Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This and one more message will finish the series on Abram, later named Abraham, the Spiritual father of all Believers. In the previous message on Abram, based on Genesis 13, Abram has left Egypt and returned to Canaan. There God reminded him of God’s original commandment to leave his country, his kindred, his father’s family, and go into the land where God would lead him. Abram and Lot agree to split apart, and Abram offered Lot his choice of land. Lot, without consulting God, chooses the lush plains and waterways of the area around Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram awaits God’s leading and heads to an area known today as Hebron.
Now we turn to Genesis Chapter 14. We will address Genesis 14:1-16 in this message. We see in the first 11 verses of Genesis 14 a description of a conflict that turns into a war between the five kings of Canaan and the four kings of Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamia is the present-day countries, or parts of the countries, of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria.
SIGNIFICANCE OF FOUR KINGS VERSUS FIVE KINGS
The number “four” in Hebrew represents the perfect creation of God. Every element of creation resonates with the number 4. The four kings of Mesopotamia represent the fourfold division of humanity by God as set forth in Revelation 10:11, 5:9, and 13:7.
Revelation 10:11
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
The division includes:
1. People – humans referred to by God as any one of the four divisions.
2. Language – We are identified by our language because language signifies who we are and where we originate from.
3. Tribe – People who are of the same tribe might not necessarily speak the same language as certain tribes adopt languages that are foreign to them.
4. Nation – Humans are also identified by their nation which is usually a combination of similar tribes unified under one government.
The number “five” in Hebrew has several meanings. One meaning which we know is “Grace.” The meaning as used for the “five” kings is, “the impotence of man.”
The five kings of Canaan represent the impotence of man. “Impotence” means “to be without strength, weak, feeble, or destitute of force.”
We see the kings of Canaan served the kings of Mesopotamia for 12 years. The number 12 represents authority and government in Hebrew. For 12 years there was the order of authority and government in place and peace between the regions.
In the 13th year, we see the kings of Canaan rebel against the kings of Mesopotamia. The number 13 represents “rebellion and lawlessness” in Hebrew. Nimrod, the mighty hunter, “who was before the Lord” meaning he tried to take place of God (Genesis 10:9). He was the 13th in Ham’s line.
In the 14th year, the kings of Mesopotamia attack the region of Canaan killing the tribes of giants, who were descendants of the sons of Anak, and eventually attacking the five kings of Canaan who had rebelled.
The number 14 represents “a double measure of spiritual perfection.” God uses evil men to punish evil men which is perfection according to God’s Word. God’s Word is perfect.
AND THEN THERE WAS LOT
Notice in Genesis 14:12 that Lot NOW dwells in Sodom. The last time we heard about Lot in Genesis 13:12, he had “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” You cannot live in the world and not be of the world. Even Believers, who are from Heaven, from the Royal Family of God, if they live in the world, they will be of the world.
There is an important distinction between the two prepositions “of” and “from.”
“Of” is possessive meaning “being possessed by.”
“From” is “origination” or “originates from.”
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil [strip you, rob from you, take from you] you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Are You Possessed of God or Possessed of the World?
Notice how Abram hasn’t had any problems since the splitting up between his household and Lot’s household because of their huge abundance. Here’s Lot, in Sodom, or in the world, and suffering the same outcome as the world. Lot and his possessions are taken as well as everyone else and their possessions.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
We learn much about Lot from the Book of II Peter. We know Lot was a just or righteous man according to God’s Word. Lot is symbolic of MUCH of the Church today. When I say “Church,” I’m speaking ONLY about Believers. Notice Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation [means “conduct”] of the wicked and in seeing and hearing their evil deeds every single day. The Holy Spirit is warning us NOT to pitch our tent toward the world (as Lot did in Genesis 13) because we’ll eventually end up in the world [Sodom], and we’ll be vexed [To plague; to torment; to harass; to afflict]. It doesn’t change the fact one is saved, that one is righteous, but it will absolutely affect one’s daily walk with Christ and one’s Blessing.
II Peter 2:6-8
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
ABRAM RESCUES LOT
We see in Genesis 14:11-12 the kings of Mesopotamia take Lot, his family, and his goods and head back to Mesopotamia along with all the people and goods of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 14:11-12
11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
One of the Amorites escaped and returned telling Abram what happened. Three Amorite leaders, all brothers, Mamre, Asner, and Eschol, are confederated with Abram, and go with Abram after the kings of Mesopotamia to rescue their families, people, and goods.
Abram first called a “Hebrew” in Genesis 14:13. Hebrew = “cross over” or “pass through” or “traverse the river.” We, as Believers, became Hebrews also. We “crossed over” from death unto life, we “passed through” the refiner’s fire, and we “traversed the Jordan” from this world into the Promised Land of all of God’s promises for us (II Corinthians 1:20).
In Genesis 14:14, Abram reacts to the news by arming his 318 trained servants, born in his own house. These were young men born and raised under the spiritual and physical leadership of Abram and Eliezer, Abram’s steward, whom we’ll learn more about.
Abram and his 318 trained servants and Mamre, Asner, and Eschol, the Amorites, pursue the kings of Mesopotamia until they encounter them near Dan.
Dan was a city in northernmost Israel, 140 miles from Hebron where Abram dwelt. Hebron is 20 miles south of modern-day Jerusalem or Salem in the day of Abram. So, Abram and his army passed by Salem on the way to Dan. This is important to know because Abram later meets with Melchizedek, the High Priest of God, as he passes by Salem returning to Hebron.
Abram divides his army into two groups and attacks the kings of Mesopotamia at night.
Abram and his small army “SLAUGHTERED” the kings of Mesopotamia as we’ll see in The Scriptures in Hebrews 7:1. The army of the kings of Mesopotamia likely numbered in the tens or hundreds of thousands. It was an incredible and miraculous victory. Abram used military tactics not used before and not used again for thousands of years. God fought for him as stated in Deuteronomy 3:22
Deuteronomy 3:22
Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God He shall fight for you.
It’s clear from the overwhelming odds, just based on sheer numbers alone, that God fought for Abram. This verse is Old Covenant because it states, “He shall fight for you.” Once Jesus resurrected from the dead and took the keys to hell and death, the fight was over forever. Now, WE are to “speak to the mountains” as commanded by Jesus in Mark 11:23. We are anointed with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us meaning God has given us the power to do in the flesh only that which God can do. God couldn’t do this under the Old Covenant because Jesus’ blood hadn’t yet been shed and Jesus resurrected. We, all that live after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, have a better covenant than our forefathers did.
How Was Abram Able To Secure The Victory Against Overwhelming Odds?
In Genesis 24, we read about Abraham sending “his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had” to search out a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. We know this is a prophetic chapter full of allegory symbolizing the Father God searching out a bride for His Son Jesus Christ. We, The Church, are the bride. In Genesis 24, Abraham allegorically represents The Father God, Isaac The Son Jesus Christ, and the unnamed servant The Holy Ghost. We know from Genesis 15:2, the unnamed servant of Genesis 24 is Eliezer from Damascus. Eliezer ruled over all that Abraham possessed.
Eliezer means, “God is my help” in Hebrew.
The Hebrew numerical value of each of the alphabetic letters in Eliezer’s name adds up to 318.
Eliezer is not named in Genesis 14, but we know he was with Abram. Eliezer had trained Abram’s servants and when Abram divided his army into two groups, Abram led one and Eliezer led the other. Eliezer allegorically represents the Holy Spirit that was leading Abram to this great and miraculous victory.
Notice that Abram didn’t suffer the loss or death of one man, yet his army slaughtered the kings of Mesopotamia. The moral of this story is “DON’T MESS WITH GOD’S CHILDREN!”
The Holy Spirit tells us in Genesis 14:16 that Abram brought back ALL the goods, Lot, and everything that belonged to Lot.
Genesis 14:16
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Isn’t it amazing when we trust in God how He delivers us from all our fears and delivers us out of them all (Psalm 34:4 and Psalm 34:19). We’re told the same thing in II Corinthians 2:14.
II Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
The next message will speak to Abram’s meeting with Melchizedek and the king of Sodom. There is significant revelation in Genesis 14:17-24. In much of religion today, there is much mystery about Melchizedek. Who is he? We’ll learn exactly Who He is [gave you a clue] and why He appeared to Abram. We’ll learn who the king of Sodom is as well. We’ll have the first mention of two acts that we are to be performing today.
To all of you, my family and I wish you a very Merry Christmas. We all know to remember it represents the birth of Jesus Christ, although we know He wasn’t born this time of year. We, worldwide, celebrate it as such. I’ll take any day or month to celebrate Jesus Christ.
Much love and peace in Christ,
Larry