Genesis 14:13-16 - Homiletics

The kinsman deliverer, or Abram's military expedition.

I. ABRAM 'S ELEVATED PIETY .

1. Self-forgetful magnanimity . Had the patriarch possessed a less noble soul, the tidings of his nephew's capture would almost certainly have kindled in his breast a secret feeling of complacency. But not only in his behavior on the occasion was there the complete absence of any such revengeful disposition as gloats with satisfaction over the punishment of a wrong-doer, there was something like a manifest unconsciousness of having ever suffered injury at Lot's hands at all.

2. Brotherly compassion . If he did sometimes admit to himself that his nephew had scarcely acted handsomely towards him, any feeling of resentment with which that reflection may have been associated was completely swallowed up by the sorrow which he felt for that nephew's fate. After all Lot was his dead brother's son, and was a child of God as well, and he could not choose but be affected by the melancholy news. Besides being self-forgetful, the piety of Abram was sympathetic.

3. Active benevolence . Meekly patient of injuries when inflicted on himself, the patriarch was ever ready to redress the wrongs of others, even of the undeserving. Nor was his philanthropy of that weakly benevolent sort which is always going to do some act of kindness to others, but never does it, or is so unaccountably slow in doing it that it comes to be practically of little use, or that would willingly extend a helping hand to the unfortunate if it could only be done without much trouble; on the contrary, it was prompt, decisive, energetic, and carried through with much labor, and at considerable risk to his own personal safety.

II. ABRAM'S MILITARY GENIUS .

1. Unexpectedly evoked . The last thing which ordinary minds would anticipate as an element in the character of one so good, pious, benevolent, and magnanimous as Abram the Hebrew, there is yet no essential incongruity between the talents of a soldier and the graces of a Christian; while as for the patriarch suddenly discovering all the qualities of a great commander, it is perhaps sufficient to reply that hitherto the crisis had not arrived to call them forth. The annals of warfare, both ancient and modern, attest that true military genius has not always been confined to professors of the soldier's art, but has oftentimes been discovered, of the rarest kind, in persons who, till summoned forth by Providence, have been engaged in peaceful callings.

2. Brilliantly displayed . In the gallant exploit of the patriarch are exhibited the tactics that from time immemorial have been adopted by all great generals—by Miltiades and Themistocles of Greece, by Julius Caesar, by Belisarius, the general of Justinian, by Oliver Cromwell, by Napoleon, by Stonewall Jackson and Sherman of America, and again by Von Moltke of Prussia—celerity of movement, suddenness of attack, skilful division of forces, outflanking and outmarching of the enemy.

3. Completely successful . The foe was defeated, the prisoners and spoil were recaptured, and it does not appear that Abram or his allies lost a man. That generalship is the best which accomplishes its object at the least expense of soldiers' blood and subjects' treasure.

III. ABRAM 'S WONDER - WORKING FAITH . It afforded—

1. A sufficient ground on which to go to war. The question as to Abram's right to mingle contest in the Sodom valley is fairly answered by replying that Abram had the right

2. The necessary power with which to prosecute the war. Possessed of military genius though the patriarch was, it is not supposable that he entered upon this campaign against the trained armies of the conquering kings, pursuing them along a difficult and dangerous track, without first casting himself on the Almighty and as his strength. And if that Almighty arm, in order to succor him, took the way of developing the capabilities for warfare which had hitherto been lying dormant in his soul, it was none the less true that the help which he received was Divine.

3. The splendid victory which resulted from the war. Whether the writer to the Hebrews ( Genesis 11:1-32 :34) thought of Abram when he spoke of faith's heroes subduing kingdoms and waxing valiant in the fight, it is apparent that Isaiah ( Genesis 41:2 , Genesis 41:3 ) ascribed the triumph of the son of Terah to the grace of God, which thus rewarded the faith which, in obedience to a Divine impulse, sprang to the relief of Lot.

IV. ABRAM 'S TYPICAL CHARACTER . The symbolic foreshadowing of the great kinsman Deliverer is too obvious to be overlooked.

1. In his person the Lord Jesus Christ, like Abram, was the kinsman of those whom he delivered.

2. The work he undertook, like that of Abram, was the emancipation of his brethren.

3. As in the case of Abram, that work consisted in despoiling the principalities and powers of evil.

4. The motive by which he was impelled on this arduous warfare was, like that which inspired the patriarch, love for his kinsmen.

5. The promptitude of Christ in coming to the aid of men was typified by Abram's celerity in hastening to the rescue of Lot.

6. As the campaign of Abram, so the warfare of Christ was carried through at great expense of toil and suffering to himself.

7. In the faith of Abram was shadowed forth the calm reliance of the Savior that all he did was in obedience to his Father's will.

8. The success with which the patriarch was rewarded was emblematic of the higher victory of Christ.

Learn—

1. To imitate the piety of Abram.

2. To admire in him, if we cannot in ourselves, the possession of superior abilities.

3. To covet earnestly the wonderworking faith which he displayed.

4. To trust in the great kinsman Deliverer of which he was the type.