Tag: empires

Kings of Wickedness

Posted on by jovial_cynic

These kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
Genesis14:2 (NIV)

Genesis 14 gives us a picture of war, and the rabbis tell us that the first 4 kings represent Empires, and the five kings represent wickedness.

ברע BERA —Evil (רע) towards God and evil towards mankind (Midrash Tanchuma, Lech Lecha 8).

ברשע BIRSHA — Because he rose by means of wickedness (רָשַׁע) (Midrash Tanchuma, Lech Lecha 8)).

שנאב SHINAB — He hated (שנא) his Father (אב) in heaven (Midrash Tanchuma, Lech Lecha 8)).

שמאבר SHEMEBER — He set his wings (שם אבר) to fly, flapping them to rebel against the Holy One, blessed be He (Midrash Tanchuma, Lech Lecha 8)).
Rashi on Genesis 14:2

Later we are told that God raises up Empires to punish wickedness, and that’s how this story plays out.

There is wisdom hidden here.

War of Kings

Posted on by jovial_cynic

And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they lined up for battle against them in the Valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Genesis 14:8-9 (NASB)

Genesis 14 describes a battle between two federations of kings, and it appears to teach us about how God deals with two kinds of evils.

Here is the set up: there are five kings that represent wickedness and rebellion, and there are 4 kings that represent Empires of man.

The rabbis say that the text is pretty plain on this: the names of the five evil kings all have names that mean wickedness and rebellion. The four empire kings can be seen as Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

What is happening in this story?

For starters, it helps to know that the wicked kings occupy the Promised Land. Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar are all in Canaan, whereas the Empire kings are other nations. Notice who wins the battle.

This is extremely important, because it sets up the lesson.

Israel ends up in the Promised Land, but they fail to drive out all the inhabitants. They begin to worship the idols of the people, and as a consequence, they grow wicked. God raises up Babylon to punish them. Several prophets mention this, but I like Habakkuk:

“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwellings not their own.
Habakuk 1:5-6

“Be amazed!”

It feels like God’s intent is to pour wrath on His people: the text goes on to address their explicit sins, and even the prophets wonder if God will go back on his promise to protect them. “How long, oh Lord?” they cry out as Babylon sieges them.

But it’s clear: God raised up Babylon to address the sin in the people. In the land. In our very hearts. This process is painful.

In Genesis 14, Abram’s nephew Lot is caught up in the war, captured by the Empire kings, and it seems dire.

And yet, by way of miracle, Abram and a band of 318 men pursue the Empire kings, and not only rescue Lot, but manage to reclaim all that was captured, and we see a message: God does preserve his people. Though he raised up Babylon, he does not intend to let his people die.

The Promised Land represents many things; one of them is our hearts. We recognize that our heart is our territory, and that it harbors wickedness at times. When evil grows too great, God uses external forces to teach us lessons. It hurts, but we grow.

But it’s also actual Empires and systems, and the story teaches how to view them correctly.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1 (NIV)

And this makes what Paul says in Romans much clearer. Paul is coming to the same conclusion: Empire is raised up by God.

It’s raised up specifically to address the kings of wickedness in the land, and in our hearts.

For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Romans 13:4 (NKJV)

This doesn’t mean “government is good.” God has much to say against Babylon.

But we know that God rescues his people from Empire, and God will rescue you.

Genesis tells us Everything

Posted on by jovial_cynic

And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,
Genesis 14:1 (NASB)

The rabbis tell us that these four kings are the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

“Rabbi Avin said, ‘Just as Abraham’s grief began with four kingdoms, so will it end for his descendants only with four kingdoms.’” And it further says there: “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar — this is Babylon; Arioch king of Ellasar — this is Media; Chedorlaomer king of Elam — this is Greece; And Tidal king of Goiim — this is that kingdom (Rome)
Ramban on Genesis 14:1

Perhaps these are the same Empires that comprise the statue in Daniel’s dream of Daniel 2.

Genesis appears to tell us everything.

Rivers of Eden

Posted on by jovial_cynic
There’s speculation about why Genesis 2 includes an out-of-place mention of the four rivers that flow from Eden.

I think the clue is that it occurs immediately after the mention of the Two Trees.

The rivers seem to be Empires, flowing into the sea.

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground–trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Genesis 2:8-17 (NIV)

We wrestle with a good God who would make a tree that points to misery and death, or a God who creates a serpent who tempts. He did.

Israel must have wondered about Assyria, Babylon, their enemies, and wondered about injustice & wickedness. But God made all of the nations.

And they all are sourced through one Adam. Sourced by one river that feeds all the land.

Israel, too, is a river. It’s the Jordan river, and long after Eden, when God steps into new covenant with man, we read this about the river:

Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Genesis 13:10 (NIV)

The Jordan is not like the rivers that branched off in Eden. It isn’t connected to them. This is the first mention of the Jordan, and it’s almost like God is showing us the NEW way after Abram allows Lot to choose first. To humble himself. To love. And to trust God’s way.

Jonah didn’t want to preach to Nineveh, capital of Assyria, but maybe God wanted him to see that this nation was sourced in that same garden. That He cared for them, too, desiring that none would perish but that all would be in relationship with Him. In peace. Flourishing.

I can’t help but think we are being reminded to love our enemies, not just because we are told to, but because all nations flow from the river that watered the garden.

And one day, those rivers will stream back to Eden in reverse, up to the high place of God.

In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
Isaiah 2:2 (NIV)