Sermon Outline

Havasu Christian Church       

August 30, 2026

People of Genesis                            

Genesis 14:1-24

“Abram The Warrior!”

INTRO: When I was a boy, there was a T.V. show called “the High Chaparral.

The show was set in the 1870s, and revolved around "Big John" Cannon, a rancher living in the desert of the southern Arizona Territory, near the Mexican border. It’s Apache Indian country. John runs a ranch, called "The High Chaparral" with his brother Buck his son Blue, a wife and a bunch of men who work for him.

“Big John” Cannon didn’t really want to fight, and neither did his family or the men he employed. But if a fight came looking for them, they were ready and able to fight back. Note to self… NEVER volunteer to climb the water tower! Bad idea!

When we think about Abraham, (Abram) we most likely don’t think of him as a warrior.

        After all, he’s no kid. He’s rich, he’s in charge of lots of people, but we probably don’t visualize him as the leader of an army. But when you live in a dangerous world, you have to be prepared to fight if it becomes necessary! Abram, and the men with him were prepared.

1. Abram gets word that his nephew Lot and his people have been taken.

Genesis 14:1–16 (NASB95) And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 

     2   that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 

     3   All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 

     4   Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. 

     5   In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 

     6   and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 

     7   Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 

     8   And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, 

     9   against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 

     10   Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. 

     11   Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 

     12   They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom. 

     13   Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram.

1. This is not a fight of Abram’s making.
2. It’s been brewing for over 14 years.
3. Sodom, Gomorrah and two other cities have been living for 12 years under the domination of Chedorlaomer, King of Elam, and a confederacy of 4 other kingdoms.
4. They almost certainly were paying tribute… “Protection money.”
5. “I’ll give you my lunch money if you don’t beat me up!”
6. The four kingdoms decide that enough is enough! “We aren’t going to put up with this anymore! WE QUIT!”
7. The five kingdoms apparently have NOT had enough… They want their money!
8. So they bring their armies and attack!
9. They win!
10. They carry off everybody they can catch.
11. They grab all the food.
12. They grab everybody’s belongings.. Spoils of war!
13. They head for home!
14. Obviously, they aren’t going to travel very fast.
15. One of the people who escaped, comes to Abram for help!
16. Most likely, he was just looking for food and shelter.
17. Instead, he sets Abram and his people into motion!

     14   When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 

     15   He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 

     16   He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

1. Abram and his men head out in “hot pursuit.”
2. Abram has 318 trained men.
3. These will be younger men.
4. They have been trained to fight.
5. We don’t know exactly what kind of training, or how often they trained, but apparently, Abram had trained up what we might today call a Militia.
6. This is pretty impressive!
7. Abram also takes along three other groups of men that he has allied himself with.
8. Men under the leadership of Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.
9. Abram is leading them himself!
10. This also is impressive!
11. We know he’s over 75 years old. He may be pushing 80.
12. He could have stayed home and let one of his trusted servants be in charge.
13. We know that didn’t work out too well for King David, later, did it?
14. Abram uses good strategy!
15. He doesn’t just “blunder in.”
16. He splits his force into two groups.
17. He waits till after nightfall, so the men’s guard will be down.
18. Abram and his men attack!
19. Abram and his men WIN!
20. Not only do they win, but they chase the army for miles before they head back.
21. This made it much less likely that the enemy would sneak up on them.
22. As Abram returns from battle, he meets a most interesting man.

Genesis 14:17–20 (NASB95) Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 

     18   And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 

     19   He blessed him and said, 

    “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, 

    Possessor of heaven and earth; 

       20   And blessed be God Most High, 

    Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” 

  He gave him a tenth of all.

1. He meets the Melchizedek, King of Salem.
2. Melchizedek is also “Priest of the most High God!
3. God has given the people here a Priest to teach them how He wants them to live.
4. To teach them to love God and obey Him.
5. Melchizedek brings out bread and wine.
6. He gives this to Abram, and most likely the people who are with him.
7. He is being hospitable.
8. He gives a blessing to Abram.
9. As a Priest, Melchizedek is speaking on behalf of God!
10. This blessing reminds Abram that God was involved in this victory.
11. This blessing reminds Abram just how great God really is!
12. Abram gives a tithe (10%) of all the goods he had rescued.

1. The King of Sodom finally speaks up.

Genesis 14:21–24 (NASB95) The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.” 

     22   Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 

     23   that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 

     24   “I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”

1. He asks to be allowed to take his people home.
2. Keep the goods, just let me have the people.
3. They are now under the control of Abram and his allies.
4. Abram and his allies could have kept them as slaves if they had wanted to… who was going to stop them?
5. Abram tells the King of Sodom that he has promised God not to take them, or their belongings.
6. He doesn’t want the King of Sodom to be able to say “I made Abram rich.”
7. I doubt God wanted him to take anything either.
8. Apparently, the Reputation of Sodom and Gomorrah have preceded them!
9. Abram wants nothing to do with their tainted goods.
10. He will only take the food his men have eaten.
11. His allies however, can have their share.
12. It was common to go to war, simply to get a share of whatever you took from your enemy!
13. They risked their necks in a fight that wasn’t really their own.
14. Lot and family are saved!

What can we learn from this “History lesson” that makes a difference in our lives today?

• Abram wasn’t looking for a fight, but he was ready to fight to rescue his family.
• As Christians, we are called to stand and protect our families, and those who cannot protect themselves.
• This includes the unborn, the elderly, and anyone else who our society looks at as “Less than” everyone else.
• Abram did his best to be prepared for whatever might come his way.
• We should emulate this behavior.
• “Always be prepared.”
• Abram trusted God to intervene on his behalf!
• This army Abram was pursuing had already defeated another army.
• Abram goes after them with “318 trained men” (Militia) and some guys he was friends with.
• This could have gone VERY badly, but Abram knew that God would be with him.
• God had made promises to him that certainty couldn’t come true if he was killed, or his family was taken away!
• We should put our trust in God!
• Abram wasn’t always as faithful as he should have been, and we won’t be either!
• DON’T QUIT!
• Abram Gave credit and thanks to God!
• This wasn’t all about “how great I am.”
• If it was, Abram would have kept the spoils.
• Instead, he gives 10% to God as a way of giving Him credit and thanks!
• God deserves our thanks and our praise!
• Abram wasn’t greedy.
• He could have kept it all, but instead, he kept nothing!
• Maybe we need to rethink our own “want” for things… regardless of how we get them.
• We are really stewards of what God chooses to put into our hands.
• God put Melchizedek in a pagan land to be a light in a dark place.
• God put Abram in a pagan land to be a light in a dark place.
• When we find ourselves in a dark place, don’t curse the darkness… let your light shine!
• You may be the light someone else needs to be able to escape their own personal darkness!
• Finally, that Melchizedek guy… we’ll be coming back to him later. Keep him in the back of your mind!