The Night Rescue

The Story

Four kings went to war against five kings near the Dead Sea, and the five kings lost. The winners carried off everything from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah: the food, the goods, and the people.

One of those people was Lot, Abram’s nephew, who had chosen to live in Sodom.

When a man who escaped the battle brought the news to Abram, Abram didn’t hesitate. He gathered 318 men who had been born and trained in his own household and went after the four kings. These were the armies that had just defeated five nations. Abram had a few hundred shepherds and servants.

He divided his men and attacked at night. The enemy fled. Abram chased them far to the north, recovered all the goods, and brought back Lot, the women, and the people.

On his way home, a mysterious king named Melchizedek came out to meet him with bread and wine. He was “the priest of the most high God,” and he blessed Abram. Then he said who had really won the battle: “Blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.”

Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And when the king of Sodom offered to let Abram keep the rest of the goods, Abram refused. He didn’t want anyone to say a king had made him rich.

Reflection