Genesis 13-14

10 Life Lessons we Learn from the story of Lot
1. Blessings received aren’t always blessings deserved
2. Sometimes, the quickest way is to go back
3. Close quarters often lead to conflict
4. In a family conflict, someone must initiate a plan
5. We make little progress when our first priority is our ‘rights’
6. If you’re serious about solutions, you must be prepared to sacrifice
7. Don’t judge a book by its cover
8. The path of least resistance isn’t always the path we should be on
9. God is a God of blessing
10. New ground should always be claimed in praise

The War of Kings

Group #1
Amraphel, King of Shinar (Babylonia...some suspect this is Hammurabi)
Arioch, King of Ellasar (in Babylonia)
Kedorlaomer, King of Elam (NE of Gulf of Persia...seems to have been most powerful)
Tidal, King of Goiim

Group #2
Bera, King of Sodom (name means 'son of evil', verified by 13:13)
Birsa, King of Gomorrah
Shinab, King of Admah
Shemeber, King of Zeboiim
???, King of Bela (Later, Zoar which means 'small'. See 19:22)
*For further info, see Deuteronomy 29:23, Hosea 11:8

Group #3
Abram
Mamre
Eshcol
Aner

Timeline of War
1. Kedorlaomer was powerful, taxing far off peoples
2. After 12 years of being taxed, 5 kings rebelled
3. Kedorlaomer & his allies went to fight these rebels
4. On their way, they defeated various other peoples
5. The 5 kings awaited the arrival of the 4 kings
6. The 4 kings soundly defeated the 5 kings
7. The 4 kings plundered Sodom & Gomorrah (captured Lot)
8. An escapee told Abram about Lot
9. Abram, his men & allies routed the 4 kings (rescued Lot)
10. Two kings met with Abram upon his return (Bera & Melchizedek)

5 Lessons from Abraham’s Rescue of Lot
1. It’s best not to get involved in worldly disputes
2. Family is worth fighting for
3. The enemy of my enemy isn’t always a friend
4. We must be careful with whom we accept support from
5. A good king is hard to come by and should be honored

Who was Melchizedek?
Is he a 'type' of Christ?
or
Was He a pre-incarnate Christ?

Characteristics of Melchizedek
1. He was King of Salem (Genesis 14:18)
2. He gave bread and wine to Abraham (Genesis 14:18)
3. He was Priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18)
4. He blessed Abram (Genesis 14:19)
5. Abram gave him ‘of everything’ (Genesis 14:20)
6. He is a Priest forever (Psalm 110:4)
7. His name means King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2)
8. King of Salem means King of Peace (Hebrews 7:2)
9. He was without genealogy (Hebrews 7:3)
10. He was without beginning or end (Hebrews 7:3)

Characteristics of Jesus
1. He is the King of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:11)
2. He gave bread and wine to Abraham’s children (Matthew 26:26-28)
3. He is the High Priest of God (Hebrews 5:10)
4. He blesses Abraham’s descendants (Galatians 3:29)
5. Abraham’s descendants give Him everything (Romans 12:1-2)
6. He is a Priest forever (Hebrews 7:24)
7. He is the King of Righteousness (Matthew 3:15)
8. He is the King of Peace (Acts 10:36)
9. He was born of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
10. He is without beginning or end (Revelation 21:6)

*See John 8:52-58