Last week we read about the battle of the 4 and 5 Kings. We also read about the special covenant God made with Abraham, the sign of circumcision. We pick up this week immediately after Abraham circumcised his entire house. It is believed by ancient Rabbis that God appears to Abraham 3 days after his circumcision. The 3rd day is the most painful day after the circumcision. God appears to check on Abraham. Notice how the word says in chapter 18 The Lord appeared to Abraham. Then Abraham looks up and sees 3 men. Abraham in his weakened state runs after them and invites them into his home. Abraham was a servant he was a kind man. He leaves God to focus on serving others.
After the men were served they asked about Sarah and said next year she will give birth to a son. Once the men finish their meal Abraham follows them to see them off. Then God asks should I hide my plan from Abraham? Have you ever asked why would God say this? Let me show you why God asked this. We have to go back to last week’s Parashat. The key is in the story of the Battle of the 4 and 5 Kings. The key is in the names of the Kings and the land they ruled. Here is the meaning of all the names:
The 4 Kings
King Amraphel = “sayer of darkness: fall of the sayer”
Land Shinar = “country of two rivers”
King Arioch = “lion-like”
Land Ellasar = “God is chastener”
King Chedorlaomer = “handful of sheaves”
Land Elam = “eternity”
King Tidal = “great son”
Land Nations = The people of a nation as the back, or body. [freq. 558] |kjv: nation, heathen, gentiles, people
The 5 Kings
King Bera = “son of evil”
Land Sodom = “burning”
King Birsha = “with iniquity”
Land Gomorrah = “submersion” 2) to manipulate, deal tyrannically with 2a) (Hithpael) to treat as a slave, To Bind to merchandise
King Shinab = “splendour of the father”
Land Admah = “red earth” Blood
King Shemeber = “lofty flight” A wind blowing to take away moisture, to make a desert or Karen place
Land Zeboiim = “gazelles” An animal of a herd as an army. II. Beauty: The beauty and grace of the gazelle. [freq. 32] |kjv: roe, roebuck, glory, glorious, beautiful, beauty, goodly, pleasant
King Bela = “destruction”
Land Zoar = “insignificance”
Siddim = “field” or “plain” 1) valley where the Dead Sea is located
Here is the meaning of these names when put together:
The 4 Kings
God is a chastiser, He slays the darkness. He comes from the country of 2 rivers of life. He is lion-like. He came for His sheaves. Also know as the wheat. He is taking them to eternity. He is the great Son who rules all the nations. Just in the names here God is telling us about Jesus and His return.
The 5 Kings
The son of evil is burning the land with iniquity. He is manipulating people and making them slaves who he deals with tyrannically. He has bound them and merchandises them. He lives in splendor by their blood. He is lofty blowing the people from one vice to another making a desert everywhere he goes. He is using them for his glory. He destroys them making them feel insignificant. He takes them to the Dead Sea a place without life. It looks pretty but it cannot sustain life. These names reveal to us who Satan is and his plans.
4 Kings Battles
Rephaim = 1) giants, Rephaim 1a) old tribe of giants
Ashteroth Karnaim = “Ashtoreth of the two horns or peaks”
Zuzim = “roving creatures” wild beast, abundance
Ham = “hot” or “sunburnt”
Emim = “terrors” 1) ancient inhabitants of Moab
Shaveh Kiriathaim = “plain of the double or two city”
Horites = “cave dweller”
Seir = “hairy” or “shaggy”
El Paran = “palm of Paran”
En Mishpat = “spring of judgment”
Kadesh = “holy”
Amalekites = “dweller in a valley”
Amorites = “a sayer”
Hazezon Tamar = “dividing the date-palm” Dividing Flesh
Notice the names of the battles the 4 Kings had before they attacked Sodom and Gomorrah. The 4 Kings attacked the Giants at the place of 2 horns also known as high places. They attacked the abundance of roving wild beast. The abominations of half man and half beast. They went to the hot place to fight the terrors in the plains and the caves. They went to the place of the palm and brought a spring of judgement from the holy one all the way down to the valley. They came decreeing and dividing the flesh of the evil.
The 4 Kings were good they were doing the will of God wiping out the evil in the land. Lot got in the way and Abraham intervened. God allowed Abraham to prevail over His plan. God allowed Abraham to beat the Kings God sent. God tells Abraham what His plan is this time so he doesn’t hinder it. However what would Lot’s fate had been if he would have been captured by the righteous Kings? Lot probably would have never had incest with his daughters. How many times do we get in God’s way? Abraham got in God’s way when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah. How many loved ones do we have that we love, but get in the way of what God is doing in their lives to bring them back to Him? I am walking through this now in my life. I have to let Lot go so God can work things out for the Lot in my life. I encourage you to let the Lot in your life go and watch what God does to deliver them.
