Genesis 14 narrates a complex state of affairs about an alliance of kings going to war against another alliance of kings. As you read it you might wonder, “Why are we being told all these things?” But have a look where this seemingly irrelevant story goes. It turns out that Abram’s nephew Lot just happened to find himself in the path of this battle and was taken captive (vs. 12). This is a detail that, in a great battle like this, would have been deemed inconsequential to these warring kings. But this detail was not insignificant to God for it touched the life of someone to whom the Abrahamic promise applied. As soon as this happens the covenant promise kicks in like a smoke alarm going off: “Those who curse you I will curse.” Abram does something that looks like sheer madness. He finds a mere 318 men and decides to go against this alliance of kings to get his nephew back! But it’s not madness because Abram has a secret weapon at his disposal. He has the promise of God on his side. Those that took his nephew captive will fall before Abram because God made a promise that he and his family would be blessed. And so, with his small band of men Abram wins the victory and not only gets Lot back but lots (pun unintended) of plunder in the process. These stories are given to us to underscore God’s intention. We are not immune from hardship, but we can be certain that nothing will thwart the purpose that God has promised to fulfil in and through us.
Think about where you need to see God’s faithfulness at work in your life. Pray for these things with faith in God.
Read Genesis 14.
