NOBLE REFUSAL
OBSERVATION: THIS TEACHING ADDRESSES ABRAM’S (ABRAHAM) WISE DECISION TO REFUSE A MONEY GIFT FROM A PAGAN KING. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER DEFEATING SEVERAL MESOPOTAMIAN KINGS.
INTERPRETATION: GENESIS 14:21-24 (NKJV) NOW THE KING OF SODOM SAID TO ABRAHAM, GIVE ME THE PERSONS AND TAKE THE GOODS FOR YOURSELF. BUT ABRAHAM SAID TO THE KING OF SODOM, I HAVE RAISED MY HAND TO THE LORD, GOD MOST HIGH, THE POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. THAT I WILL TAKE NOTHING, FROM A THREAD TO A SANDAL STRAP, AND THAT I WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING THAT IS YOURS, LEST YOU SHOULD SAY, I HAVE MADE ABRAHAM RICH. EXCEPT ONLY WHAT THE YOUNG MEN HAVE EATEN, AND THE PORTION OF THE MEN WHO WENT WITH ME, ANER, ESHCOL, AND MANRE; LET THEM TAKE THEIR PORTION.
GENESIS 14: 21-24 (THE BOOK-PARAPHRASE) THE KING OF SODOM TOLD HIM, JUST GIVE ME BACK MY PEOPLE WHO WERE CAPTURED; KEEP FOR YOURSELF THE BOOTY STOLEN FROM MY CITY. BUT ABRAHAM REPLIED, I HAVE SOLEMNLY PROMISED JEHOVAH, THE SUPREME GOD, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THAT I WILL NOT TAKE SO MUCH AS A SINGLE THREAD FROM YOU, LEST YOU SAY, ABRAHAM IS RICH BECAUSE OF WHAT I GAVE HIM! ALL I’LL ACCEPT IS WHAT THESE YOUNG MEN OF MINE HAVE EATEN; BUT GIVE A SHARE OF THE BOOTY TO ANER, ESHCOL AND MANRE;
MATURE BELIEVERS MUST MAKE WISE CHOICES IN LIFE. THEY MUST AVOID ENTANGLEMENT WITH THE WORLDLY ISSUES.
MATURE BELIEVERS MUST RELY ON JEHOVAH GOD ONLY WHEN CONFRONTED WITH TROUBLESOME ISSUES.
MATURE BELIEVERS SHOULD NOT CAPITALIZE ON THE MISFORTUNES OF OTHERS.
A MATURE BELIEVER MUST CONVEY CONTENTMENT IN THE LORD.
APPLICATION: PROVERBS 2:8 (THE BOOK) HE GUARDS THE PATHS OF JUSTICE AND PROTECTS THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO HIM. WAIT WITH CONFIDENCE AS GOD PRESERVES AND PROTECTS! THIS IS NOBLE REFUSAL!
