Who Are Your Allies

On the way to Pelham this past Sunday, I was reading in Genesis (don’t worry Roger was driving). It was a passage I have read many times, but the Holy Spirit is such a wonderful teacher. He showed me something I had over looked.  I love it when He does that!

In Genesis chapter 14 we are given the history of Abram and Lot. The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Bela had rebelled against Kedorlaomer. Lot has been taken captive by King Kedorlaomer and his allies. In verse 14, when Abram hears what has happened to his nephew, he gathers together an army of trained men who “were born into his household”. As most of us know, Abram recovered not only his family and their possessions but everything the rebelling kings lost.

Verses 18-20 deal of course with Melchizedek which is not what this discourse is about (even though that in it self is very interesting to me). What caught my attention was verse24.  The king of Sodom tried to give Abram a reward for recovering everything and he refused to take any thing for himself. He did accept the reward for those who went with him; Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Every time I have read this story, I have walked away with the impression that Abram did this with his own army. But those names leapt out at me this time and I had to go back to verse 13 where these men are listed as allies of Abram.

I had to look up the definition of the word allies. Even though I know the meaning I needed to see it in black and white (I am a visual person). Allies; plural of the word ally, the noun form is defined as a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league. The transitive verb form is defined as uniting or forming a connection or relation between.

Abram did not go to battle with just what he had. He had made connections, relationships, became associated with others. And he called for their help when he was in need.  So many scriptures began going through my mind. Ecclesiastes 4:12 which states “a threefold cord is not quickly broken”, “Two are better than one” Ecclesiastes 4:9 are just a couple of them. The point is God does not want us fighting our battles alone. And He does not want us to join with just anyone. It is important who our allies are.

Abram did not join with the king of Sodom and the other armies who had rebelled against Kedorlaomer. He would not even take a reward from this king. In verse 21 and 22 the king of Sodom offered Abram all the material wealth that had been recovered and he refused it for himself. I think his exact words were “lest you should say I have made Abram rich”. Abram was not going to be indebted to a king who was so obviously evil (hey God destroyed the place he ruled over). 

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” has so many implications.  Abram understood this so long before Paul wrote it. We today need to look for character and integrity in the people we associate ourselves with. Charisma, talent, popularity, or riches are not reasons to ally ourselves with a person or organization.  And unfortunately there are some who call themselves Christian that do not exhibit the character and integrity Christ calls us to.

Allying with followers of Jesus Christ is also beneficial. Abram won his battle which was all the reward he needed. But his allies also profited. They received the spoils of his victory! They gave what they had to Abram and received. When we partner with other ministries we receive benefits from the association even if the partnership is demonstrated through giving to the ministry. God says so much to us about the reward of giving. “What so ever you sow that shall you also reap”, “give and it shall be given to you”, “God loves a cheerful giver”; the list goes on and on.

So what do I think God was trying to teach me? That while of course He is my primary ally, He does expect me to join with others in the battle for souls. Two are better than one and a three fold strand is not easily broken. Who are your allies?