An International Skirmish Between Four Kings from the MesopotamianValley Area and Five Kings from the Jordan Valley, Including the King of Sodom
Genesis 14:1-16

Lesson 30

background notes

doctrinal points

1. Carnal believers will suffer the consequences of their choices.

2. Spiritual believers are responsible to restore fellow believers.

practical application
1. Let’s not write off a fellow believer saying, “It serves you right.”

 

questions
1. Describe the skirmish between the five kings from the Jordan Valley and the four kings from the Mesopotamian Valley area.

2. What did Abraham do when he heard that Lot had been taken captive?

3. What does Lot’s life illustrate for us?

4. Are spiritual believers responsible to restore their fellow believers?

5. What was the result of Lot’s choice to move into Sodom?  

answers
1. The four Mesopotamian Valley area kings invaded. The cities of the Jordan Valley were conquered and plundered, and Lot was taken into captivity. The kings of the city states of the Jordan Valley rebelled and refused to pay their annual tribute to King Chedolaomer of Shiner (Babylon), who was then in power over this whole area.

2. Abraham took 318 of his own servants to pursue the enemy and rescue Lot. Although they were greatly outnumbered, they traveled quickly and overtook the enemy by surprise and set them to flight.

3. Lot is a picture in Scripture of the carnal or worldly believer.

4. Yes. This is pictured by Abraham’s rescue of Lot, and confirmed in Galatians 6:1.

5. Lot was taken captive along with all of his possessions. In other words, he lost everything.

 

discuss / consider
1. What is your responsibility as a spiritual believer to an unspiritual believer? Think of a specific person and how you could help him / her.

2. Have you ever written off a fellow believer by saying in effect, “It serves him right?” If so, can you rectify that mistake and adjust your attitude?

challenge
Beware of carnal thinking and making short-sighted choices. Avoid thinking like Lot and cultivate the habit of walking by faith, like Abraham. Note that Lot lifted his eyes and chose for himself, whereas Abraham lifted his eyes in faith. Genesis 13:10, 14

memorize

• “They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and went their way. They also took Lot, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods.” Genesis 14:11-12

• “When Abram heard that Lot was taken captive, he went in pursuit, and he brought him back.”
  Genesis 14:14, 16