Lot and Abraham

We would like to take a glimpse into the lives of two men. Both were righteous men, yet the lives that they lived and the priorities they set for themselves were vastly different. We find that the consequences of the lives that they lived are vastly different also. The two are Lot and Abraham. As we take a glimpse of certain events in their lives, let us ask ourselves, are we a Lot or are we an Abraham? Let us also ask ourselves, “What kind of consequences do we want?” for our life, for the lives of our children and for the lives of those who associate with us?

Let us first look at a few of the key events in the life of Lot. It was a life characterized by self-interest, love for the world, pride, and lack of faith. These are the four steps in Lot’s back-sliding. As we view Lot’s back-sliding, remember one thing, however, Lot was a righteous man.

Lot’s Self-interest—Lot and Abraham were both prosperous men. They had great herds. As they attempted to dwell together, the land could not support all the cattle and there was strife between their herdsmen. So Abraham said, “Let’s not have strife between us, let us separate ourselves and dwell in different areas.” Abraham said to Lot, “You choose the area you want.” Lot, standing on the hills of Judea, looked down on the well-watered plain of Jordan. He noticed that the waters of Jordan flowed continually summer and winter, perhaps sometimes less and sometimes more, but the water was always there and it was a green area. It was a luxurious area and he knew that if he moved there he wouldn’t have to work too hard because the grass was green and the waters continued to flow whether it rained or not. The area was as the Garden of the Lord. He chose the best-watered place for himself. There could have been other choices. He could have said to Abraham, “You take half the Jordan Valley and I’ll take the other half,” and let’s share the luxurious well-watered area. He could have also said “There is much land here in the hills of Judea and further north near Galilee. We should stay in the hill country and share it.” He, however, chose the best for himself out of his own self-interest. Consequently he moved his family and his flocks down to the Jordan Valley into the area near Sodom.

Lot’s Love for the World—The Jordan Valley is a long valley. There were many places Lot could live. But where did he pitch his tent?—next to the city of Sodom. Sodom was known for it’s wickedness and the sinful ways of the men and women who lived there. He could have pitched his tent far to the north several days journey from Sodom. Instead he chose to be as close as possible to wickedness and sin. Why did he do this? I don’t think the land was any better there. I don’t think the grass was any greener there. He must have liked it. He must have liked to associate with men of the city. He must have liked the luxuries that he could find from a well-known established city. Perhaps he had in the back of his mind the next step in his backsliding. Whatever his reason, it seems that Lot was intent on having one foot in the way of the Lord and one foot in the way of the World.

Lot’s Pride—We are told in the 19th chapter of Genesis that Lot sat in the gate of the city. Now who sat in the gate of the city in those days? It was the men who resided in the city and who were the respected elders of the city. What did this mean ? Lot had now left his tent that had been pitched near Sodom and he lived in a house inside of the city. As we mentioned, it is possible that this move may have been in the back of his mind when he pitched his tent close to the city. Now he was a gentleman herdsman. He probably had other people taking care of his herds in the well-watered plains where there was an abundance of grass. He could be one of the men who sat in the gate and rendered judgment. No doubt, righteous judgment, however in order for him to have attained that position he would have to be well-known and respected among the inhabitants of the city. He would have associated with them. They would have to have grown to know him. They would say, “There is Lot. Lot is a good man and he can render righteous judgment, let’s make him a judge and let him sit in the gate of the city.” He could have stayed in his tent outside the city. He could have moved into the city and have lived an unnoticed life and just been one of the citizens. But he wanted recognition. He wanted men to look up to him and recognize that he could render righteous judgment. Prod­ing him on was his pride. He could have been preaching to that wicked city and telling them how wicked they were and imploring them to turn from their wickedness. That course would never have made him popular and they wouldn’t have selected him as one of the judges in the gate of the city. No, they would all have hated him for it because he would have been reminding them of the way they were living. Yet, in spite of the fact that he associated with the people of the city and because of his pride he sought for recognition, we find that he maintained his personal integrity. The Apostle Peter writes concerning Lot in his second letter and the second chapter beginning at the sixth verse — “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with the overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy manner of life 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).” So Lot remained a righteous man. He maintained his personal integrity. We have another incident that emphasizes Lot’s righteousness. Remember that God told Abraham that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy that city if there were 50 righteous persons in it—or 30 righteous or even 10 righteous. There were less than 10 righteous persons in the city so when God destroyed the city he saved righteous Lot from destruction of that city. Lot maintained his personal righteousness. But at what price? Four individuals were saved when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. However, as they fled, Lot’s wife died because she had learned to love the things of Sodom and Gomorrah. She turned back with longing eyes and was turned into a pillar of salt. She wouldn’t have learned to love the things of that city if they had stayed far away and hadn’t moved into the city and associated with the people in the city. Later we’ll discuss the consequences to the other two who escaped — Lot’s daughters.

Lot’s Lack of Faith—Now there remained only Lot and his two daughters. They dwelt in a cave near Zoar. Zoar was another one of the cities of the plain just south of Sodom and Gomorrah. It hadn’t been destroyed. We are told that Lot and his daughters feared to live in Zoar. We aren’t told why they feared to live in Zoar, but we think we know the reason. God had warned Abraham (and Lot probably knew it) that these wicked cities were to be destroyed. Lot was afraid that Zoar would be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. He was afraid to dwell in that city so he and his daughters dwelt in a cave outside of the city. Where could they have lived ? They could have gone back and lived with Abraham. His flocks may have been destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah but they were his family, relatives. However, he was ashamed to go back to his own kinsmen. Just imagine the wickedness of his daughters! Lot did not have any sons to carry on the family name. The daughters managed to get their father drunk and they became with child by their own father. What could they have done ? They could have gone back and lived with Abraham where there was a large family. They could have found themselves husbands from those relatives they had in the highlands. They had no faith that God would provide for them. Through their own human reasoning they decided that the only way they could carry on the family line was through incest — through the wicked deeds which they carried out with their own father. Why did they do it? They had no faith. They had no training from their father or their mother, they had no example from their own father who could have led them back to Abraham and found them husbands from their own kinsmen. What was the result? Here were two young women each with a boy to be raised in the midst of the wicked area. One was named Moab and the other was named Ben-Ammi, and we are told Moab was the father of the Moabites and Ben-Ami was the father of the Ammon­ites. The second chapter of the prophecy of Zephaniah, verses 9 and 10 tells us what happened to these children of Lot by his daughters. They became the enemies of the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were condemned because of their enmity against the true children of Israel and were finally destroyed.

We have looked briefly into the life of Lot — a righteous man. What were the consequences of the priorities in his life? He died a lonely man in a wicked area. His wife turned into a pillar of salt as she looked back to that home they had left in Sodom. His daughters became lonely women — mothers of men who finally became enemies of the God of Israel. These were the consequences of the type of life led by Lot and the priorities that he had.

In contrast let us look briefly at Abraham. The contrasting characteristics that Abraham had were: a. Interest in others. b. Love for God. c. Humility. d. Faith.

Abraham’s Interest in Others—This characteristic came forth when the strife occurred between the heardsmen of Lot and Abraham. Abraham’s concern was for Lot. He gave Lot the first choice. He would take what was left. And when he saw that Lot had taken the best, he didn’t argue with him, for he knew that God would provide for him. Later when Sodom and Gomorrah were captured after the wars of the Kings and Lot and his whole family were taken away captive, Abraham had concern for him and he took his own personal army and saved Lot. Yes, Abraham had an interest in others.

Abraham’s Love for God—Abraham pitched his tent away from the world. He remained a stranger of the world and a pilgrim in the land of Canaan, he looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. He remained in a tent all the days of his life. He didn’t own any land. He didn’t have a permanent house. He had to buy a field to bury his wife. However, immediately after he had given Lot the choice of the best land, God made a promise to Abraham and told him He would give him that entire land for an everlasting possession. If we have an in­terest for others and we have confidence in what God will provide, what will He provide? He told Abraham He would give him the whole land forever. That promise included the land he had just given away to Lot!

Abraham’s Humility—Abraham was a very powerful man. He had much silver and gold. Yet he didn’t need to sit in the gate of the city and receive the acclaim of mankind. He was content with devotion to God. He had his own self-respect knowing that he was serving God in the way that God desired. This showed his humility before God, not requiring the admiration of mankind.

Abraham’s Faith—He was faithful but still human. He failed in certain instances. He had received the promise and immediately afterwards was asked to sacrifice his only son. He knew that his son was the key to the promises. He was told that he was to have a seed and this seed was to become numerous. He also realized that God could take life and could bring it again. He had confidence in a resurrection. And so he was faithful in those things that God asked him to do.

Look at the consequences of the type of life led by Abraham and the priorities that he had. Those promises were renewed to Isaac and to Jacob and Jacob became the father of the nation of Israel. The promises will be fulfilled in Jesus and the Saints who have become spiritual Israel.

Now we come to the lessons that we can draw from these brief glimpses into the lives of Lot and Abraham. Remember, we can all be righteous! we can all have a place in the Kingdom. We can also lead lives of self-interest, love for the world, pride and lack of faith. On the other hand we can live lives of interest in others, love for God, humility and faithfulness. We will reap the consequences now. The things that happen to you are the natural result of your own actions. The consequences of your actions will fall on your family. Your family will largely follow the example you set. The consequences of your actions may fall on your associates as a result of the guidance you give them.

Ask yourself some searching questions. Where is my interest? Is it for myself or is it for service to others. Service to others and consideration for others has a natural result in desire to share with them the wonderful hope that we have. That means going out and telling other people about our hope.

Where is my love? Is it for the world or is it for God ?

Where have I pitched my tent? Some time this week, make a list of the reasons why you live where you do. After you have listed all the reasons, see how many fall on the Lot side and how many fall on the Abraham side. It may be an interesting exercise.

Where do I plan to spend my retirement? Where you can be close to those associated with the things of God and have fellowship with the brethren and sisters or where you are far away from those things that are so dear to those who love God?

What gives me a good feeling? What makes me feel important? Is it serving God? Obtaining the satisfaction of helping others, of helping the brothers and sisters, of sharing with others the hope that I have? Or is it worldly pursuits, having positions in organizations, doing things where men of the world will look up to me and recognize me because of my worldly pursuits?

Where is my faith ? How do I make my day to day decisions? Are they governed by the trust that God will take care of me at all times or are they governed by the concern that I have to do it all myself? Each decision we make each day of our lives will be governed to some extent by the amount of faith we have.

These are questions that you can ask yourself. You are the only one that can provide the answers.

We have looked briefly at the lives of two righteous men. We see vastly different actions and we see vastly different consequences. We have also looked at some searching questions that we could ask ourselves —are we a Lot or are we an Abraham ? The answers to these questions will have a tremendous influence on our life. They will have a tremendous influence on the lives of our children and they will have a tremendous influence on those with whom we associate. Let us all dedicate ourselves to be an Abraham.