City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, ² these kings made war with 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 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). ⁴ Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. ⁵ In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, ⁶ and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. ⁷ Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling 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) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim ⁹ with Chedorlaomer 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 bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. ¹¹ So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. ¹² They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

Genesis 14:1-12 (ESV)

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Reflection

We learn in chapter 13 that Lot gave up wanting to partake in the promises that God had given to Abram(ham). Instead he left the promised land and turned to go east into the Jordan Valley where lay Sodom and Gomorrah. Going eastward is significant in the Bible as it points to rebellion against God. Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden towards the east (Gen. 3:24), Cain, after killing Abel, traveled east to the land of Nod and away from the presence of God (Gen. 4:16), and when the people did not want to disperse across the world as commanded by God following the flood, they travel eastward (Gen. 11:2). Lot chose to travel into a land full of sin and evil, taking with him all his possessions and family.

Yet, as he lived in the lush lands of the Jordan Valley, he ended up caught in the middle of a world war; the first major world war battle of their time. He lost all his possessions and was taken captive. He had sought out comfort and peace in the richness of land instead of living under the blessings of God. His short-term gain ended up being his long-term loss.

(Spoiler Alert!) And this would not be the end of it all, as we will later find out that Lot returned to the same place after Abram’s rescue! Sometimes when God rescues us from the destruction of our own sin, we go right back to our prior sin. And still God saved him again! If this does not speak to God’s character and love for us, then I do not know what will. But that’s a story for another day.

Application

We too often store up treasures on earth instead of treasures in heaven. Lot’s heart was in his earthly possessions. He sought out what made his heart glad and this ended up leading to his own destruction and downfall. How often do we do the same? We store up so much on this earth that when we die, what have we truly accomplished? We may sneak into heaven with the fires of hell nipping at our feet. Did we really serve God’s kingdom and live for Him?

Abraham did not choose an easy life living in the wilderness of God’s promised land, but he had learned, through his poor choices along the way, to repent and seek after God. Living in God’s presence is worth more than any amount of gold or silver that we can buy. Seek God and His kingdom first and you will have joy and security in His presence.

Prayer

Father in heaven, help me to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth. My security is in Your presence and not in anything that this world offers. Let me abide in You. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.