Abraham and Lot
What Choices Did They Make?
We are going to make comparisons between Abraham and his illustrious nephew Lot, but before making those comparisons, let us look at Abraham, his life and finally his choices.
Genesis 13:1-2 tells us that, “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” As we can see from these passages, it is apparent that: Abraham was rich and successful. Why was Abraham’s materialistic blessings mentioned in the first two verses of Genesis 13? Does this mean that being wealthy is a significant component?
For a clearer understanding of his materialistic blessings, let us go to Genesis 12:1-2 where the Scriptures say, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”
Let’s look more closely at the conditions and the promises of God: (1) There is a condition, and that condition is: “Get thee out of thy country, and from they kindred, and from thy father’s house, (2) unto a land that I will shew thee.” We see the conditions, and with every promise there are conditions that must be met before the promises are manifested. Abraham met those conditions.
The promises: (1) “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” We can now understand Genesis 13:1-2, where we see that Abraham was not only blessed materialistically but spiritually as well.
Abraham Settles A Dispute
Genesis 13:5-9
“And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
Although Abraham was the older of the two, he amicably agreed to let his nephew, Lot have the first choice in the land. Abraham wanted peace because he believed that God would protect him and supply his needs. Perhaps, he remembered the promise that God had made to him, that he would bless him, and he held firmly to that promise.
Lot And His Choices
Let’s look at Lot and the choices he made in comparison to Abraham. What land did he choose? And what was the consequences of those choices? For a clearer understanding, let us go to Genesis 13:10-12. “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
The Bible tells us that, “Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot….,…pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
What exactly was Lot doing? And why did he pitch his tent toward Sodom? For a cross reference, let’s go to the New Testament, to Luke 10:12. “But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.” From these passages, we can clearly see that Sodom was a wicked and evil city. Let’s look at Genesis 19 for more clarification.
Genesis 19:1-3: “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.”
In the above passages, Lot was at the city gate, an apparent place for important officials to discuss various business transactions, and perhaps, to discuss politics. Evidently, Lot held an important position in Sodom, and we find in Genesis 19:16 that , “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought forth, and set him without the city.”
We learn more about Lot’s character in Genesis 19:4-8. “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.”
It is clear from these passages that the city of Sodom and its evilness has incorporated itself into Lot that now it seems logical to him to offer his daughters to strangers! We can see how delving into sin can become so rampant that it absolves itself into our life and becomes entwined like a snake wrapped around its prey until it literally chokes everything good, sensible and moral out of us. That’s what has happened to Lot. This is an illustration of Sodom’s wickedness, a wickedness that was so evil that God wanted to destroy it.
Look at verse 14 and 16: “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Verse 16: “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”
In verse 14, it is obvious that Lot has compromised his beliefs for those of his surroundings. He was not a witness for God, and didn’t stand up for his beliefs, but yielded to his environment.
Verse 16, Lot hesitated, but the angel grabbed his hand and rushed him to safety. It is apparent from this hesitation that Lot didn’t want to abandon Sodom, and its wealth and the things he enjoyed while living in this wicked city.
Comparison
Let’s go to 2 Peter 2:7,8: “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;).
God rescued Lot from Sodom, and though Lot was not without sin, he trusted God and his life was spared when Sodom was destroyed. Lot is called “just” and righteous”.
The choices that Lot made caused him to drift into a sinful culture, and its glamour, wealth and temptations caused him to want to remain there. He made wrong decisions and inaccurate choices, but God intervened. Without his uncle, Abraham watching him …there is no telling what would have happened to Lot. His story turned out well because of God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Scripture References: Genesis 11-14; 19. Deuteronomy 2:9; Luke 17:28-32; 2 Peter 2:7,8.
Abraham: God promised a nation to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3)
Abraham made mistakes, but God called him righteous. Abraham believed God. Let’s go to Romans 4:1-5: “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness”
Abraham was a man of faith. Hebrews 11:17 -19 state that, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, and give up everything for God. Scrip. Ref. Genesis 22:1-19.
Therefore the comparison between Lot and Abraham is definite in its conclusion that Abraham made mistakes as we all do, but he was strong in his faith and belief in God.
On the other hand, Lot compromised his beliefs and made wrong choices that took him on a path that almost led to destruction.
What about you? What choices have you made? Have you decided to live for Jesus, no matter what the cost? Or have you decided to follow the world, and all of its values? You say, "I have made too many mistakes. There is no use in even trying." Listen: God will forgive you. But, you must be willing to let go...and let God. Don’t try to hold on to the world...but make the decision today that you will
follow the Lord!
