Genesis 14: 1-16 Freely Forgiving Others

Genesis 14 begins in conflict. For 12 years several nations had paid tribute to Kedorlaomer. In the 14th year they rebelled. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were two of the rebellious kings.

Kedorlaomer and his allies defeated Sodom and Gomorrah and the nations aligned with them. As a result, the kings took all the possessions and food of Sodom and Gomorrah and left. Then we read a most important point, “They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions when they left, for Lot was living in Sodom” (14:12).

A fugitive came and told Abraham about the situation. When Abraham heard that Lot had been taken he mobilized his forces and prepared to rescue Lot. He defeated the hostile forces, freed Lot and recovered all of the possessions, the women and the rest of the people.

Abraham could have easily decided to do nothing. After all, Lot had chosen that land. If Lot had not made that choice he would not be in this pinch. He brought it upon himself.

Abraham immediately mobilized and did not hold a grudge against Lot. In that way he is a great example for us. Even if we perceive that people have treated us unfairly, we must not hold grudges. We must be willing to forgive.

It has been said that 90% of the mental health hospitals could be emptied if people would merely forgive others. When we fail to forgive others, we may bring devastating consequences on our own mental health.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph 4:31-32).

Consider the contrast in those two verses. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice should not characterize us as believers. We should be kind tender-hearted and forgiving.

When we put our trust in Jesus we receive forgiveness for all of our sins. God holds no grudges against us. His forgiveness provides a model for us to forgive others.

He forgives all of our sins, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). He does not pick and choose which ones He will forgive and which ones He will hold against us. In the same way we should forgive others, “Just as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

“For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transformed us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14)