In his life journey, Abram arrived at a place called the valley of Shaveh, the valley of Kings, where there are two kings before him wanted to rule over his life (Genesis 14:17-15:1). At this point, Abram had to decide what was important for his life: following King of Sodom or King of Salem; to give his life into the hand of King of Sodom or King of Salem; to devote his life to King of Sodom or King of Salem; to take the offer from King of Sodom or King of Salem; to get wealth from King of Sodom or blessing from King of Salem.
In this case, Abram did the right thing, which was to receive revelation and blessing from King of Salem and to refuse the offer of wealth from King of Sodom.
“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich” (vv 22-23)
Abram had received revelation from King of Salem that:
- GOD, The Most High, The Creator of Heaven and Earth, it was He who had given strength to Abram to defeat his enemies, so he could live in victory.
- GOD, The Most High, The Creator of Heaven and Earth, it was He who had blessed Abram so he became wealthy.
It was the revelation from King of Salem that made Abram be able to refuse the offer and deceit from the King of Sodom. Not even a piece of thread that Abram wanted to take from King of Sodom. Abram didn’t want to get his wealth from King of Sodom and he allowed neither King of Sodom nor anyone else saying that he became rich because of King of Sodom. Abram wanted to let people know that “God’s blessing which made him rich” (Proverb 10:22).
Abram knew once he took the offer from King of Sodom, he would devote his life to him and live under his rules. But if he received revelation and blessing from King of Salem, he would devote his life to him and live under his rules.
What happened to Abram will happen to us. One day, we will arrive at the Valley of Kings, where we have to make our choice: to follow King of Sodom or King of Salem; to live under the government of King of Sodom or of King of Salem. Let us decide what is right like Abram did.
Many people cannot stand against the temptation of getting wealth easily from the King of Sodom. As a result, they eventually decide to give their lives to King of Sodom and to live under his government.
Let us ponder once again and let us not wrong to decide:
- King of Sodom reflects the world with its desire and lust; while King of Salem reflects Jesus as King of Peace.
- King of Sodom reflects a world “representative” who manifests the world drawing people to love the world and to devote to the kingdom of this world; while King of Salem reflects a Christ “representative” who manifests Christ whose duty is to draw people to love Christ and to devote to the Kingdom of Heaven.
- King of Sodom always comes with an “enticement” or offering to become rich easily; while King of Salem always comes with a revelation which gives us strength and victory, and full of blessing and peace if we live in it.
- To take the offer of King of Sodom “maybe” will make us “rich people” but it will end with burning because Sodom means burning or getting burned (Sodom always ends with burning, remember about Sodom and Gomorrah); while to receive the revelation from King of Salem will “certainly” make us become “blessed people” and will end with glory, as Jesus glorified.
Jesus said:
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21).
Also read: Praying as a Friend.