The Extra Mile

In our Christian walk (our spiritual lives), as in life (in the flesh, family, friends and jobs), we are willing to do the most for the things we care the most about and have invested the most time, energy and prayer into.  Such is the case in the biblical example where Lot needed to be rescued by his uncle Abraham. The bible tells us that during the war of the kings, Lot was taken up with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and all of their people and goods, along with his family.  This is because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

There are so many lessons in this text of Genesis 14:14 which says ‘When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.’

The first lesson is that Abraham is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ, who redeemed the lost, who is Lot (his nephew). Jesus redeems the lost, coming to earth to bring forth salvation and everlasting life for sinners like you and me.  But not just salvation, also ‘abundant life’ until the day which he returns again to claim his ‘church’ for which he gave his own life (Matt 16:18). Jesus is ready to assist us, even after his resurrection, because he gave his life for us.  He meets us where we are.  We can be saved as a rich man or poor man.  Disheveled or put together.  All we need is faith in him and submission to his Word, then to be baptized into his death.

The second lesson we see is that God is always prepared to spring into action on our part.  As shown by Abraham, who had ‘trained men’ already prepared to go and do battle (only 300 or so) according to the scriptures.  Knowing this, we have the assurance that Christ is always ready and willing to help us when we need it the most.  It should transform our anxiety into faith and get us to be less anxious about what will happen, no matter what state we find ourselves in.  And especially when we’ve done wrong, even as Lot had by pitching his tent toward Sodom, a type and a shadow of sin.

The final lesson is that God, just like Abraham, will go as far as it takes to reach us.  This text says Abraham ‘went in pursuit as far as Dan.’  In consideration of a location on a map, Dan is about 140 miles from Hebron, where Abram began his march.  So in those days without modern day transportation that is quite a length to travel and especially while wagging war.  It teaches us that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love and his reach.  That alone should give us comfort when we go through trials and tribulations and suffer persecution.

God is willing to go the extra mile to rescue us, to redeem us and to save us.  He gave his very best for us, his Son, Jesus the Christ.  So the question now becomes, what are we willing to do for Him and the bride of his son, the church of Christ?