Lot made the choice to live among wicked people in order to secure for himself the greenest and most fertile land. It was not long before he experienced the consequences of that choice. As powerful kings went to war with each other, Lot was taken captive along with the Sodomites he dwelt among.

Abram could have said, “Well, you’ve made your bed so now you’ll have to lie in it.” Perhaps it was his love for his nephew that prompted him instead to risk war to rescue him. Maybe he still thought that, despite choosing to live as near to the edge of the land God had promised Abram as he could, Lot might still be the heir through which God’s promise would be fulfilled. This was not to be, however, as after his rescue, Lot did not stay with Abram, but went back to live among the people of Sodom.

Abram was victorious, and after he returned from battle, he met with two kings. It seems that expected thing was to share the spoils of battle with the rulers, and Abram was happy to give Melchizedek, King of Salem, a tenth. However, Bera, King of Sodom, told Abram to keep the wealth for himself.

Why did Abram refuse? He never wanted it to be said that it was Bera’s generosity that had made him wealthy. He didn’t want to be in Bera’s debt. He wanted to owe nothing to the wicked people of the region. He had fought on their behalf to rescue Lot, but he did not want to join himself with them, or accept any favours from them.

Abram’s decision here shows how it is possible to live among the unrighteous while still honouring God, and still keeping integrity. Abram did not need to accept any favours from the unrighteous because he trusted God to supply all of his needs, and to give him the prosperity he had promised him. His is a good example to follow as we live as light in a fallen world.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH