Tag: kings

An Insignificant Number

Posted on by jovial_cynic
When Abraham asks God if He would spare the cities from destruction if there were 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, and 10 righteous people there, God says He will not destroy the cities if a requisite number of righteous people were present.

So what is the minimum number of people that are needed to prevent God from destroying a city?

We know that God will save a city on account of 10, because that’s what God said in Genesis 18:32. But how many righteous people were in the city? Is it just Lot? If so, does that mean that one righteous person not sufficient?

Actually, the text might demonstrate that one is all that’s necessary. One is sufficient.

If you remember, the region of Sodom and Gomorrah consists of 5 separate cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela (that is, Zoar).

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).
Genesis 14:2 (NIV)

Do you notice something interesting about Bela? Aside from having the nickname “Zoar,” the king of the city isn’t named. It sticks out, right? The rabbis say that the king of Bela isn’t named because the city is so insignificant that the king’s name wasn’t even recorded. It didn’t even matter.

But pay close attention: when we jump ahead to Genesis 19 when Lot is being rescued, where does he ask to go? He’s afraid he can’t get out in time, so he asks if he can go to the little insignificant town along the way. It’s Zoar, one of the 5 wicked cities!

Interestingly, God does not destroy it.

But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it — it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”

He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.)
Genesis 19:18-22 (NIV)

Perhaps Lot is the ony righteous person there. And with just one person, as insignificant as that may seem, God spares the city.

Perhaps the rabbis are right: “a single righteous person could save the rest of the world.”

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.