An anonymous hero in this whole episode of multi-kingdom conflict is the man known only as "one of Lot's men" in Genesis 14 verse 13. Not only did this man manage to escape from the enemy army, but then, instead of simply running away and saving his own skin, he made his way to where Abraham lived, so that a rescue could be mounted. Perhaps the reason he was willing to get involved in the battle again was because his wife and children were among those who were still held captive by the enemy troops.
This attitude of this heroic, unnamed man made me think again about our attitude as believers towards our unsaved family and friends. As people who have already escaped from the clutches of the enemy, will we simply focus now on our own wellbeing, or will we do whatever it takes to rescue those who are still held prisoner by the enemy.
More of an anti-hero in the whole account is Bera, the king of Sodom. Knowing all that we read later about Sodom, it's hard for me to imagine that this man was a particularly good king. Yet look what happens in verse 21 of Genesis 14. The king of Sodom comes to Abraham and offers to let him keep absolutely everything - all the spoils of war that have been recovered from the enemy. "Just give me back my people, and you can keep all the goods for yourself," he says. Even this wicked king had understood the simple principle that, people are more important than things, and that we should be reluctant to lose them or let them go.
If our friends and family are precious to us, how willing are we to fight for them, as Abraham was willing to do, or pay a price for them, as the King of Sodom was willing to do? what price are we willing to pay to rescue our loved ones from the enemy's hands in 2016?
