Have you ever wondered about the intriguing events of Genesis 14? It's a chapter that takes us back to a time of kings and warfare, a time when loyalty and courage were put to the ultimate test. In the days of Amrafel, Ariok, Ched Olamah and Tidal, kings of different nations, tensions were high. They were at war with Be'erah of Sodom, Be'er Shev Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeba of Zeboim and the king of Bela, now known as Zohah. This alliance of kings converged in the Vale of Sidim, a place synonymous with the Salt Sea. For 12 long years these kings served under the rule of Ched Olamah. However, in the 13th year they rebelled. This rebellion sparked a fierce response from Ched Olamah and his allies in the 14th year. They attacked and defeated the Refaims, the Zuzims, the Emins and the Horites, extending their conquest to El Peran by the wilderness.
Yet their thirst for dominance was not quenched. They returned and attacked Kadesh, also known as Enmishpat, overthrowing the Amalekites and the Amorites. This spurred the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Bela into action, leading them to join forces against the four kings in the Vale of Sidim. The Vale of Sidim, however, was treacherous, filled with slime pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, caught in this hazardous terrain, fell, leaving their cities vulnerable. The victors seized this opportunity, taking all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and capturing Lot, Abram's nephew. Upon hearing this news from a survivor, Abram, who lived in the plain of Mamre, armed his 318 trained servants and set out to rescue Lot.
They launched a night attack, defeating the enemy and pursuing them to Hobah near Damascus. Abram not only recovered all the goods but also rescued Lot and his possessions, along with the women and people taken captive. After this victorious return, the king of Sodom met Abram in the valley of Shava. In a surprising turn of events, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, and a priest of the Most High God, brought forth bread and wine. He blessed Abram, acknowledging his victory as the work of God and Abram gave him tithes of all he had recovered. The king of Sodom, in gratitude, offered Abram the goods. But Abram declined, swearing to the Most High God that he would not take anything, not even a thread or a shoelatch it. He did not want it said that the king of Sodom made Abram rich.
However, he allowed his men, Anna, Eshkol and Mamre, to take their share. Genesis 14 is a remarkable story of courage, loyalty and faith. It teaches us about the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming odds. It shows us the power of faith and the blessings that come from honouring God. This video was made possible by Michael Hopkins, founder of Jehovah's House of Saints Homeless Mission.
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