of Salem
1. Salem means peace.
2. Salem is another name for Jerusalem (Psalm 76:2).
2. Priest of the most high God
3. He brings bread and wine [compare the elements of the Lords Supper].
3. Melchizedek Blesses Abram (Genesis 14:19-20).
1. A blessing for Abram (Genesis 14:19)
2. A blessing for Abrams God (Genesis 14:19-20)
1. Possessor of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:19)
2. Deliverer from his enemies (Genesis 14:20)
3. Abram gives tithes of all (Genesis 14:20)
1. First mention of tithing in the Bible
2. Next mention is when Jacob promises to tithe (Genesis 28:22).
4. ABRAMS MEETING WITH THE KING OF SODOM (Genesis 14:21-24)
1. The King of Sodoms Offer (Genesis 14:21)
1. The king of Sodom asks for the persons.
2. The king of Sodom offers Abram the goods.
2. Abram Refuses to Receive from the King of Sodom (Genesis 14:22-23).
1. The vow to God (Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 32:40; Revelation 10:5-6)
2. The denial of Sodoms goods (Genesis 14:23)
3. Abram Takes Care of his Confederates (Genesis 14:24)

CONCLUSION:  Abram makes sure that God gets the credit for his success on the battlefield.  He also keeps separate from the wickedness of Sodom.  With his trained and armed servants, he was prepared for battle.  We can learn much from this story.