24 ABRAHAMI RESCUES LOT.

 There was no altar in Sodom and Lot got into trouble.
On the very plain which Lot chose there was a great
battle, for five chiefs came with all their soldiers, and
fought with the people that lived there. They took all
the fine cattle and money, and whatever else they could
carry away, and took Lot himself and many of his peo-
ple prisoners. One of them escaped and told Abraham.
How quickly he was ready to help Lot. He armed his
own servants, three hundred and eighteen men, and at
night marched suddenly to the camp, slew many of the
invaders, rescued Lot and his people and brought them
and the goods safely home.
 The king of Sodom wanted Abraham to keep all the
goods himself. No!" he said, I will not take anything."
 Abraham is spoken of in the Bible a hundred times;
nine times, we know, God talked with him either in a vis-
ion or by angel messengers. One night he sat before his
tent, enjoying the cool evening air, and while his flocks
and servants slept, God talked with him. He told him
to look at the stars and see if he could count them. Then
he said so countless should be his children's children.
Abraham and his wife were old people then without a
child; but he believed God, and God showed him that
from his family should come One to save the world.
We are sure of this, for Jesus says, "Abraham rejoiced to
see my day, and he saw it and was glad."