The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”           Genesis 14:21 NIV

Here is the subtle temptation which suddenly came upon Abram. He was met by the king of Sodom, who had somehow escaped capture and was in the city when news came of the triumphant return of Abram with the spoils of war. On the surface, the king of Sodom’s offer seems a perfectly justifiable reward. Abram had fought his great battle, not, of course, on behalf of the King of Sodom, but for the sake of Lot and his family. Nevertheless, the effect of his victory was of great benefit to the whole of Sodom. For this reason. the king was there to meet him. The king simply asked for the return of the residents of the city; the goods and riches he gratefully offered to Abram. The wealth of Sodom was all to be Abram’s! Now notice the subtlety of this temptation. It appeared to be so right and proper! Abram could well have said. “This is certainly only what I deserve, and after all, it is the custom to do this. Everyone does it! There are no strings attached. I can take the wealth and go my way back to my tent and altar and never go near Sodom again.” Who of us, standing in Abram’s shoes, would not have thought like this? It is in the apparent freedom of the gift that the peril lay. To a man of Abram’s character, it is impossible to accept this kind of a gift without feeling an obligation to the giver. The gift was a threat to the independence of the man who took orders only from the Lord.

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, may we see the subtlety of temptation in what seems right.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, through the gift of discernment, may we see the subtlety of temptation in what seems to be right and accepted ways of this world. AMEN

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Romans 6:15-23

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