1. God’s Word on Self-Defense Abram as Defender & Protector
Starting in Genesis 14
God’s Word on Self-Defense
Abram as
Defender & Protector
Abram as Defender & Protector

2. Let us Explore God’s Word on Self-Defense
Can I defend myself?
Can I defend others?
I am not trying to force an opinion on anyone.
God’s Word speaks and God’s Word judges, John 12:48.
I will show you some of what I believe…and why.
If it offends your conscience to defend yourself or your loved ones, study with them about it and pray about it.
Stand your ground in God’s Word, whether you choose to stand your ground here or not, Romans 14:23.
Abram as Defender & Protector

3. Abram as Defender & Protector
Romans 14:23
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Abram as Defender & Protector

4. Abram as Defender & Protector
Genesis 14:1-4
1 In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
Abram as Defender & Protector

5. Abram as Defender & Protector
Genesis 14:5-7
5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En- mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.
Abram as Defender & Protector

6. Abram as Defender & Protector

7. Abram as Defender & Protector
What Could This Mean?
The four kings came from afar – logistics to operate far away from home are staggering and it’s an expensive, difficult undertaking.
Military preparedness is usually staggeringly expensive in and of itself; and it’s difficult to maintain, but these four kings seem to have it well in hand.
They are operating far from home and seeming to roll right over city after city as they plunder and pillage their meandering way toward the valley of Siddim.
After suffering no apparent set-backs, they would be psychologically running on the border of invincibility.
Abram as Defender & Protector

8. Abram as Defender & Protector
Genesis 14:8-10
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country.
Abram as Defender & Protector

9. Abram as Defender & Protector
Could it get any Better?
The four kings route the five kings.
The tar pits claim some while others are scattered into the mountains.
Victory and its spoils to the victors.
“Vive le quatro amigos!”
They seem to take their time so as not to miss any plunder.
They take all the people and all the goods.
Anyone that didn’t run for the hills…fast enough, was scooped up and hauled away.
Abram as Defender & Protector

10. Abram as Defender & Protector
Genesis 14:11-16
11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. 13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.
Abram as Defender & Protector

11. Abram as Defender & Protector
A Closer Examination
Trained (men) – 2593, more than slaves that picked up a stick to go fight, these were trained, experienced and trusted men.
Pursued (them) unto Dan – 7291, to pursue, prosecute or chase. Abram wasn’t just going out to see if he might run across them – he was deliberately making sure he would.
(Abram) defeated them – 5221, to be struck, destroyed, killed or wounded, to kill, slaughter or defeat. Abram didn’t write them a ticket or appeal to the Hague; he slaughtered them. He didn’t stop when they let the people go, but pressed the battle, making sure they wouldn’t do this again.
Abram as Defender & Protector

12. Abram as Defender & Protector
Genesis 14:16-20
17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand!“ And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Abram as Defender & Protector

13. Abram as Defender & Protector
Genesis 14:21-24
21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.' 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share."
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14. Abram as Defender & Protector
Are we authorized to
defend self and family
(…or others)
against attack?
Abram as Defender & Protector

15. Abram as Defender & Protector
Are we authorized to
defend self and family
(…or others)
against home invasion?
Abram as Defender & Protector

16. Abram as Defender & Protector
Are we authorized to
defend self and family
(…or others) against
brutes & oppressors?
Abram as Defender & Protector

17. Abram as Defender & Protector
Exodus 20:13
13 "You shall not murder.
Abram as Defender & Protector

18. Abram as Defender & Protector
Exodus 22:2-3
2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
Abram as Defender & Protector

19. Abram as Defender & Protector
Leviticus 24:15-17
15 Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. 17 'Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death.
Abram as Defender & Protector

20. Abram as Defender & Protector
Deuteronomy 22:8
8 "When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.
Abram as Defender & Protector

21. Abram as Defender & Protector
Deuteronomy 22:23-27
23 "If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 25 "But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. 26 But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no offense punishable by death. For this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor, 27 because he met her in the open country, and though the betrothed young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her.
Abram as Defender & Protector

22. Abram as Defender & Protector
Nehemiah 4:13-18
13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." 15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.
Abram as Defender & Protector

23. Abram as Defender & Protector
Nehemiah 4:19-23
19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." 21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, "Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day." 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.
Abram as Defender & Protector

24. Abram as Defender & Protector
Esther 9:1-2
1 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.
Abram as Defender & Protector

25. Abram as Defender & Protector
Psalm 18:34
34 He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Abram as Defender & Protector

26. Abram as Defender & Protector
Psalm 82:4
4 Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked.
Abram as Defender & Protector

27. Abram as Defender & Protector
Proverb 24:10-12
10 If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. 11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," does not He Who weighs the hearts consider it? He Who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
Abram as Defender & Protector

28. Abram as Defender & Protector
Proverb 27:1
1 “Do not boast of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
Abram as Defender & Protector

29. Abram as Defender & Protector
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Abram as Defender & Protector

30. Abram as Defender & Protector
What about the
New Testament?
Abram as Defender & Protector

31. Abram as Defender & Protector
Luke 22:35-36
35 And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." 36 He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Abram as Defender & Protector

32. Abram as Defender & Protector
I Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Abram as Defender & Protector

33. Abram as Defender & Protector
Romans 13:1-7
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur Judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Abram as Defender & Protector

34. Abram as Defender & Protector
Acts 23:11-24
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." 12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near." 16 So when Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him." …23 And he called for two centurions, saying, "Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.“ NKJV
Abram as Defender & Protector

35. Abram as Defender & Protector
Acts 25:1-12
Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, 3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem — while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. …9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?" 10 So Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!" NKJV
Abram as Defender & Protector

36. Abram as Defender & Protector
Romans 14:23
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. ESV
Abram as Defender & Protector 36

37. Abram as Defender & Protector
Proverb 27:1
“Do not boast of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
Abram as Defender & Protector 37

38. “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Hear The Gospel (John 5:24; Romans 10:17)
Believe it (John 3:16-18; John 8:24)
Repent Of Your Sins (Luke 13:1-5; Acts 2:38)
Confess Jesus as Christ (Mt 10:32; Rom 10:10)
Be Baptized (Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:27)
Remain Faithful for Life (John 8:31; Rev. 2:10)
For The Erring Child of God:
Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I John 1:9),
Pray (Acts 8:22)