Rescuing the captives

Perhaps kingdoms were a lot smaller in those times than they are today, but the first two verses of Genesis chapter 14 certainly make it sound as if this was a major conflict. Four kings on one side faced up against five kings on the other side. The victors carried off loads of plunder, as well as many captives, and so it happened that Abraham's nephew Lot, together with his family and possessions, were taken away by the army that had invaded Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham mobilises several hundred men and, if you've read the rest of the story, you'll know that he sets out in pursuit of the invading army and is able to bring Lot,  his household and his possessions safely back home again.

I wonder if you've ever had anything stolen from you, and whether you put in much effort to get that item back again.  Sometimes we might just count our losses when material possessions are taken from us - like when burglars break into our home and take away a TV set. But there's a different kind of urgency if a family member has been kidnapped; we become desperate to get them back and know no rest until that precious individual is safely back with us again.

As believers, we can sometimes be a bit passive when the enemy is robbing us of peace, joy or answers to prayer. We often allow him to get away with it, instead of making a focused effort to take back the things that God says are rightfully ours. But are we equally passive when he's holding some of our precious family members in his grasp? Or will we, like Abraham, pursue the enemy to get back our family members and see them brought into the Kingdom? Let's be people of prayer this year, and be willing to do warfare for any loved ones that the enemy is still holding captive.

Read on, in the post below, for further thoughts on this subject.