Genesis 14:1-12 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 14:1-12. Let’s go!
Genesis 14:1-12 (NIV)
1 At this time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim
2 went to war against 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 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea).
4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim
6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert.
7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar.
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) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim
9 against Kedorlaomer 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 tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.
11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away.
12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
On verses 1-12: These verses describe a war between two alliances of kings. On one side we have Kedorlaomer king of Elam, the strongest king in the region plus three other kingdoms allied with him (Shinar, Ellasar, and Goyim). On the other side, we have an alliance of five kingdoms consisting of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zebooi, and Bela/Zoar. At the Valley of Siddim, these two alliances battle, resulting in Kedorlaomer’s alliance defeating Sodom and Gomorrah. As part of their victory over Sodom and Gomorrah, Kedorlaomer’s alliance kidnaps Abram’s nephew Lot, since Lot was a resident of Sodom (v12).
What can we learn from this? These verses are setting the stage for Abram to come to Lot’s rescue and defeat Kedorlaomer, which we will read about in the next verses. For now it is worth noting that if Kedorlaomer had just taken the goods and food of Sodom and Gomorrah as plunder and had left Lot untouched, Abram would never have gone to fight Kedorlaomer and defeat him. Apparently Kedorlaomer’s greed may have been his undoing.
What can we learn from this?
1. If we are not careful, greed can be our undoing. In Kedorlaomer’s case, if Kedorlaomer had been content to take the food and goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and left Lot alone, Kedorlaomer would have never felt Abram’s wrath. As 1 Timothy 6:9 says, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Just as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah fell into the pits that littered the Valley of Siddim, so when we live in greed we risk falling into the pits of greed’s temptations.
2. The struggle between two alliances and the resulting capture of Lot reminds me that we too are caught in a middle of a war between God and Satan. Satan took us captive when we fell into the pit of his temptations. But just as Abram would come to rescue Lot, so Jesus Christ is the one who rescues us from Satan’s grasp.
Thank You Jesus that when sin and Satan had taken me captive, You came to rescue me. May I not be greedy and fall into the pits that greed creates. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
