Military Man

How many times might Abram have wished that he had never included Lot on his safari to the Promised Land? Lot had chosen what looked like the best place to live—in the well-irrigated plain near the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The choice turned out to be a dangerous one, as he and his family were caught in the crossfire of war and captured.

If we’ve just regarded Abram as a simple peaceful nomad, we are suddenly confronted with him as a battle commander and military strategist. He called out the trained men in his household and pursued the kidnapping army. Lot may have chosen to desert Abram for the city and selfishly chosen the better land. None of this mattered to Abram as he rushed off, not only to rescue Lot and his family, but all Lot’s possessions as well.

Upon his victorious return, Abram was met by the kings of Sodom and Salem. Melchizedek of Salem, both a priest and a king, blessed Abram, affirming Abram’s relationship with the God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” (Gen. 14: 19 and 20)

In contrast to Melchizedek, whose role was to give glory to God, the king of Sodom presented Abram with an intriguing offer. If Abram gave him the people, Abram could keep all the material wealth for himself. Abram, who had just given a tenth of all he had to Melchizedek was not at all tempted. He had affirmed by his tithe, his recognition of Melchizedek’s kingship in Jerusalem. He had also seen in Melchizedek’s benediction his relationship to the “Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.” So with great insight, he refused the king of Sodom’s offer, boldly stating that he did not want to accept anything that would cause people to think that the king of Sodom had made Abram rich or mighty or powerful. Abram was God’s man and he wanted no alliances that might sully that relationship or God’s reputation.

Paul later wrote about what Abram had so presciently understood: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?" (2 Cor. 6:14) Our alliances may well cause compromise that is untenable for people who want to walk in communion with God. Paul, reflecting on the various covenants God had made with his people, wrote, "As God has said, 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'" (2 Cor. 6:16b) Abram wanted, above all else, to walk with God, and he chose to trust God to bless him, rather than being enticed to accept wealth offered by the king of wicked Sodom.

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