Remember. Forget. --Gen. 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." Gen. 14:14

Dwelling in peace and prosperity in the plains of Mamre, Abram hears tell of a terrible battle that was fought and won down in the vale of Shiddim. A survivor staggers into camp with the news--"They took Lot,...who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed" (Gen. 14:12).

And what did this mighty patriarch do?

Remember, Lot had chosen the most beautiful, prosperous, and promising lands for himself. When the whole of it had been promised to Abram and his seed, a selfish young man chose it for himself, with no respect to his uncle, whose kindness and protection had even gotten him to Canaan in the first place.

This could have been the classic example of "You get what you deserve."

Abram remembered.

And in the face of his love for his family, his love for mankind, and his love for his God, he forgot.

Servants were armed, Mamre and his brothers called, and off sallied Abram, leading a band that was small compared to the forces they would face.

They came marching back to Sodom, triumphant in a resplendent victory.

Why? All of this war, this battle, this terror and fear and killing… This risk, this chance; this gamble of his own life…..for a young man and his family, who had shunned the kindness of an elder kinsman, who now dwelt within the very walls of the dark city of Sodom.

Why would Abram risk his own neck for something like that?

He had plenty to remember.

And he chose to forget.

Not only to forget, but to be there when occasion called. When Lot needed him, Abram was there. Even though Lot never asked for it. Lot sent him no message of pleading: "Uncle Abram, come save me!" But Abram went anyway.

The unasked was given the ungrateful.

And the unthinkable was given the unselfish.

The essence of forgiveness is forgetting. And remembering.

Remember. Forget.

Remember the friend, forget the follies.

Remember the doer, forget the deeds.

Remember the love, forget the lies.

Remember the beauty, forget the betrayal.

Abram risked life, wealth; the security of the family he left in the plains of Mamre while he went to battle; he risked everything to rescue someone who he loved, even though that someone had asked for no help, had given him no reason to still love.

He remembered. And forgot. And won.

Lord, teach me to forget...and help me to remember.