Abram Rescues Lot

Read Genesis 14:1-16

As you read this story of conquest, kings and kings, and Abraham’s salvation of them. I want you to ask the question. Why did Abram come to their rescue?
And of course the passage tells us, it is because this alliance of foreign kings who have invaded Canaan, have taken Lot captive. Lot is his nephew, and he is bound by duty to redeem him and save him from his captivity to these foreign kingdoms. As one would say, “that is what family is for”.

You see though emphasise it was his duty because so far, it doesn’t appear as though Lot has exactly been a great nephew. He accompanies his uncle to the land that shall be his uncle’s possession, and when they split up though he is the younger, Abram gives him the choice and he leaves his uncle with the less fertile land.

It doesn’t appear Abram owes Lot anything, but he comes to his rescue because he is his kinsman, his family. At every turn, Abram does not quarrel, he does not disregard his family, he is a man of peace. You see he does not assert himself as some king of Canaan, instead he forms alliances with those Canaanites his descendants will one day be called to wipe out and destroy.

He does not stir up strife when there is no need, better yet he often overflows with generosity and hospitality to those who do not deserve it. Here we see a great picture of how we are to act towards our family, especially our family in Christ.

Many of us will act like Lot, taking advantage of our church family, being selfish not counting the needs of others more significant than our own. (Phil 2:3) And many of us will be on the receiving end of such selfishness, how are we to respond?

Do we turn our backs on them, saying they have hurt us and no longer are we there for them? Do we weigh up the things they have done for us to see whether we are obligated to help them? That is not what Christ came to teach us, and it is not what we are called to as a church.
Love keeps not record of wrongs (1 cor 13:5), it is not transactional. We love each other because it is our duty to love our family, and because we are called to love as Christ loved us. Christ loved us while we hated him and hurt him, he did not wait for us to change, instead it was his sacrificial love that changed us.

The church is a sinful family like any other family, you will be hurt by this family. The difference God has given you all you need through his spirit, to continue to love those who have hurt you, and to forgive them despite all the pain they have caused you.

Prayer:

“Father, it was your love that sent your son down to earth, to offer himself as a sacrifice upon the cross in my place. You do not keep a record of my wrongs, because in Christ, the wrongs have been forgiven and done away with. Help me to show that same love to others. In my own strength it is impossible. But God with you all things are possible. Help me please. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.