Separation Does Not End The Relationship

About 2300-2400 BC, Several Summerian and Akkadian cities established and empire along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and eventually included the Jordan river valley as far south as the Dead or Salt Sea area, as described in Genesis 14:1-13.  “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.  All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.”

After twelve years, the cities around the Dead Sea revolted, and the Sumero-Akkadian empire came to quell the rebellion, as described in Genesis 14:4-7. “Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.  And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,  And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.  And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.”  In an effort to expand their territory and catch the rebels by surprise, the Sumero-Akkadians followed the coast of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, conquering various groups along the way.   

Almost a year later, they attacked the cities from the South, as described in Genesis 14:8-12.  “And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.  And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.  And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.  And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”

Caught between swamps in the valley, the rebels were defeated and forced to retreat into the mountains to the East.  The Sumerians spoiled the cities, taking everything of value, taking the people who were still there as slaves.  Lot and his family were among the captives.  Loaded down with spoil, the army chose to continue north through Sumerian lands to their homes rather than crossing the desert and fighting raiding tribes. 

Abraham heard about the attack within a few hours.  Concerned about his nephew, Abraham determined to get him back, as Genesis 14:13-16 tells us.  “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.  And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.  And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.  And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.” 

Even though he and Lot were separated and were no longer close, Abraham still cared about Lot.  He caught up with the Sumero-Akkadian army after dark, near what would later become the city of Dan.  Since they were in their own territory the Sumerians were not expecting an attack and were unable to mount a strong defense.  Abraham and his servants harried them all the way to Hobah, just southwest of Damascus, recovering all the spoil and captives. 

If we are following God, even if we are forced to separate from someone, we should not become enemies, but continue to care about them as if they were a wayward brother we hoped to win back.  We can’t just cut them completely out of our life if we ever really cared about them, because, as I I Corinthians 13:8 says, “Charity never faileth...”  As long as they live, we will still have to deal with those feelings.  This is what makes divorce such a horrible experience.   Separation changes but does not end the relationship.