Abram was a man of peace, but he had also made Godly preparations for an emergency. Genesis 14: 13 But one of Lot’s men escaped and reported everything to Abram the Hebrew, who was living near the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram’s allies. 14 When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan.[1]
In his situation, Abram had made a pact with his neighbors. Under the agreements of the day, if one tribe went to war, the allies went too. So, Abram’s neighbors’ armed fighting men joined in Abram’s fight. Here, the treaty system worked in Abram’s favor.[2]
Abram seems to have a large household by this time. If there were over three hundred fighting men, the household would have had to be more than a thousand, including women and children. Abram must have armed the men and taught them how to use their weapons so that they were ready at a moment’s notice.
Preparation Leads to Victory
For while Abram had made worldly preparations, he had a tiny army compared to the enemy.
Abram’s more significant preparation was his faithfulness to God. Because Abram had a relationship with God, he could hear the Lord’s wisdom and strategy. Genesis 14: 15 There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives. [3]
The armies of Abram and his allies traveled one hundred fifty miles north. The battle plan of a multiple-front night attack bears a resemblance to what Gideon would successfully employ generations later (see Judges 7). But Abram wasn’t satisfied with just winning this battle. His forces continued to chase down the enemy for another hundred miles. In this way, they captured all.
Insight for Our Battles
Our story shows the importance of preparing for battles we might not anticipate. Abram had made a pact with his neighbors for protection. It is important to be unified with fellow believers as we face battles in our faith journey. Hebrews 10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. [4] God also supplies each of us believers with weapons we can use against our spiritual enemies. Ephesians 6: 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil[5] But like Abram’s men, we must be trained in the use of the weapons and be ready to use them at any time. A close relationship with God also enables us to hear God’s wisdom for the battle. Let us make Godly preparations for the spiritual attack along our faith journey. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/war-and-worship
[1,3-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Ross, A., & Oswalt, J. N. (2008). Cornerstone biblical commentary: Genesis, Exodus (Vol. 1, p. 106). Tyndale House Publishers.