Our last article considered Noah, whose famous last words were a prophecy concerning his sons. We were encouraged to forsake the ways of Ham, and dwell permanently in Shem’s tent — a foreshadowing of the status we have in Christ — in whom fellowship with God is made possible.
Abraham and Lot must have developed a close relationship through all their experiences together. We know that Abraham loved and cared for his nephew. However, the only words that we have recorded of Abraham speaking to Lot are in Genesis 13:8: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee… for we be brethren.” The problem was they had too much ‘stuff’, and the arguments between their managers brought strife between them!
As far as we know these were the last words of Abraham that Lot ever heard. Too bad he didn’t take them more to heart! Did Lot remember the “brotherhood” he shared with Abraham? It wasn’t long before he was calling the men of Sodom “brethren” (Gen. 19:7)!
Lot had “made peace” with the men of Sodom and their deeds. Even though his righteous soul was vexed by their behaviour, and he protested against their planned actions against the angels, Lot had become numb to the evil around him. He really should have returned to the tents of Abraham and dwelt in brotherly peace with him, at the expense of his worldly possessions if necessary!
What an exhortation for us today! How sad that the “things of this world” had brought strife between brethren. Was separation the only solution to this problem? It resulted in the ruin of one of the parties involved, as Lot found himself in “isolation”, out of contact with the spiritual guidance of his “brother”.
“Let there be no strife” echoes down to us today. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10).
How did Abraham settle the problem? He let Lot choose the path. Abraham suffered himself to be defrauded (1 Cor. 6:7). Unity and peace were more important to Abraham than getting his own way. Too bad Lot didn’t choose to reduce his worldly possessions and stay with his uncle. What personal gain resulted from his choice? He went down to Sodom a very rich man. He left with the clothes on his back, and his two daughters — and nothing else (since his wife never really left the city, but partook of its punishment).
“Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one Hope of your calling; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:1-6).
Unity amongst brethren and sisters is the lesson from Abraham’s “Famous Last Words” to Lot.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One