Year 1, Day 13: Genesis 14

Insight Into Lot

Genesis 14 gives us tremendous insight into the characters of Lot and Abraham.  Let's start with Lot today.  We don't know much about him.  From yesterday's text we know that Lot chose the land towards Sodom.  Then we know that Lot moved and lived in the land.  In today's text we hear that Lot must have gone among the people of Sodom because he became a prisoner of war - implying that he was fighting on the side of Sodom.  Lot had slowly gotten sucked into the world and gotten sucked away from Abraham - his spiritual mentor.  When it comes to loving the world, Lot seems to be easily sucked in.

In a sense, Lot's capture is fortunate for Lot. Sure, it would be hard to be a prisoner of war.  It would be hard to be the defeated party.  But at the very least it is a humbling experience.  It is a forced humiliation that appears to be necessary to counter Lot's slide into becoming too familiar with the things and ways of the world.  God didn't force Lot to fight with the king of Sodom nor to become a prisoner of war.  But God took Lot's choice to side with the King of Sodom as an opportunity to teach good old Lot a lesson.  It is a good lesson, too.  Pursuit of the things of the world cannot help you near as much as a holy and righteous person can help get your life back in order.

Insight Into Abraham

Now let's take a look at Abraham.  Notice that Abraham was not in the world.  He is identified as Abraham the Hebrew in this passage.  Hebrew would mean that he didn't belong among the people.  He’s not a Canaanite.  He’s not living like a Canaanite.  He’s not accepted among the Canaanites as one of their own. 

This identification of Abraham encourages us to see him still as a foreigner and a sojourner in the land.  But he was not hardhearted or unprepared.  Abraham was not aloof of the world, either.  Abraham knew enough to intervene when his nephew had gotten sucked into the world and had gotten himself into trouble.  Abraham kept himself separate from the people, but still among them.  In a way, it hearkens me back to the call of the Christian to be in the world but not of the world.  Abraham gives us a perfect picture of that here.

Abraham continues to show us that he is faithful.  Lot had given Abraham every reason to turn his back on Lot.  Lot had selected the choice land.  He had progressively gotten closer to the world and further from Abraham.  But Abraham remains faithful to Lot.  Abraham goes in and rescues him.  For what better spiritual mentor could Lot have asked?

Abraham and the Kings

Now we move on to Abraham and these two kings.  Melchizedek is a name that means "King of Righteousness."  Salem is a word that means "Peace" and it is a derivative of the word Shalom.  This is significant.  Melchizedek meets up with Abraham after the battle in order to strengthen him from his victory.  His actions are both righteous and peaceful. 

Note that his blessing upon Abraham is first recognition of the power of God.  Second, it is much needed worldly respite.  Thus, in him Abraham finds a comrade and he accepts Melchizedek's blessing and offer.

On the other hand, let’s look at the king of Sodom.  Bera is a name that means "gift" while Sodom is a name that means "burning."  Clearly there is imagery here as well.  If Abraham listens to Bera he will figuratively be going in line with the world and will surely receive a "gift that leads to burning." 

I find it interesting that Bera asks for the people but doesn't care at all for the stuff.  I think this actually points us to the true spiritual battle that many of us turn a blind eye towards every day.  How often are we unlike Bera in that we get so caught up on the stuff of life that we ignore the people? 

Yet, it is precisely the people over whom God and Satan struggle, not the stuff of this world. 

Furthermore, we know full well what happens to Sodom in a few chapters.  Here we get a glimpse of why it happens.  The King of Sodom is interested in influencing people and dragging them into his world.  He’s willing to trade all the physical loot of the battle for the people who were brought back in the struggle.

In this sense, the king of Sodom gives Abraham the same offer as Satan gives Jesus in the wilderness.  Satan says, "I'll make you a ruler over all these people if you just bow to me."  Jesus' reply tells us that he will not voluntarily turn the people of this world over to Satan in exchange for the world. 

Like Jesus, Abraham does not want any part of the deal.  Worldly possessions just are not worth it.  God’s blessing is far superior to worldly stuff.  Sure, we might like the stuff temporarily, but what of this world can truly compare with the true blessing of God?

I think we can learn from Abraham here.  He was faithful and prepared.  He was looking out for his neighbors.  When people came to praise his greatness, he looked first for whoever was coming in the name of the Lord and accepted their offer while rejecting the offer of the worldly one.  I said it before, and I'll probably say it again before too many chapters go by.  No wonder Abraham was chosen by God.

God's peace.  <><