Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 32
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IMMERSE
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BEGINNINGS
14:16–15:7
Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought
back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other
captives.
After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies,
the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is,
the King’s Valley).
And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High,
brought Abram some bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with
this blessing:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And blessed be God Most High,
who has defeated your enemies for you.”
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were
captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.”
Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord,
God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much
as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise
you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ I will accept only what
my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair
share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.”
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do
not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings
when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer
of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You
have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be
my heir.”
Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for
you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the Lord
took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the
stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous
because of his faith.
Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of
the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
