Genesis Chapter 14: The War of Kings

At this point in the scripture, there were several kingdoms in or near the land of Abram and Lot that were fighting for years now.  The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah had dispersed and fled into hill county due to the fighting and Lot was caught up in the mayhem as well.  (This was the land that he choose in the last chapter)

Once Abram hear about Lot’s plight, he sent out 318 “trained men”, defeated the enemy forces, brought back all the goods, possessions, people, and of course Lot.  After the enemy’s defeat (there were several kings representing the defeated forces) Abram gave a tenth of the spoils for God.

Genesis 14:21 “The King of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.” 22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

What I get out of this scripture is how Abram is putting God first.  Abram recognizes that everything that he has comes from God, his trained men, his riches, his family, even his victories!  Abram does not want to even give the appearance that he was blessed by anything or anyone else than our God!

I will pray that everyone that reads this will put God first in all that they do and give God the glory for all that is accomplished that is good.