IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Abram's Victory

Date: Mar. 2, 2025

Passage

Genesis 14:1-24 (ESV)

In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. 11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

13 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. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

17 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. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,

  “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Possessor of heaven and earth;
20   and blessed be God Most High,
    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 14:19,20

And he blessed him and said,

  “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Possessor of heaven and earth;

During a conflict among Canaanite kings, Abram's nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom (13:10,11), was captured as a prisoner of war. The circumstances brought Abram into the war, as he desired to rescue his nephew.

Upon hearing about Lot's captivity, Abram gathered 318 trained men from his household to begin his pursuit. He strategically attacked the party that kept Lot and succeeded in recovering him, Lot’s people, and all of Lot’s possessions. In response, Lot returned to his home in Sodom, attracting the attention of the king of Sodom, who visited Abram.

God sent his messenger Melchizedek to encourage Abram at that time. Through Melchizedek's blessing, Abram was reminded of God's presence in his life and that God himself led him to win against the kings. With this assurance, he was not intimidated when he met the king of Sodom and refused his offer of material gains. He knew that blessings came from God and trusted that God would give him abundantly according to his promise. Do you feel tired and burdened negotiating the affairs of the world? Bring your trust before our almighty God, who encourages and brings us victory.

Prayer: Father, all things belong to you. Please help me fight a spiritual battle each day to overcome all human thinking and trust you fully.

One Word: Victory belongs to God.

Daily Bread

Write on a Scroll What You See

Revelation 1:9-20

Key Verse: 1:18

and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

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