Reclaiming the Truth
“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.” – Genesis 14:13
Redeeming the Time
Lot is captured and his family and possessions are carried off. We are told a person escapes and comes to inform Abram of what has happened. Interestingly, Abram is identified here as, “the Hebrew.” It was understood that Abram loves Lot and would want to know that he has been captured. The last recorded conversation between Abram and Lot was when Lot selfishly took the best land for himself and went his own way. It would be understandable if Abram’s response was one of indifference. “Well, that’s what he deserves for being selfish and choosing to live near those people. He had it coming.”
What do you think goes through the mind of our God when he sees we have been carried off by deception, temptation, falsehood and selfishness? Is God indifferent? Is God moved?
The crazy part is when we find ourselves carried away by our sinful desires and held captive by our mistakes, we don’t have to hope that someone will run to tell God what has happened to us. We have direct access to God through Jesus. This person came to Abram because he knew that Lot was part of Abram’s family. Years later, Paul reminds us of the family that we are now a part of through Jesus. “For through him, we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2.18-19). Wherever you are and wherever you go, God responds when His children call for help.
Reflection
- Describe a time when you were in need of rescuing.
- What moved you to the point of recognizing your need for help?
- Looking back now, how did God respond to your need for rescuing?
Resting in His Redemption
Reflect on the words of Isaiah and remember the heart of our God who sees you as his own.
Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
6 I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
