Abraham and Lot Day 3

You will need your Bible today.
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33b
When Lot was taken captive by the 4 kings of Mesopotamia, trouble had come to Abram as well. He could have ignored it, after all Lot was in this mess because he had chosen to live among the people of Sodom, but Abram loved Lot and chose instead to rescue him. God had told Abram that He would protect him, and after the lesson learned in Egypt I have no doubt that Abram believed God, yet it's interesting that he already had a small army ready to go.
"When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan." Genesis 14:14
Abram had 318 men that lived in his household and were loyal to him from birth ,that were already trained. He didn't send them to boot camp after he heard about Lot, or quickly run through some tactical training with them, they were already ready for battle. Abram was prepared for whatever trouble he might find in Canaan.
Did keeping so many men battle ready in his home show a lack of faith in God's promise of protection?
"For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair- every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." Proverbs 2:6-11
God expects us to trust Him above all else, but He also expects us to be wise. Jesus warned us that there would be trouble, in Him we have victory, but that doesn't mean we can be foolish. Christian's still need to wear their seat belts, avoid dark alleys at night, and go to the doctor when they are sick. Its not that God can't save us if we are foolish enough to walk off the top of a 10 story building but when Satan tried to convince Jesus to try it, Jesus answered, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Matthew 4:7) which is sound advice. If Jesus wasn't flippant with God's protection then we probably shouldn't be either.
We have to make wise choices that avoids trouble when it is avoidable. Abram had a small army living under his roof, but he didn't go out looking for trouble, he avoided it when he could.
"Avoid every kind of evil" 1 Thessalonians 5:22
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:8b-11
"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:2-5
God wants us to stay far away from sin. Not tolerate it like Lot did, but separate ourselves from it. The farther away from sin we are the less likely we are to get into trouble. Unfortunately trouble isn't always avoidable. Abram didn't do anything wrong, yet he couldn't leave Lot in captivity. When we can't avoid trouble, we need to already be prepared. We might not have an army at our disposal but we are told where to get some armor.
Please read Ephesians 6:10-18
You may be familiar with the Armor of God, but how often do you really put it on? Paul is quick to explain that our battle isn't against other people but against sin, and the powers that encourage it. Lets face it we have an enemy, and if we are making the slightest impact in this world for God (which God expects us to do), then we are targets. Of course Satan isn't our only enemy, our flesh (human nature) wars within us as well. God promises to protect us, but He gives us armor for a reason.
Truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, and salvation give us a firm foundation. When trouble comes these you have to know God's truth from the world's lies. Righteousness is acting on God's Truth, its making right choices, which keeps you safe, while understanding the Gospel, that Jesus came as our Salvation and will return as our Lord, keeps us from getting too comfortable in this world. Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God, trusting that He knows what He's doing with our lives is vital when trouble comes. Of course salvation is the cornerstone of our protection. Being part of God's family places us under His wing or protection. Finally our weapon is the Word and pray. God's Word tells us what is True, and righteous. The Bible shows us who Jesus is, so that we can have faith and salvation. When trouble is headed right for us, its knowing God's Word that keeps us standing our ground.
Abram was ready when trouble came. He and his army didn't waste time wondering what he should do. Abram knew God, God who is the source of wisdom, he knew what was right and he acted immediately. He didn't try to compromise with the 4 kings, he didn't make peace with them, he also didn't compromise with the 5 kings when he returned their people and belongings.
"The king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.' But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me." Genesis 14:21-24
By the world's standards Abram had every right to take the plunder he had reclaimed, but he wasn't living by the world's standards. When the battle was over Abram nothing to do with the wickedness of Sodom and the other kings. He had saved his nephew, which was his only goal, and new that God wanted him to stay separated from corrupting influences. By refusing to take the plunder, he acknowledged that the victory was the LORDs and the LORD would continue to provide.
In this world we will have trouble, its inevitable, but God gives us the wisdom and the tools to be prepared. With Him we will always be the victor.
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16