Summary of passage: Lot, Abram’s nephew, was traveling with Abram until he had to separate because their herds of animals were growing too big to support both flocks. This caused quarrels between the two groups. The Canaanites and Perizzites were living there as well so it was crowded.
Abram approached Lot and suggested they separate, giving Lot the choice of which lands he wanted. Lot chose the plain of the Jordan which was well watered and they parted, leaving Abram in Canaan and Lot near Sodom. Sodom was wicked and sinning greatly against the Lord.
Questions:
5a) Verses 10 & 11: “Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar…so Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan…”
b) People live places because it looks good, it appeals to the eyes and not to the heart. People live places for the climate and the beauty and for what the place can provide them.
c) Verse 12 & 13: “Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom”, which was “wicked and sinful against the Lord.”
d) Lot got caught up in a neighboring war and him and his possessions were seized, causing Abram to rescue him (Genesis 14). Lot became entrenched in the society of Sodom for he was “sitting in the gateway of the city” (Genesis 19:1), a place reserved for city leaders. He calls the people of Sodom “friends” when he tells them they cannot have the angels (Genesis 19:7). Then Lot and his family did not want to leave Sodom when the angels warned him it was about to be destroyed (Genesis 19:16) and it seems they had to be forcefully pulled.
When told not to look back, Lot’s wife did and was turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Then his daughters got him drunk and lay with him, committing incest, and became pregnant, spawning the Moabites and Ammonites who throughout the Bible fought and tempted Israel into sin (Genesis 19:34-38).
Shows how even living near sin can infect your family who may fall into the world. Lot’s wife died, his daughters committed incest, and Lot’s heart was not on God. Reminds me of Paul’s warning (1 Corinthians 5:9; 15:33 & 2 Corinthians 6:14-17) to not associate with sinners and to be careful of the company you keep. This is especially true when you have little kids who are very impressionable.
6) John 14:27: You will not have the peace Jesus gives. You will have troubled hearts and be afraid. Jesus brings peace.
Ephesians 4:17-20: You will have hardened heart, live in darkness, and have no understanding. You will have no sensitivity and indulge in every kind of impurity and lust. You will develop a moral insensitivity, which will silence your conscience and harden your heart.
James 4:4: You will be an enemy of God and will have hatred towards Him.
1 John 2:15-17: If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything of the world comes from the world, not the Father. The world and its desires fade away but the will of God lives forever.
7) Personal Question. My answer: This is a very tough question since it’s always hard to make self-assessments. I would say no. I try to pray before I make decisions. I try to follow His guidance, where I think He is leading me. I try to surrender. And as I study His word and learn more about Him, I become less and less attached to this world. It’s like a mother weaning her baby. I feel I am being weaned from this world the closer I get to God.
Conclusions: This lesson shows us that if you make choices based on your desires and wants, you will put yourself in risk of Falling. From the moment Lot chose his piece of land, he declined–dramatically–and he became more and more attached to this world. I think he was only spared because he was Abram’s nephew to be honest (Genesis 19:29).
I thought James 4:4 was powerful. “Whoever chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God and shows him hatred.” Those are strong words. Think about it. Who’s the arch-enemy of God? The devil. And here we are being equated with the devil.
And shows Him hatred. I don’t hate anyone in my life and definitely not God. But the world does. And choosing the world means you hate God as well.
Powerful words to ponder as we examine our selves and our decisions and what’s important in this world.
God first. Everything else a distant second. This is my prayer for us all.
amen!