Our passage gives us a powerful lesson concerning worldliness. The key question from Genesis 14, “how close can you get to sin before it corrupts you?”
The key verse, is Genesis 14:12. There we learn that while Lot first “pitched his tents near Sodom, now we read that Lot was living in Sodom.
What does SODOM represent?
It represents WORLDLINESS.
It represents the enticement of the world.
It represents WORLDLY wisdom.
It represents HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT.
It represents SELF-WILL.
4,000 years after these events, we ask the question, Lot, What are you doing in Sodom?
The main character of these chapters of Genesis is certainly Abraham. He is the man of faith. He is the one through whom the Promise will be fulfilled. But along side of the great man of faith is one whose faith is weak. There is almost as much information concerning Lot as there is concerning Abraham in these chapters. Lot provides the antithesis for Abraham. Although a believer in God, Lot demonstrates that we can flounder in our faith and waste the opportunities and resources that God gives us. There are powerful lessons for us to learn from Lot.
We begin by providing some important observations that might have helped Lot avoid the disasters of his life.
Lot, You’re Not as Strong as you Think You Are
Lot made an intentional decision to live near Sodom. He thought, “I will not succumb to the temptation of worldliness in Sodom. This was a foolish mistake. 1 Corinthians 10:12 "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."
Lot, Sodom is MORE CORRUPT than you think it is!
Lot knew there were dangers in Sodom, but he failed to recognize how pervasive the evil had become. Sodom was a lost cause. It’s judgment was already secure. Sodom was so immersed in sin that they had removed themselves from God’s grace. Romans 1 describes this descent into the abyss of immorality. The end of the road in Romans 1 is the same as experienced in Sodom - the defilement of the most sacred human relationship.
Those that rebel against God are given over to a REPROBATE MIND (Rom 1)
When you and I are faced with this kind of environment, we are to FLEE from the corruption of sin. 2 Corinthians 6:17 "Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”"
Christian: FLEE from corruption and temptation!
Flee the desires of youth. 2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Flee sinful desires. 1 Peter 2:11 "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul."
Flee sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."
Sometimes we confuse cleansing and contamination. We know that we need a clean rag to wash something that is dirty. Remember that you are using the clean rag to remove the contamination. Introducing something clean into a contaminated environment only pollutes that which is clean. Impurity is never removed by introducing something clean. The impurity can be diluted, but it can never be removed. It brings up two important principles:
The principle of CLEANSING is that we remove the impurity
The principle of CONTAMINATION states that something dirty contaminates something clean.
Christians, we are clean (John 13:11; 1 Cor 6:11). We must keep ourselves clean by avoiding that which is dirty.
Our sinful nature teaches us otherwise. These are the Games Christians Play:
“I know how far I can go.” However, sin CAPTURES us. It entices us. In one of the Spiderman movies, starring Toby McGuire, the superhero becomes infected by a mysterious black web that overcomes him. It grabs hold of his entire personality and can only be removed by the force of his will. The black web represented pride and selfishness. Even mighty Spiderman could not overpower the temptation. It was a picture of the power of being enticed.
Proverbs 1:10 (NIV)"My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them."
James 1:14 (ESV) "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."
A second game Christians play is discovered in the statement, “I know when to quit.” How deceiving! Samson played this game and quit too late, after his blessing and strength were stolen by Delilah.
Some say, “I won’t stay long.”
Some say, “I’ll never know if I’m a strong enough unless I try.” Parents play this game with their children and teens. When facing the choice of Christian school, some say “he’s going to have to stand in the world someday...” Parents, you MUST shelter your children from corruption! Keep them innocent!
Some foolishly deceive themselves by thinking, “I’m gong to be a missionary.”
Missionary dating
Missionary social drinking
Missionary business ventures
When your motive is self, pleasure, ego, ambition, you’re not going to influence Sodom, Sodom is going of influence you!
Here is some further counsel for Lot:
Lot, There are Dangers in Sodom that You Cannot See
Lot was unaware of the 12 years of conflict with the Kings of the East (Genesis 14:4)
Lot experienced a severe case of buyers remorse! The reality will NEVER match Satan’s advertisement!
Lot, You’ve suppressed your conscience
I think that Lot knew the dangers of Sodom. This is evident because at first, he was only willing to dwell at the outskirts of the city. Gen 13:12 “Lot pitched his tent near Sodom”
Because he remained on the outskirts of Sodom, Lot knew the dangers!
Over time, his conscience became seared.
Lot, You’ve Compromised and you Don’t Even Know it!
Even AFTER Abram rescues him, Lot RETURNS back to Sodom! Satan’s enticements are real. Even a believer can be held“in the snare of the devil” (2 Tim 2:26).
But thankfully, there is one more truth that we can communicate to Lot: Lot, Someone is praying for you!
God informs Righteous Abraham of Lot’s situation. Abraham races after Kedorlaomer all the way north to Dan. God empowers Abraham to deliver Lot.
What is the application of all of this?
HUSBAND, while you have been dabbling at the edge of Sodom, your WIFE has been praying for you
Young woman, while you have been out in the world, your GRANDMOTHER has WEPT over you
Young man, that father who angers you so much has BEGGED GOD to spare you from the danger into which you are heading
WHY do we resist authority? Our fight is not with the teacher, or our dad, or the leaders of the church..... Our fight is with GOD Romans 13:1–2 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. " "Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."
Those who love you will go to GREAT EXTREMES to save you from your own foolishness! They will do it with zeal and great skill and they will be EMPOWERED BY GOD.
Listen to a partially embellished STORY of the SERVANT who escaped to Abraham...
The sun was just rising in the east. Abram’s entourage had grown significantly since Lot departed. They had settled in the land of Mamre the Amorite, finding water and shade in the forest, and an alliance with Mamre and his brothers. Security was a constant concern. Abram had accumulated much, and he was determined to protect his family and his possessions.
The morning watchmen were just about to take their positions, replacing the tired young men who had posted guard all night. One of the bleary eyed servants notices a figure appearing out of the east, looking as if he were rising with the sun. He was running. No not really running, it was more like staggering.
The watchman sounded the alarm. Everyone’s eyes were tuned to the approaching figure. He didn’t seem to be a danger, really more pathetic than anything else.
By this time Abram was awake, dressed and out of his tent. Always on guard, the stately old man he had already grabbed his spear, ready to face whatever danger was approaching.
As the man approached the camp, Abram was the first to meet him. “Who are you, where have you come from?”
“The Kings of the East defeated the Kings of the Plain. We were routed by them. Most of the solders were killed. Some died trying to escape. Lot has been taken captive!”
For a portion of time measured only in microns, a thought passed through Abram’s mind. Something along the line of “see, I told you so.” But before those thoughts had enough time to be formed into words, altogether different words came out of Abram’s mouth, words that reflected the true character of his heart.
“How many men.” “What kind of weapons?” “Who was their leader?” “Which way were they headed?” “Were Lot’s wife and daughters taken captive also?” The mighty patriarch peppered the terrified soldier with questions demonstrating both his concern and the a strategy was already being formed in his mind to go and rescue Lot.
Abram stepped into action. Carefully, precisely and quickly, he spelled out his plan through the series of orders given to his attentive servants.
“You, gather my captains and have them meet me in my tent.” “You, harness all of our camels. Give them plenty to drink.” “You, take five servants and gather as much food and water as we can carry.” “You, get the weapons ready.” “You, get this man some food and new clothes. Put him on my best camel because he has to show us the way.”
Everyone knew the danger of the mission Abram was planning. The entire region was terrified of the Mesopotamian kings that had been extorting money from everyone in the land of the Jordan Valley. Only the shrewdness and skill of Mamre and his Ammorite brothers had kept them from becoming entangled in the conflict.
Nichol, Abram’s most trusted confidant and leader was concerned enough to speak up. He took great risk in questioning the man of God, but this was a suicide mission and Nichol feared that Abram’s emotions had gotten the best of him.
With great respect, Nichol asked for permission to speak. Quietly, so that the other servants would not hear, Nichol leaned to Abram and said, “But Abram, the five kings have already escaped, you’ll never catch them.”
Abram replied with confidence: Lot’s in Trouble. He’s my responsibility, and I love him.
Next, Nichol mentioned what should have been patently evident to Abram. “But Abram, the five kings already defeated the kings of the plains. You are no match for them”
Again, Abram responded with the same conviction. Lot’s in Trouble. He’s my responsibility, and I love him.
This time, Nichol spoke slightly louder, no longer concerned whether or not any of the nearby servants overheard his advise to his wise master. “But Abram, everything you value could be lost.”
Abram’s reply was no different. Lot’s in Trouble. He’s my responsibility, and I love him.
“But Abram, it’s a lost cause”
Lot’s in Trouble. He’s my responsibility, and I love him.
“But Abram, you’re too old, let the young men go and try”
Lot’s in Trouble. He’s my responsibility, and I love him.
“But Abram, after all Lot’s done to hurt you, he doesn’t deserve for you to risk your life and possessions to save him.”
At this, Abram responded in the most stern manner. With great conviction and determination, he emphatically said,
Lot’s in Trouble. He’s my responsibility, and I love him.
God was with Abram. Kedorlaomer took Abram’s nephew, and in so doing he made himself the enemy of Abram. “Those who curse you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3). The principle still applies. God is with the righteous.
A MESSAGE to those living IN or NEAR SODOM: What are you doing in Sodom?
Sodom is no place for a child of faith. LEAVE SODOM and dwell in Canaan by faith.
