9. Help those in need

Lot went to live close to Sodom and Abram was camped at the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Now the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela had been subject to King Kedorlaomer for twelve years and had to pay tributes to him. But in the thirteenth year they rebelled. King Kedorlaomer heard about it and a year later he arrived with his allies for a full on war. In a rather quick war, he defeated the five kings that rebelled against him. He and his allies plundered Sodom and Gomorrah, taking all their wealth with them. And lo and behold, they also captured Lot and all he owned. Living close to Sodom wasn't the best choice after all.

Luckily one of Lot's men managed to escape and came to tell Abram what happened. And what did Abram do? Did he gloat and say, "Well Lot deserved it; he wanted to take the best land for himself, so let him feel what it feels like to be cheated." Or did he say something like this, "Well it must be God's way of punishing him for living so close to the evil city of Sodom. It must be God's way of dealing with him." No. Let's see what Abram did.

"When Abram learned that Lot had been captured, he called together the men born into his household, 318 of them in all. He chased after Kedorlaomer's army until he caught up with them at Dan." Genesis 14:14

What an amazing man. He didn't even once stop to think about what Lot did to him and to gloat in what happened to him. No, he immediately reacted to go and help Lot. And not only that, he risked his life by going to his aid. Abram wasn't a trained fighter as far as we can gather and here he wants to take on a king who just defeated five kings and their armies. Kedorlaomer was a trained fighter, who kept five cities under his control for twelve years. He was a force to be reckoned with. But Abram didn't let that deter him. And in one amazing turn of events, Abram and his household defeated this mighty king and recovered everything.

"Abram and his allies recovered everything - the goods that had been taken, Abram's nephew Lot with his possessions, and all the women and other captives." Genesis 14:16

This was supernatural. But with God all things are possible. Abram did the right thing and reacted in helping his nephew without even thinking of the possible consequences of his actions and God blessed it. God helped him every step of the way and gave him the courage to stand up for what was right.

No matter what someone has done to you, be prepared to help them in their time of need, no matter how difficult it might be for you. Don't gloat when things go wrong for them, don't rejoice in their downfall, rather reach out a helping hand. I know you might not want to do it, but sometimes we need to let go of our feelings and surrender to the Word of God. Be an ear to listen, take food to them if they need it, pray for them, do whatever you see they need. Be like Abram and stand up for what is right. God will smile from above.

Father it is so difficult for us to help those that have hurt us. It is easy to help those that have always been good to us, but difficult to help those that have been nasty to us. Please help us to put aside our feelings and to reach out in their time of need. We will only be able to do it with Your help. Thank you Jesus, Amen

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