Mensa Otabil - Faith to Refuse - Part 2
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Today, I am delivering part two of my message that I started two weeks ago titled «Faith to Refuse.» In this part two, we know that faith is essential for us to receive from God, become what God wants us to be, pull down strongholds, and receive miracles. However, in this two-part message, I am focusing on faith that does not just receive but also refuses or rejects. Sometimes, we need faith to refuse something. In part one, we looked at Moses, who by faith refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He rejected a wrong label and a wrong mission. In this part two, we will look at Abraham, who also had faith to refuse. The narrative is in Genesis 14:18–23.
To give you a little background on the story, Abraham lived with his nephew Lot, and as they grew, their businesses and cattle expanded, necessitating their separation. Abraham gave Lot the first option, and instead of passing on his uncle’s choice, Lot took it and chose what he considered the most fertile land, the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. He went to live there for some time. There was a war, and five kings came against Sodom and Gomorrah and other surrounding towns. These five kings conquered Sodom and Gomorrah and captured the people. In those days, if you were conquered, they would take you captive to sell you as slaves, so they took the people captive, including Lot, along with all their property. Someone came to tell Abraham that Lot, his nephew, had become a victim in this war and had been taken as a slave, along with his family and property; everything was gone.
Though Abraham was not a soldier, he gathered 318 men and decided to fight those who had conquered his nephew’s town. God granted him victory. Not only did Abraham rescue Lot, but he also liberated all the nations that had been conquered, reclaiming their people and property. Now Abraham was a champion, returning from a great victory. As he returned, he was met by two kings: one named Melchizedek, about whom we will not say much today, and the other the king of Sodom. Both kings made offers, and we will read how Abraham responded.
Genesis 14:18–23 states, «Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' And he gave him a tithe of all.» That’s where tithing started. Verse 21 continues, «Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.' But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have raised my hand to the Lord God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'»
Two kings came to meet Abraham: Melchizedek, king of Salem, who brought bread, wine, and a blessing for Abraham, and then the king of Sodom. We must remember that Melchizedek, king of Salem, had not been involved in this drama; his country had not been attacked, and he had lost nothing. He came with a blessing to congratulate Abraham. In contrast, the king of Sodom had suffered losses, and he offered things to Abraham, who refused them. It is essential to understand why Abraham refused the king’s offer. He had worked hard for the victory; why refuse a blessing?
We will examine three statements that Abraham made to understand his refusal. The first statement was, «I have raised my hand to the Lord.» This phrase means that Abram made a vow to God. This practice is still invoked today; for example, when swearing an oath in a court, you are asked to raise your hand and place it on a Bible or some sacred object, then take your vow. Abraham did the same, raising his hand to God. When he said, «I have raised my hand to the Lord,» it indicated that he had made an oath before setting out to fight the battle against the five kings. Importantly, this vow was still in force after the battle; it signifies an enduring commitment.
The second statement Abraham made was, «I will not take anything that is yours.» He refused to take anything from the king of Sodom as a self-imposed limitation or restraint. Abraham placed an embargo on himself, specifying that he would not take even a thread or a sandal strap. If Abraham were making such a vow today, he might say he would not take a pesewa, a penny, or a cent. The point is that Abraham declared he would not take anything from the king of Sodom, specifically directed toward him while acknowledging that he accepted bread and wine from Melchizedek.
Abraham made this vow before the outcome of the battle, so why did he refuse? The reason, as noted, was to ensure that no one could take credit for his success, particularly the king of Sodom. Abraham did not want anyone to say, «I have made Abraham rich.» The implied statement is that Abraham knew he would be rich; he had full confidence in how his future would turn out. In Genesis 13:2, it states that Abraham was already very rich in livestock, silver, and gold, even before the events of chapter 14. He was careful about who should get the glory for his prosperity.
When Abraham declared, «I will not take anything that is yours,» he recognized the king of Sodom as a representative of unworthy sources. Abraham refused because he was determined that, in the future, no one would take God’s glory away from his success. There is an implied understanding that Abraham knew he would prosper further, and he didn’t want any association with the king of Sodom’s evil.
The second possible reason is the circumstance of the offer; Sodom had already lost so much. Abraham didn’t want to take advantage of their calamity. Their town had been attacked, and many had suffered. If Abraham had taken anything from Sodom, it could imply he was leveraging their misfortune for his gain. Abraham wanted to avoid being seen as someone who prospered by exploiting the vulnerable.
In summary, faith to refuse means believing so much in the future God has planned for you that you refuse to reach it by any means that would harm others. It is similar to David’s refusal to kill Saul, even though he had the chance to become king. David had faith to refuse to pursue his destiny at the expense of another. Similarly, Elisha refused Naaman’s reward, knowing it was not the right time.
You may find yourself in situations where everything seems to favor you, but your success could destroy another person. It is crucial to refuse such success, as Abraham did, stating that he would not take anything because he believed he would prosper through God alone.
If we think about our lives, we face moments where we must choose between taking shortcuts or trusting in God’s plan for our future. If you believe God has greatness for you, realize that you can remain patient. You should never have to destroy others to prove your worth.
Let us also apply this to us as Africans. If we believe in Africa’s greatness, we must refuse the negative labels imposed on us. We must reject being seen merely as victims and refuse to blame the world for every misfortune. If we believe in the wealth of our continent, we must not sell ourselves short for nothing.
As individuals, we should reject being seen merely as dependent on foreign nations. Abraham’s refusal was a stand against receiving anything that did not align with who he was destined to be. Likewise, we must assert our identity and capabilities as a people.
Choose faith to refuse negative influences in your life. Have faith in where God is taking you. Commit to reject anything that does not align with His blessings for you. You must declare, as Abraham did, that you will accept only what God offers and be a testimony for His greatness. Lift your hands and say with me, «Heavenly Father, I know the plans you have for me are for good. I refuse any offer that would destroy my testimony. I vow to you, O God, that when you have done it, all the glory will be Yours.»
May the Lord bless you with a testimony that cannot be contested, and when the world sees it, they will acknowledge what the Lord has done for you. Your testimony is coming; stay faithful and patient, for you will arrive at what God has destined you to be. Give God some praise this morning! Amen.