As we come to Genesis 13, we find a chapter that gives us a powerful contrast between two very different people, Abram and Lot. While we are tempted to think that Lot was not a true believer, 2 Peter 2:7–8 tells us that he was indeed a believer, "And if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);"
Two believers. One trusted God, and the other trusted in his own achievement, power and wisdom. The question for us as we examine their lives and story is simply this. Who do you trust?
In Genesis 12, we read that during the famine, Abram fled for the safety and security of Egypt. For the SECOND TIME, his faith faltered. His first momentary lapse of faith was when he waited in Haran for several years before departing for the land that God promised him. NOW, he is BACK in the LAND that God promised, determined to OBEY GOD, and BE a BLESSING (Gen 12:1-2).
Do we really trust God?
BARNA RESEARCH shows that fewer than 10 percent of churchgoing Christians make important life decisions based on GOD’S WORD and SEEKING HIS WILL. In other words, more than 90 percent decide on the basis of their own intelligence, peer opinion, whim, or fancy. Yet every Sunday they sit in church pews singing songs like "Where he leads me, I will follow." -- Fresh Faith--What Happens When Real Faith Ignites God's People by Jim Cymbala, Zondervan Publishing, 1999.
We claim to trust god for eternal life,
But we don’t trust god for much less important decisions
The contrast between Abraham and Lot reveals an important principle in life: WHO do you TRUST?
Let’s begin by examining the lessons Abram learned in Egypt (13:1-4. ). TRUST in GOD when TRIALS COME.
Abraham returned to where he LEFT THE PATH OF FAITH. The text emphasizes that Abram returned to the place where he first entered the land and worshiped God. He is wise to return to the point to where he left the path of faith. This principle helps us in our lives. If you find yourself far from a life of obedience, you should ask the question, “where was I when I walked away from God?” I’m not talking exclusively about a geographic location (although that may in some cases be relevant!) I’m refering to the point in your life where you walked away from God. Return to that point of decision! It is usually a choice that we made. While some choices cannot be undone (marriages, contracts, home loans, etc.) we must at least recognize those wrong choices and return to the attitude of trust that we had prior to walking on our own.
Notice that when Abram returned to Bethel, he once again worshiped God. This gives us the impression that while he was Egypt his worship either discontinued or was very difficult. When Abraham returned to the place where God called him, his worship returned and his blessings returned!
Abraham returned to the DISCIPLINES that guided his life. 13:3-4. His journey to Egypt was NOT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE! He returned from Egypt with HAGAR (ten years later she would cause strife with Sarah). He also returned with a very changed nephew. While Egypt did not completely corrupt Abram, it did corrupt Lot. Lot is now very materialistic, and taken up with city life and becoming a person of influence (we see him sitting at the city gate as a recognized leader of Sodom). These lessons from Egypt corrupted Lot. It might be said that Lot left Egypt, but Egypt never left Lot, and for this, Uncle Abraham was the one who led him there.
Our Second lesson from the text it that Abraham TRUSTED GOD when MAKING PLANS. 13:5-9
The PROBLEM: there was plenty of LAND, but most of it was BARREN. The SPRINGS and WADI’s were already controlled by the Canaanites and Perizzites, and there was little room for the flocks and herds of both Abram and Lot.
Notice the CONTRAST between ABRAHAM and LOT
Abraham Lot
Trusts in the LORD Leans on his own understanding
Left Egypt behind Carried Egypt with him
Prayerful, worshipfull Impulsive, self-willed
“Only God’s way” (he learned from Egypt) “God’s way won’t work”
Get’s closer to God Get’s closer to sin
Willing to wait for God’s blessing Wanted it now
The QUARRELING was because of Lot. “Quarreling” = meribah. Same word as Exodus 17:7–8 "And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Abraham acts to end the quarreling, even if it costs him wealth. Abraham valued his family relationships MORE than his own wealth. He offers the CHOICE to LOT. Through this, Abram demonstrates his complete confidence in God. He is no longer striving with God, but trusting God completely. Abram has learned his lesson! The Bible Knowledge Commentary notes that “Abram was waiting for God to give him the land; Lot just took it” (BKC).
Lot SHOULD HAVE REFUSED THIS CHOICE or chosen the least of the land. Abram was his uncle and elder, and clearly the patriarch of the family. However, Lot impetuously and selfishly chooses what he determines is the best choice. Perhaps he was grateful, or perhaps he was just being an opportunist. In either case, he makes his choice without prayer. His choice reflects humanistic wisdom rather than faith.
If Lot would have chose Canaan, Abraham would have found the tiniest portion of the land God promised and he would have lived there, trusting GOD to bless him!
Finally, we observe in the text Abraham’s Reward from God. 13:10-18. Here we see that God’s Blessings Outweigh Our Schemes!
Notice the THINGS LOT DID FOR HIMSELF (13:10-11). We should examine and label these things in our Bible, for they form a clear and important textual contrast that God wants us to notice:
1. Lot Looked up (13:10) A
2. He Saw (13:10) B
3. He Chose for himself (13:11) C
4. He Set out toward the east (13:11) D
As opposed to this, we see THINGS GOD DID for ABRAHAM (13:14-16)
1. God said. “Look up” (13:14) A’
2. “All that land that you see” (13:15) B’
3. “I will give you” (13:15) C’
4. “Go, walk through the land” (13:16) D’
Everything that LOT took for himself, Abraham received from the HAND of GOD! Again, the Bible Knowledge commentary notes “A person who has the promise of God’s provision does not have to cling to things.” (BKC)
“Lot, walking by sight, chose on the basis of what appealed to him. His choice was self-seeking and self-gratifying. ... Abram, on the other hand, walking by faith, generously let Lot choose first. ... He had learned that it was not by his own plan that he would come into the possession, or by jealously guarding what was his.” (BKC)
The RESULT. As is true with us, Lot discovered that human wisdom is greatly limited. He thought that the plain would bring a pleasant and productive life. He could not see the hidden dangers, because he failed to inquire from God. Everything that looked so pleasant to him ended up causing great pain for himself, his daughters, and even the death of his wife! We see this immediately in chapter 14 when Lot finds himself in the middle of a territorial war that resulted in his capture. In the following chapters, Lot is
A. Captured
B. Enslaved
C. Under God’s Judgment
D. And ultimately ends up LIVING in a CAVE (19:30)
Abram looked for a city whose builder and maker was God; Lot made his home in a city that was built by man and destroyed by God (Pink, “Gleanings in Genesis”)
In contrast, ABRAHAM’s journey was quite different, and filled with further blessings.
A. God’s blessing
B. Faith
C. Victory
D. As opposed to Lot living in a cave, Abraham’s ultimate destination was something far greater! The faith chapter in Hebrews tells us that he was “Seeking a city whose builder and maker is God” (Heb 11:10)
Who do you trust?
There are some important ways we reflect that we trust ourselves, not God
1. We make major decisions without major times of prayer
2. We make decisions that violate God’s word or Biblical principles
3. We forget important disciplines
a. How will this decisions effect my ability to use my spiritual gifts?
b. How will this decision effect my ability to worship with God’s people?
c. Does this decision have the potential to draw me away from God. Illus young man, wants to be a lifeguard. He knows that all the lifeguards are partiers, and that all the good looking girls in skimpy bikinis are at the beach. REALLY?
4. We do not seek spiritual counsel
5. We do not consider the wisdom or spiritual input of parents and or pastors.
Lot was a believer who made terrible choices. 2 Peter 2:7–8
Who do you trust?
1. With your finances?
2. Education?
3. Your estate planning?
4. Raising your children?
5. Disciplining your children
6. Choosing a career?
7. Who to date?
B. Proverbs 28:26 "He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe."
C. Psalm 75:6–7 "For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another."
D. Isaiah 26:3–4 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
E. The steps that LOT TOOK were steps of human understanding
F. The steps that ABRAHAM TOOK indicate a man who was waiting on the promises of God.
