After reading through the last part of Genesis Chapter 11 and all of chapter 12, we are not surprised by Abram reaching out to God. That is expected.
The surprise comes after the herdsmen of Abram and Lot start to fight. Abram is incredibly generous with Lot and really tells us a lot about how Abram looked at his wealth and his family.
In Chapter 13, Abram and Lot stand on a hill and Abram allows Lot to choose first. Think about that for a moment…
Abram is older. He has been calling all the shots up to this point. He is the leader of the clan. And, he offers Lot the opportunity to choose rather than telling him what side to take.
Think of the mindset that Abram had to have in order to give Lot that opportunity.
But, then Lot makes this horrible choice.
It is easy to see this as a horrible choice with the benefit of hindsight because we know what happens next and how it ends. However, I want to spend a little time on Lot’s decision because many of us use exactly the same standards when making our own choices today. When we read about Lot doing this, we think of it as stupid. But, when we do this same thing today, many of our friends cheer us on as smart and celebrate…Let me explain.
“And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar.” (Gen. 13:10)
First, the land was well-watered and fertile like the garden of the LORD. This is an illusion to the Garden of Eden. When Lot saw the water and fertility of the Valley, he immediately thought of the impact this would have on his herds. He imagined the fast multiplication of everything he had and probably expected his wealth to overtake Abram’s. Clearly, this appeared to be the best land that Abram and Lot could see from the hill.
So the first standard of his decision was wealth. He asked himself, “Where can I make the most money?”
Second, he referenced Egypt. Don’t forget that not long before Abram and Lot separated that they were in Egypt speaking with Pharaoh. The wealth and pageantry of the court of Pharaoh is what Lot imagined when he referenced Egypt. Lot imagined power and status in this opportunity to enter a lush land with big cities without the presence of the older Abram looming over him. Personally, I wonder if there would not have been a little competition in the mind of Lot with Abram.
Lot’s second standard was, “How can I gain power?”
Lot’s inner thoughts here are even more evident in the fact that he immediately brought his family into the midst of the evil of Sodom and seemed to gain a level of position within the city and court of the city. This is the reason he left the herds and did not live in a tent like Abram.
Based on these standards, this was an easy choice for Lot.
So, what did Lot not do in making this decision?
Well, clearly it does not seem that he asked the Lord. At least, the Scriptures did not record it. He did not think of his wife or any part of his family or household. He didn’t even ask Abram for counsel. He didn’t think of his mission or what God’s will is.
I wonder if Lot knew the evil of the people in Sodom when he made this choice. It’s hard to believe that Abram and Lot did not come into contact with these people or even go into the city. But, this factor did not matter. Maybe, he thought that he could go into the city and reform the people there, but I doubt it.
Lot looked up at the land and the city and saw an opportunity for himself, so he went for it. Then he moved his family into Sodom, and pretty soon he lost control.
It was not long before he was caught as a prisoner of war and taken all the way up north near modern-day Lebanon. He had to be rescued by Abram. This should have been the first indication of trouble for Lot, but he stayed in Sodom.
Then we have this horrible story of Lot welcoming in strangers and the townspeople beating on his door to get at the visitors. Lot’s response to this really seems like a person with a corrupted value system. He offers his daughters which is just unimaginable to me. It seems like a desperate man, or a man that had been inundated with the thinking of Sodom.
Then his family leaves the valley and his wife looks back longingly and is turned into a pillar of salt. Then Lot’s daughters seem to do with Lot what I would call a very Sodom and Gomorrah thing to do when they are hiding out in a cave.
And, to top it all off, what happened to Lot’s herd of animals?? His wealth was wiped out.
When we read this story today, I think many of us think how insane the circumstances seem and have trouble imagining ourselves falling into the same situation.
But, the truth is…it happens everyday!
Men and women who are living a blessed life in one place with the Lord are faced with a decision that impacts their entire household. They are provided a promotion or new job or they are faced with a decision about staying in a current job. They pursue similar standards as Lot in deciding which side of the countryside to take.
Their decision is based on the very vain standard of how can they make more money or gain more status.
I want to be careful here because I don’t want you to think that I am ridiculing anyone that decides to take a promotion or a new job for more money. And conversely, do not think that taking a position in ministry just because it is ministry is any better.
The point is what are your standards for making that decision.
Everyday Christian men and women make life decisions based on money, power, and status for themselves.
-What is going to get them more stuff?
-What is going to raise there position?
-What is going to make them look better and more successful and admirable to their family and friends.
Then, they take their families and drop themselves and their families into incredibly evil circumstances without praying or considering their mission as Christ-followers.
Jesus is an after-thought.
Jesus Christ is not a supplement in which you eat unhealthy food all week and then decide to boost the vitamin and minerals in your diet with a pill. Many of us base life decisions on riches and vanity and then when we start to starve we take a little Jesus like he’s a pill.
Jesus is the vine that we are dependent on to bear fruit to God’s glory.
Start with your mission.
If you don’t start with your mission, you risk living in Sodom and pretty soon you start to think like Sodom. Not only do you start to think and love Sodom, but so does the rest of your family.
