Key Scripture: Proverbs 22:3 A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (NLT)
Now with this in mind, let’s turn to our text for today:
Genesis 14:1a And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of
History records that approximately 1913 years before Christ there lived a king named Amraphel, he was the King of Shinar which is the land situated in the Euphrates Valley the same area known as Mesopotamia, Babylonia, the Persian Empire which is modern day Iraq. King Amraphel is historically known for at least three things:
1. He united Babylonia under one rule, and made
2. He codified Babylonian law 400 years before the Mosaic law. King Amraphel is better known to us by the name of King Hammurabi, (according to credible research and recently discovered monuments). His code of law, known as Hammurabi’s code or codex Hammurabi, is one of the landmarks in world history. Today we possess the actual originals of the code of laws, administrative orders and official letters of King Hammurabi (Amraphel), who was a contemporary of Abraham.
King Hammurabi ruled 1945 BC to 1902 BC, also known as King Amraphel, King of the Euphrates Valley & Mesopotamia - Babylon – Shinar - Sources: Eclectic Notes, Hertz, Pentateuch, Soncino Press p403 and Easton Dictionary of the Bible, Amraphel 221
King Hammurabi in his turn ruled over the people known as the Sumerians whose history included:
· Building the first brick houses
· Starting the first schools in the world
· the division of the circle into 360 degrees
· the division of an hour into 60 minutes and those minutes into 60 seconds
· they devised a strong family organization
· they gave us our first city states
· they pioneered the alphabet, architecture, weights and measures, and scientific irrigation
In their greatest day, this region was ruled by King Hammurabi.
What is the third thing this king was known for?
3. He is the King responsible for kidnapping Abraham’s nephew, Lot, from
The Story of Genesis 14 …
The five kings allied together in around the salt sea near the cities of
When Chedorlaomer heard of the rebellion of these five Kings he gathered three Kings more Kings and their armies with him, including King Amraphel, or King Hammurabi as he is better known today, and came against the cities in the lower salt sea plains in the vale of Siddim.
These five rebellious Kings lost the war and as a result many of their people were taken captive as slaves along with the goods of the land. There was one particular man living in the city of
Genesis 14 NKJV
11 Then they took all the goods of
12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of
16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother
The Question: How did Abram defeat King Hammurabi and these 4 armies when the 5 Kings of the south and their armies couldn’t do it before him?
Abram had an edge! What is The Edge?
Notice verse 14: Abram had foresight and planning – He was evidently a prudent man who looked down the road and prepared himself. (just as our Key Scripture encourages us all!)
1. He armed servants – evidently Abram had spent some effort, forging, sharpening and stockpiling weapons of warfare so as to equip his shepherd/soldier/servants …
2. He trained servants – evidently he had spent some time and energy training them for battle in the times of peace, prior to this need …
3. He used servants – evidently Abram was unafraid to engage these trained shepherd/soldier/servants in the battles life demands …
These things are great, but what gave Abram the edge? The Kings he was facing had most likely done the same thing … They armed, trained and used their soldiers …
What gave Abram The Edge?
4. These shepherd/soldier/servants, who Abram trained, armed and used were:
Born in the house.
That’s the edge --- these men were all born in the house. In this case they were born in Abraham’s house. They had been raised with the same philosophy, speaking the same language, embracing the same values, working on common projects, connected, related, joined together by something invisible but something as strong as life itself. These men were born into the vision Abraham had since God had added them to his household.
When we share a common philosophy, common language, common vision and common work, nothing can be restrained us whatever we might imagine to do from building the
God has given us all capacity to be shepherd/soldier/servants, born in the house of His choice.
Having a common set of values, a common history and a common future can make us care for and act like family with people we have no blood relationship with.
· Explain the difference between WWI, WWII and
There is something to be said about being a part of something bigger than just yourself … sharing a common philosophy, a common history and a common future. There is strength in family, born in the same house, raised under one vision, embracing others as family.
To be born was not our individual choice … but to be born again is.
To be born into a natural home was not our choice, but to be born into a spiritual house is.
Psalms 68:6 and 1 Corinthians 12:18 combine to tell us that God has a special place for each one of us in a family of His choice.
God has a house for each one of us. A house of His choice. Have you been born into the House of God?
God has a plan and a will for you but only you can commit yourself to the house of God and submit yourself to:
1. Be armed (equipped)
2. Be trained (prepared)
3. Be used (productive)
4. Be a servant, born in the house (family)
This depth of relationship is an expression of covenant.
Covenant means, ‘your good at my expense’.
Do you have a church family that knows you and cares about you as you know and care about them? With whom do you share common vision, philosophy, future? Who would you go to war for?
This kind of relationship begins when we take the first step. Decide today that you are going to find a cause worth your life and pledge yourself to it. Open your heart to God and He will birth His house in you and give you the winning edge in the battles of life.
