Genesis 13:1-13
THE BACKSLIDER
There are many Biblical characters that serve God in different ways. In our text we read of a man by the name of Lot. Lot served in the same way many people do in our day. He served as a bad example. If it were not for the few words of Peter in his epistle we would have no reason to believe that Lot wasn’t in hell this very minute. Lot warns us of the great peril of backsliding.
The story of Lot is one of tragedy and heartache. Lot had a great opportunity to become a man of God as He walked with his uncle Abraham, the friend of God. However something happened.
Where did Lot go wrong?
Observe the subtle steps in Lot’s backsliding!
I. WEAK IN HIS DEVOTIONS (13:5)
Had flocks, herds, and tents...... but something is missing??????
Had possessions, but there is no mention of an altar.
Abraham had his altars (12:7,8 and 13:4,18). Wherever he pitched his tent, he built an altar.
Abraham is associated with altars (Gen. 22:9). An altar speaks of devotion to.
Lot is not mentioned with any altars. Instead of lifting up his eyes to heaven, Lot lifted up his eyes to the plain of Jordan. The eyes see what the heart loves. Outlook determines outcome.
Will never amount to anything for God if there is not some altar experiences in your life. Let the altar alter you!
A. With no altars one will chose the path of lustful reasoning
Walked by sight instead of faith (10)
The man of faith (Abraham) can well afford to allow the man of sight or sense (Lot) to take his choice.
Pasture for flocks and herds was sufficient reason for Lot to chose the plain of Jordan. Lot’s eye’s rested on the well-watered plains.
Some choose jobs with more regard for the money that is involved than with what it will do for their family and faith.
B. With no altars one will chose the path of least resistance
Choice based on the fact that it will not be as hard or difficult on me if I take the land like the land of Egypt. It will not take as much work to find pasture for my flocks and herds.
Rivers and men become crooked by following the line of least resistance.
C. With no altars one will chose the path of loose restriction
Choose the place where there were few restrictions. Lot saw only the abundance and the advantages of the land.
I Kings 18 Israel has departed from God and serving Baal. The problem is found in verse 30 which reads "he reparied the altar of the Lord that was broken down." A persons communion with God can easily be determined by whether they have any altars or not. Broken down altars or a lack of altars are a solemn witness of a departure from God.
Lot has lost his altar and will soon lose his tent (19:3). If you lose you dedication to the Saviour it will not be long before you lose your detachment from society.
II. WORLDLY IN HIS DESIRES (13:10)
Altars keep things in right perspective. Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and she shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
You have the devotion right and the desires will be right. Oh, the need for putting God in his right place. If He is, then priorities will be correct
Lot choice was based on the beauty and fertility of the land.
Oh, for desires that are spiritual. Spiritual desires only come when there is communion with God.
A. Lot had a desire for profit.
"The love of money is the root of all evil."
B. Lot had a desire for pleasure
C. Lot had a desire for position
From "pitched his tent toward" to "sat at the gate" - this implies a place of authority. Lot is now a magistrate to hear and determine disputes.
I wonder if he had gotten the position through compromise.... see verse 19:7.
Lot looked at physical things
Lot longed for temporal things
Lot lost eternal things
III. WRONG IN HIS DECISIONS (13:11)
Impossible to make right decisions if desire is worldly and devotion is weak
Moses chose the right things because he had his eyes on the right thing "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.... choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."
A. Standards are gone (19:4-8)
Willing to sacrifice purity for peace. Offer to sacrifice his daughters to the men of Sodom in order to secure his own preservation and peace.
B. Seed is gone
Looses children - 2 in Sodom and 2 in sin
C. Spouse is gone
D. Sway is gone
Integrity and influence are gone (19:14)
His words had no weight because of his ways. His lips had no influence because of his life. "When the testimony of the life does not agree with the testimony of the lips, the latter always goes unheeded." When the manners of messenger contradicts the message, the message goes unheeded.
Conclusion:
Lot’s life is a landmark on the highway of eternity warning of the folly of backsliding. His backsliding all began with his neglect of the altar (weak devotion). Worldly desires and wrong decisions followed. Decisions are determined by desires, and desires are determined by our devotions or lack of them
