Also interesting are the names of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. According to Beth Moore, and the Google reference I found, Bera (the name of the king of Sodom) comes from the root ra, which means “be evil,” “in evil,” or “son of evil.” The name Birsha (the name of the king of Gomorrah), comes from a root meaning “wrong” or “wickedness.” Do you get the picture here? These cities, known for their wickedness were, not surprisingly ruled by wicked men. Who gives their children names like these????
Anyway, the four kings from Mesopotamia invaded the area of the plains and defeated the five kings, and in the process captured Lot and his family, which leads me to one last point of interest: (I feel like we’ve pulled into one of those “vista points” on the coast and we’ve parked here for the view…) Beth Moore, in her study, The Patriarchs, points out that Lot originally “pitched his tent near Sodom,” (13:12). But in 14:12 we read “he was living in Sodom.” Isn’t this always the way when we initially just “hang out” near some questionable people or practices? At first we’re just “near” the activity (joininig the party people just for a fun time, or just “harmlessly” flirting with the guy at work), but eventually we BECOME one of the party people or become emotionally or physically attached to that guy at work. Now we’ve put our marriage, reputation, and/or job at risk! And the same goes with dabbling with alcohol, drugs, Internet porn, etc. Soon “near” isn’t enough, and we jump completely “in.”
Lot had fully bought into the lifestyle of Sodom and was probably easily identifiable as a Sodomite (and I mean by that a citizen of Sodom). So, when you play with fire, you get burned. And, when Sodom was defeated and its people captured, he was taken into captivity, too! This reminds me of the scene in the movie Pinocchio, when Pinocchio is attracted to the carnival until he becomes one of its attractions, growing the ears and characteristics of a braying donkey.
A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew [this is the first time this word “Hebrew” is used]… When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. (vs 13-16)
Abram immediately set out to rescue his foolish cousin with a mere 318 men, but the power of God on his side. He defeated the enemy, and recovered everything, including Lot! Abram could easily have let Lot suffer the consequences of his choices and not put himself and his men in jeopardy. But he did not give up on his nephew. Lot was blessed to have an uncle who never gave up on him! May we be an Abram to someone who is floundering in a “Sodom.” Wouldn’t you hope that Lot would have learned his lesson, taken advantage of this opportunity of grace being offered by God, and moved out of Sodom? Nope! In chapters 18 and 19 we will see how his decision to remain in the middle of an evil city will destroy his family.
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