Abram Rescues Lot


Genesis 14:16 (ESV) Then he (Abram) brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

 Lot's horrible calculation lead his life down a spiral of self-destruction. He ended up on the wrong side of a war he didn't want and captive to people who didn't care about him. He was truly getting what he deserved for seeking the finer things instead of following God's man, Abram.

 Yet Abram hears of Lot's trouble and immediate goes into action to rescue him. He doesn't give up on his wayward nephew and though Lot really has done nothing to deserve Abram's action, he gets rescued.
Genesis 14:13–14 (ESV) Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his 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.

Why does the Bible bother to tell us this story? Is this not a story of Abram, the "Exalted Father" of faith? Yes this narrative's central character is Abram, but Lot matters to Abram and Abram's actions are pointing to someone else.

Our Father... who seeks and saves people bringing them back to Himself by taking on the spiritual powers and principalities and defeating them on a Cross.

Colossians 2:13–15 (ESV) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

This little side story of Abram is a lot like the whole narrative of the Bible. We had it all with our Father, we chose to take control of our lives (like Lot), we were captive in sin and losers of the cosmic battle for our soul. Yet God, who is rich in mercy came after us. We didn't go after Him. There are none who seek God (Psalm 14:2). He seeks and saves us! 

 And while the Bible is about God, the Bible is FOR us. The story of the scriptures is the story of God and what He's like but we only know what He's like by understanding what He's done for us. This is who God is. He is the God who wins the war to win us back. We don't seem worth it and we really have nothing to offer Him. But our rescue is sure and His victory is ours.

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