“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ -Genesis 14:22-23
It would have been easy for Abraham to claim all that wealth as being a windfall from God. He could have declared: “Look how God has blessed me.”
But Abraham swore an oath to God that he would accept nothing belonging to Sodom. One way to make sure that you will not have to rebound from a victory is by making sure, before the battle begins, that you want nothing this world has to offer.
Remember the story of Joshua his victory at Jericho? Joshua was told at Jericho that God would give him victory, but he was required to leave the wealth. A man named Achin took some silver and hid it beneath his tent. The children of Israel were defeated in the very next town. Abraham was declaring, “I don’t need the world’s bounty, I just need God’s blessing." Abraham didn’t want to be made rich by the world but rather be rich in God. He did not want men to say that they were the source of Abraham’s success. Only God would be Abraham’s source.
This, however, was a personal choice that Abraham submitted, himself too. He didn’t force this solemn oath on others, in fact, read Genesis 14:24: “I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.”
Going without knowing means that we must predetermine that God is going to be our source. When Jesus sent out his disciples two by two throughout the villages Mark 6:7-13 tells us: And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.
“Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate. So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.”- Mark 6:7-13
Jesus blessed them with power and authority, but they had to depend on God for their provision.
Pastor Scott Burr Dayspring Community Church
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