Fighting for the Faith

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, is an important book. It’s the first book of the Bible, and God’s intent in this book is to give foundational information on who he is, who we are, and how he’s been at work throughout human history. We’ve been seeing, over the past couple weeks, that the way God deals with Abram is a reflection of how he continues to deal with his people, with us. Just as God set his love on Abram in a special way, to call him out of his idolatry and unbelief – God calls sinners, today. Just as God made some pretty incredible promises to Abram, to bless him, Christians today are lined up to receive those same promises through faith in Jesus Christ. Just as God tested and refined Abram’s faith through trials in Egypt, God refines and develops our faith through our life experiences. And he rescues us out of our sin and slavery in Egypt to fight for the faith, and to rest in his promises.

God literally, historically did these things, in relation to this man, Abram. And this is how God deals with his people now, for their good. This morning, we’ll continue to see how the God of Abraham is developing and refining our faith in Genesis Chapter 14.

So if you haven’t already, please turn with me to Genesis 14. If you’re using one of our church Bibles, you can find Genesis, Chapter 14 on page _9. And I’ll be reading the whole chapter. But before I read our text, please pray with me, and we’ll ask for God to work among us, through the preaching of His Word:

[Pray and Read Text]

The Faith to Fight

Peace is a high virtue of the Christian faith. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” One of the fruits that God produces in us by His Holy Spirit is peace. In Colossians 3:15, God’s Word tells us to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 likewise says “comfort one another, agree with another, and live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” Romans 12:18 tells us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” And repeatedly, the Bible warns us against being argumentative, loving violence, and stirring up conflict. Christians are called to prize and to practice peace.

But at the same time, the Bible makes it clear that Christians are called to battle. The apostle Paul urges his friend, a young pastor named Timothy, to “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). For as long as we’re still present in our corrupt flesh, we are not in peacetime. For as long as we live in a world affected and influenced by sin, there’s a battle waging over human souls. Even if you don’t see physical fighting, the conflict is very real. Because Ephesians 6:12 explains, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” We, too, need to be prepared to fight the good fight of faith.

And in this morning’s text, we’re given a chance to see how Abram fought the good fight of faith – in an actual, physical battle. This battle scene – which by the way, this is the first battle recorded in the Bible – this battle scene wasn’t just written down here to be entertaining, or to make Abram’s life seem more interesting. But the details of this event were included for the spiritual instruction of God’s people.

There are three sections of the story that unfold here. In verses 1 through 12, the first section, we’re introduced to the main problem that arises in the text: A Problem from Sinful Compromise. Then in verses 13 through 16, we see a Picture of Selfless Love. And finally in verse 17 to the end of the chapter, we see a Priest Who Speaks Blessing – a priest named Melchizedek. All three of these sections make helpful points to encourage and refine our faith.

By the end of our time together, I hope to show from the text that God’s people, by faith, should aim to defend and deliver those around them from evil, trusting that God alone is the source of our strength and blessing.

A Problem from Sinful Compromise

So first, let’s give our attention to the first section, describing the problem that shows up in the text – Problem from Sinful Compromise.

You might remember, last week we read about a conflict that rose between Abram’s servants, and the servants of his nephew, Lot. So Abram suggested to Lot that they should split up, and graze their flocks and herds in different places. And Lot agreed with this. He agreed to separate himself from Abram, and the blessings God had promised to bring to him. And Lot moved into the region nearby that appeared to be the most productive and prosperous – the land around Sodom and Gomorrah, near to the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. The problem with this decision, as we saw in Chapter 13, verse 13, is that “the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.” Yet Lot moved there anyway. His decision is driven by a craving for his physical wealth, instead of a concern for his spiritual well-being.

And in Chapter 14, just about right away, we see that the land of Sodom and Gomorrah isn’t as satisfying and secure as Lot imagined it would be. In verses 1 through 3, we see that the armies of four kings from Mesopotamia, east of Canaan – they gather forces to attack the armies of the five kings, which includes the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.

And in verses 4 through 7, we’re given some of the backstory, to understand why this battle is happening. Verse 4 indicates that for twelve years, the group of five kings – Sodom, Gomorrah, and the rest – they had been serving one of the four Mesopotamian kings, Chedorlaomer king of Elam. But in the 13th year, the five kings and their cities rebelled. It’s not clear why they did this – but they apparently believed that they could get away with it.

But the King of Elam had some powerful friends – the kings of Ellasar, of Goiim, and of Shinar. And together, these four kings implemented a strategic military campaign to reconquer the five kings who had rebelled. Before coming to Sodom and Gomorrah, the four kings came down from the north and made a semi-circle around Sodom and Gomorrah to conquer other local cities and potential allies who lived in the region.

During that time, the five kings who had rebelled – they assemble an army. And in verse 8, they draw up battle lines in the Valley of Siddim, which was full of pits where they had dug out tar. They probably assumed the terrain would give them a home court advantage over the four kings from Mesopotamia. But as it turns out, the armies of Sodom, Gomorrah, and the rest are overwhelmed. The kings of Mesopotamia plunder the city of Sodom, and its wealth, and they take captives. And then here’s the climax – here’s the piece of information that is supposed to register as important to us: verse 12 says, “They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.”

You have to remember, when Lot initially moved into the Jordan River Valley, into the city of Sodom, he thought he was getting a good deal. He wanted pleasure, he wanted prosperity, he wanted security – and from the outward appearance, Sodom seemed to have it all. Lot was lured into the trap of relying on what he saw, and relying on the abilities of mankind, instead of relying, by faith, on the LORD.

Because, think about this, Lot didn’t have to stay in Sodom. He must have been hearing reports that these armies from Mesopotamia were nearby. Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other local kings knew in advance, and had time to gather an army – so it wasn’t a surprise attack. Lot must have known that he was in danger, and that there was an enemy nearby. And yet he didn’t run to Abram and His God for help. He didn’t show any interest to leave behind the wickedness of Sodom, to live a quiet, noble life elsewhere. Instead, he decided to stay there, mixed up in that city of sin.

The text doesn’t tell us the reason why. Perhaps he stays because he underestimates the danger that he’s in. Maybe Lot was trusting in the armies of Sodom to protect him. Maybe life in Sodom has been so pleasurable, that he’s unwilling to leave that way of life behind. All three of these things would make sense, because these are the reasons why we, too, sometimes linger in our sins. We underestimate our danger, we trust in ourselves or in human strength to take care of the problem – or sometimes we just stay stuck in our sin because we love it too much to leave it.

But this passage reminds us that there’s a consequence for this. The illusion of Lot’s security is shattered. The army men that Lot was trusting in to save him – it turns out they were undisciplined cowards who ran away to hide in the tar pits. The affluent city that Lot loved is left exposed and empty. And now Lot is humiliated and helpless, being carried away as a captive by his enemies. This is the reward for those who compromise and cohabitate with sin.

A Picture of Selfless Love

But this isn’t the end of the story. What we see next, in the second section of our text, is a picture of selfless love. This is my second main point: (A picture of selfless love).

In verse 13, we’re told that a messenger came from the battle to Abram the Hebrew, and some of his neighboring allies. And verse 14 explains that, “When Abram heard that this kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.”

Now, let’s just slow down for a minute and consider how remarkable this is. Abram has just received news that four foreign kings have invaded with a large army. He has just heard how the armies of Sodom, Gomorrah, and three other cities tried to join together to fight off the foreign army, but they failed. And now this large foreign, powerful army has carried away Lot as a prisoner of war.

In my mind, the next logical step in the story here is for Abram to tear his clothes in grief, and to sit down in sackcloth and ashes and to mourn for the loss of his nephew. The prospect of rescuing Lot seems pretty hopeless.

Or I could imagine this going another way, too. You might remember, when Abram and Lot were last together, their servants were arguing, and the two men’s households separated. It’s hard to know for sure, but it’s quite possible that that put some strain on their relationship. So I could also imagine Abram shrugging his shoulders saying, “Lot got himself into this mess – he can get himself out.”

But in this moment, when he considers the lostness of his nephew, Abram doesn’t consider the situation to be hopeless. And he doesn’t consider the situation with indifference. But he immediately, confidently, puts a plan into action to try to rescue this family member. He’s still committed to Lot, even if Lot isn’t particularly committed to him.

And this is quite the self-sacrificial enterprise that Abram commits himself to, here. He leaves behind the comforts of his homestead. He subjects himself to the suffering and uncertainty of the battlefield. And from his own resources, he funds the expedition. He assembles his trained men, and gathers weapons and food, all at his own expense.

And you’ll notice, the Bible doesn’t explicitly tell us how big that foreign army from the East was. But most commentators believe that the size of Abram’s army is mentioned here – 318 people – not to mention how big and impressive it was, but to clarify how small it was. Abram’s army was small enough to be counted, whereas the foreign army was too big to determine the number easily – possibly somewhere in the thousands. So by going into battle, he was putting his own life on the line and he knew it. But by faith, he was determined to oppose the enemy. And he was committed to Lot, and to this mission to save him. It’s not because of anything Lot had done, or because of anything Lot had promised to do. Abram was simply doing this out of love.

And as Abram goes to battle, here, in this act of selfless love, we see a picture of the selfless love of Jesus Christ. There was once a time when all of us were living in foolish unbelief, complacently toward sin – and we were prisoners of war in the hands of the enemy. But out of his great mercy, Jesus set out on a mission to save us. He left behind the comforts of heaven. He subjected himself to the suffering and insecurity of our fallen world. And from his own resources, he paid the full cost for the mission. Jesus put his life on the line for us. He did this even though we had estranged ourselves from him. He laid down his life – he died in our place, and rose from the dead on the third day – to set us free from the enemies of sin, death, and the devil. And he did this, not because we deserved it, but because he loved us.

And Abram was able to show this love to Lot, because he knew something of what it meant to be loved by God like this, himself. Because while Abram was living in sin, in his idolatry, back in Ur of the Chaldeans, God loved him and called him out. When Abram’s sinful fear and deceit became a snare for him, that bound him up in Egypt, the LORD remained committed to him, and came to his rescue.

And now, in Genesis 14, we see evidence that Abram understands what God has done for him. And Abram wants to show that same love and commitment toward others. So he goes to battle, for the sake of his close relative, Lot. He goes to battle for the people he loves, for the sake of their freedom and faith. And as you realize how Jesus Christ engaged in spiritual battle for you, to defeat your enemies, and to bring you salvation at great cost to himself, it’s right that this would stir us up, to contend earnestly for the salvation of others.

I recognize in Abram’s case, there was a physical battle. And the Bible indicates that there are certain situations where it’s morally permissible for Christians to physically fight against evil powers in the world, out of self-defense, or to retaliate (in a proportionate way) against acts of aggression. You’ll notice, that’s how Abram conducted his warfare, here.

But when it comes to fighting for our faith, or the faith of the people around us – that battle isn’t ultimately a battle against flesh and blood, as I mentioned before. It isn’t a physical fight that can be won with the carnal weapons of social manipulation, political intimidation, or brute force. Instead, as we oppose unbelief and evil, and the hold it has over our own hearts, and the hearts of others around us, notice what instructions God gives us for the fight. In Ephesians 6 he urges us to “take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” For the fight of faith, he works by His Spirit through the His Word, the Bible, and through our prayers.

He doesn’t teach us to rely on our own strategies, or our philosophical arguments, or our human abilities to manipulate and persuade. Instead, we fight by speaking His Word, and through prayer. That’s how the Spirit of God works his victory.

So if you have understood what Christ has done, to love you – to fight for you, to set you free from your corruption and captivity, it’s only right that you’d be serious about fighting for the freedom of others. This morning, I’m sure that all of us can think of people we know and care about who are prisoners to the darkness. Be encouraged here – don’t stop speaking truth to them. Don’t give up on praying for them. Just like any other battle, when you’re fighting by faith for the people you love, it will be tiring. It may involve suffering and setbacks along the way. You may need to call in reinforcements.

But keep going, with confidence. Because in your fight of faith, you’re not just telling people about the commitment and love of Christ – you’re showing it. You’re demonstrating his self-sacrifice and sufferings in the way that you serve them, and speak to them, and pray for them. And even though we may feel weak – though our abilities may seem very small in the same way that Abram’s army was small – notice the outcome of Abram’s fight in verse 15. We’re told that Abram “…divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.”

We should engage in the fight of faith with hope – with confidence – that the Lord who gave victory to Abram can lead us into victory, as well.

A Priest who Speaks Blessing

The Lord’s involvement in Abram’s victory becomes more apparent in the third and final section of our text, which introduces us to A Priest who Speaks Blessing. Because after Abram comes back from his surprising victory over the Mesopotamian army, he meets up with the king of Sodom, and with another king who’s named Melchizedek.

This is the first time in the Bible that Melchizedek is mentioned. And he’s something of a mysterious person. Because up until this point, the Bible has closely followed the unique way that God has called Abram, and set him apart to receive incredible promises for the future. We’re given every reason to believe that no one in the world is closer to God than Abram.

But then Melchizedek steps on the scene. Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness.” And he’s referred to as the “king of Salem” (which literally means “king of peace”), and as “the priest of God Most High.” And as priest, this meant that Melchizedek was responsible to act on behalf of the people, to prepare them and purify them for worship, and that he acted on behalf of God, to give instructions and blessings to the worshippers. So as both king and priest, Melchizedek had a royal greatness, and a sacred office that Abram didn’t have. And when Melchizedek and Abram meet, it isn’t the great father of our faith, Abram, who blesses Melchizedek. But Melchizedek is the greater one, who pronounces a blessing on him.

In verse 19, Melchizedek says, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.” Melchizedek is shown, here, to have an even closer relationship with God than Abram.

We don’t know what Melchizedek’s back-story is. It’s not clear how or why God made him his priest. But later on in the Bible, in Psalm 110, God mentions Melchizedek again. And God promises that when He sends his Chosen One, the Christ, into the world, he’s going to be a priest forever according to the same priesthood of Melchizedek. And in the New Testament, the book of Hebrews confirms that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of that promise. Jesus has been made our priest forever, to purify us for worship, and to pronounce the Father’s blessing on us for the fight of faith.

In Genesis 12, God had promised to Abram, “I will bless you…” And now, here, in Chapter 14, we see that when God fulfills that promise and blesses Abram, he does so through a priest. And for the people of Israel, who were under the Levitical priesthood – in Number 6, we see that God’s blessing was pronounced in the people through the high priesthood. And so it is, a greater high priest has been raised up for us – greater even than Melchizedek.

And Jesus Christ is the one who pronounces the blessing over us, “May you be blessed by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.” It’s through Jesus that the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of eternal life is poured out for us. He has been chosen by God to be the High Priest, forever, who will grant us God’s favor and blessing.

Notice, though, in the words of Melchizedek’s blessing, in verse 20, he also proclaims to Abram, “And blessed be God Most High who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram is reminded that this great struggle of faith, to rescue Lot from the hands of the enemy, it resulted in victory not because of his strategic planning, or the size of his army. But the victory came because of the LORD’s blessing. And as we engage in spiritual battle, against the schemes of the devil, and the stubborn unbelief of mankind, whenever we see victory – if we ever see a person rescued from the doorstep of Hell, it’s not something we can boast in. The victory didn’t come by our strength or savviness. It comes from the Lord, and his blessing.

And because we have a God who blesses his people in Christ, who equips us with His Word, and in prayer, we should be emboldened to engage in this war that’s raging for human souls with hope. God is still subduing his enemies, and setting prisoners free. When God calls us into battle in our smallness and weakness, we don’t have to shrink back in fear, or fixate on self-preservation. Instead, we can remember that God himself is engaged with us, to overthrow darkness and to rescue those who are lost.

This doesn’t mean that God intends to save everyone. Every prayer we pray for every unbeliever may not granted. But the battle is still worth fighting. Even if we don’t see the outcome we desired in the fight, it is still a victory, of sorts, to persevere in opposing evil, championing truth, and loving our neighbor.

And of course, just because we don’t see rescue now, in the short-term, doesn’t mean that our striving has been pointless. We can’t assume that we already know how the story’s going to end, or what God’s going to do for the people we’re fighting for. We must not forget that we have a great High priest who blesses, and a God of power who saves. And with this confidence, we can press on in the good fight of faith.

And in response to God’s blessing, Abram gives ten percent of the spoils of war to Melchizedek. It’s an expression of his worship to the LORD, to God Most High, who preserved him and empowered him. And Christians, today, honor and worship God by giving tithes and offerings for the same reason – to practically demonstrate our worship, and to affirm that we live in reliance on his blessings. Every time we work and earn an income, every time we make a good investment that yields dividends, every time we receive good things in this life – it’s all from God. We rely on his blessing in all these things. And we can rely on his promised blessings to come.

After all this, the king of Sodom expects that Abram will want some of the spoils of war, so he tries to make a deal. He tells Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” But Abram insists that he isn’t interested in the money of Sodom. Part of this may be because he doesn’t want the Sodomites to resent him for taking their property, since that could lead to future conflict. That might certainly be part of it. But the bigger point here, is that Abram wants to make it clear he isn’t living for prosperity and benefits given by man. He didn’t enter into battle to get money, power, or personal benefit. Instead, he was motivated by love, and was driven by faith in the promises and blessings that come from God.

Conclusion: Fight with Hope

And this is how we should engage in the spiritual battle, as well. There’s a distinction that has been made throughout church history, between the Church militant, and the church triumphant. The Church triumphant, on the one hand, refers to our brothers and sisters who have kept their faith to the end, and who are sharing with Jesus Christ in these promises and blessings. They’re sharing with Christ in his victory over sin, death, and the devil. The Church militant, on the other hand – it’s not talking about a violent, divisive, belligerent Church (if you can even call something like that a Church) – but it instead refers to the Christian Church still on earth, as we struggle against temptation and evil, and as we fight to keep the faith.

And that’s us. You and I are the Church militant, called to battle. Because we need to remember, we aren’t living in peace time. It doesn’t matter who the governor or president is – it doesn’t matter whether you think we’re in a golden age or on the doorstep to the end of the world – this isn’t peace time. The enemy still has prisoners. Corrupt passions are still rising from our own flesh, to ambush us.

You might be intimidated by this. But don’t forget our text. God gives us encouragements, here, to keep fighting the good fight of faith. We have a Savior who has suffered to set us free from the enemy. We have a high priest who pronounces blessings over us. We have a God in heaven who delivers the enemy into the hands of his people. And we have the guarantee that one day, the time for battle will be done. We’ll no longer be the Church militant, striving against evil. But we’ll be the Church triumphant, receiving and rejoicing in the promises of God. Let’s thank God for these encouragements. Please pray with me: