Grier Ministries' Thoughts

¹⁴ Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. ¹⁶ So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. (Genesis 14:14-15 NKJV)

The hebrew for ‘brother’ is undoubtedly better translated ‘relative’ since this is referring to Lot, who was Abram’s nephew. Lot had previously chosen the entire plain of Jordan for his herd, and left the hills and valleys to Abram. Granted, Abram had given Lot the choice, so Abram really couldn’t complain. But, how many times do we give someone else a choice, but expect them to make the choice that serves us best instead of themselves? When they choose to better themselves in the choice, do we not usually get upset with them? I know that it is not rational, but that is usually the way we react!

Abram found out that Lot was taken captive by the four kings that had just defeated the five kings. So Abram went to war against the four kings. Now, does that sound reasonable? Abram is taking on 4 kings that had just proven to the world of that time that they were stronger than five kings! So how does Abram think that he is going to defeat them by himself? Now, I realize that Abram was rich and had 318 trained men in his house – so it wasn’t just Abram alone against five armies! Still, that is quite a jump of faith.

It is also an expression of mercy. Abram was ‘dumped’ on by his nephew, but still he put all on the line to rescue him! Abram’s mercy-war was all about faith in God! Abram’s faith expressed his mercy that he obviously received from his relationship with God! Doesn’t this look just like what Jesus said in Matthew:

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

God is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” so His plan for us to be merciful was always His intention! He expects us to put aside our own sinful attitudes and exemplify His instead! Let us follow Abram’s example and make sure that all our wars are mercy-wars for someone else’s benefit, and not our own! Let’s exemplify the beatitudes that Jesus taught!