DCLM Daily Manna Monday 16 September 2024
TOPIC: Melting Hopes
TEXT: GENESIS 14:1-16
14 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
KEY VERSE
“And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed”
(Genesis 14:12).
DCLM Daily Manna Monday 16 Sept 2024 MESSAGE
Colorado Central Magazine, of December 1, 2009, carried this story: “On November 25, 1895, a cornerstone of ice was laid in Leadville, Colorado, the beginning of the largest ice palace ever built in America. In an effort to bolster the town’s sagging economy, the citizens staged a winter carnival.
On New Year’s Day of 1896, the city turned out for the grand opening. The immense palace measured 450 x 320 feet. The towers that flanked the entrance were 90 feet high. Inside was a 16,000-square-foot skating rink.” Months later, the palace melted away. With that also melted the hopes of Leadville and the expected business boom.
READ DCLM Daily Manna Sunday 15 September 2024 – Know The Purpose Of Life
From our text, Lot, Abram’s nephew was captured together with his family after the battle of the confederates ended in defeat of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram pursued and engaged the looters in a battle and rescued the prisoners of war, including Lot and his family and their belongings.
After this event, Lot still remained in Sodom, perhaps hoping for a recovery that never came. He eventually lost all to the fire of judgment that consumed Sodom,Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities.
Lot’s choice to relocate to Sodom was based on economic reasons. He was consumed with the prosperity of the city, powered by the flourishing salt business. In his desire for greener pastures, he distanced himself from Abram and God’s people.
Like Lot, many people travel out to prosperous countries in search of a better life. Similarly, people are changing jobs in pursuit of better prospects. While none of these is sinful, we must also consider the impact of the new environment on our faith. Like an ice, these endeavours can quickly melt away without remedy.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The only sure place is in the will of God
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: NUMBERS 19-21
