Choosing Your Terrain: Abraham, Lot, and the Landscape of Faith

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Introduction

In the beginning, Silicon Valley was seen as a hub of technological innovation, with a culture that emphasized changing the world for the better. Many young, idealistic entrepreneurs and engineers flocked to the area.

Over time, however, the focus began to shift. As companies grew and became more profitable, the emphasis on "making the world a better place" was often overshadowed by the pursuit of wealth and market dominance. Some key points in this gradual change include:

The dot-com boom and bust of the late 1990s/early 2000s, which introduced a gold-rush mentality.

The rise of social media platforms, which initially promised connection but later faced criticism for privacy violations and spreading misinformation.

The increasing wealth gap between tech workers and long-time residents, leading to gentrification and displacement.

High-profile scandals involving data breaches, sexual harassment, and anti-competitive practices.

The emergence of the "move fast and break things" mentality, which sometimes prioritized growth over ethical considerations.

Many in Silicon Valley found themselves slowly compromising their initial ideals for the sake of success and profit. Some individuals and companies have recognized this shift and are actively working to realign with more ethical practices, while others continue to be entangled in the culture they once sought to change.

This modern example demonstrates how environments can gradually shift towards corruption, often in ways that are not immediately apparent to those immersed in the culture. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining one's values and being aware of the subtle influences of one's surroundings.

Over the next couple weeks, if you stick with us, you’ll see the slow compromising nature that is played out in scripture. Now the author assumes too that we are reading scripture a lot and there are little pieces of commentary they are inserting… though we have not gotten there on our journey, Moses is expecting we not only have been reading ahead but our continuing to make ourselves more familiar with scripture.

The importance of worship and dedication to the Lord is a key element in our text this morning which I think helps us in our journey down the path we inevitably take.

But let us take a moment and read our text this morning.

If you have your Bibles or on your devices, you can turn to Genesis 13. If you are willing and able would you stand with me as I read God’s word this morning… this is the word of the Lord… let us pray… amen… you may be seated.

Calling on the name of the Lord

God had been so good to them. Coming out of Egypt they had not only their family, but had become very wealthy in livestock (which is more precious than material things) but also in silver and gold (vs1).

We’re given a sense of tension… they moved from place to place Genesis 13:3 “From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier”

MAP - They came up from Egypt to the ‘southern land’ (Negev) moving from place to place till they got to Bethel, near Ai. If this gives you thoughts from the book of Joshua, well done Bible scholar, the Bible is intricately tied together… a well designed narrative that leads us to Jesus.

But they are in Bethel and Abram calls on the name of the Lord. Genesis 13:4 “and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.”

He remembers he’s been here before. This is where God met him in the journey at first, when he called him out of his homeland “to a land” He would show him.

He calls on the name of the Lord but then were given an insight into something that has really been there for a long time. Abram and Lot, the land can’t sustain them… God had given them so much that there started to be fights among their people.

A Good “Problem”

I think they were confronted with a difficult problem, the land could not sustain their abundant wealth and resources.

They were in the land where there were other dwellers, primarily the Canaanites who were known for their cities and large populations, but also the Perizzites who are thought to be a people who sprawled over the land with out walls. We might think of them as cites and townships. Abram and Lot had to navigate their abundance not only with each other but those in the land as well.

Considering Genesis 13, I think Abraham and Lot had the best of intentions.

Abram basically says, “Hey, we’re family. We shouldn’t be fighting. We can figure this out. You go one way, I’ll go the other.”

A couple commentators will give Abram grief for this. I think this shows humility, kindness, deference, and Abram gives his nephew the ability to do what he thinks he needs to sustain and be responsible for what he has. He loves his nephew… this is what you do if you want to have relationship. This is leadership, love, and faith wrapped up in this decision… so I disagree as to if this is a bad move… I don’t know what else was available to him.

The Choices We Make

By all intents and purposes, from outward appearances, Lot made a great choice. Moses uses the Garden of Eden and Egypt to highlight how good the plain of Jordan looked. If we look at all the biblical narrative we might question the choice when Egypt is dropped in there… but Moses wants us to understand as well that Lot is taking a risk because Lot is placing his tents near Sodom.

Sodom was filled with wicked people. I don't know that this was a "bad" decision, but it did not benefit him any as we read later. I think we're to learn and understand that evil has a progression which Lot does get sucked into, but I think there was good intentions initially.

The plains were well watered but it would eventually wither his soul.

Genesis 4:6–7 “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.””

I want to highlight this idea of needing to walk circumspectly. We may not intend to set out and do evil, but there are things we can do to help safe-guard our hearts and lives in the midst of our journey.

Ephesians 5:15–17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Hebrews 2:1 “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

Psalm 1:1–2 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”

We’re not given a glimpse into Lott’s story. We’re not told that he worships at the Lord (though I think it’s significant that he followed Abraham… there is a righteous component in his obedience and faithfulness), but we don’t see him building an altar like Abraham did.

I’ve seen where the faith of our relatives is tried as a means of our own faith, but that always ends poorly, because our faith is outside of ourselves. It leads me to think about the account in the book of Acts regarding the sons of Sceva… Acts 19:11-20

Acts 19:11–20 NIV

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

There is some element where our faith is communal… we learn from those around us, and sometimes someone else’s faith carries us… but at some point we are brought to a place where we are asked, “What do you believe?” or maybe more importantly, “In whom do you believe?”

This question guides our choices. How we decide things for those we love, for those affected by our choice, and how we decide things for us.

Can I point us back to Abram’s decision to give Lot the choice of land? This is born out of love and I think the loving-kindness that is descriptive of the character of God.

In contrast… we see Abram blessed of God. God reiterates His promise to Abram in Genesis 13:14–17 “The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.””

Ends with Abraham building an altar to the Lord (worship) - Genesis 13:18.

If we do find ourselves caught up… having drifted, not making the best of choices, may we take heart, because while this is the beginning of a tragic story in the life and journey of Lot, we are reminded to read ahead… there is a foreshadow of redemption .. that's really good. God's grace persists even when His people make unwise choices, foreshadowing the ultimate redemption in Christ.

Conclusion

As we reflect on the journeys of Abram and Lot, we're reminded that life is full of choices that shape our spiritual trajectory. While we may set out with the best of intentions, like Lot, we can find ourselves gradually drawn into compromising situations. Yet, we also see in Abram a model of faith – one who consistently turned to God, built altars, and walked in obedience.

The story of Genesis 13 calls us to be vigilant in our spiritual lives, to "walk circumspectly" as Paul urges. It challenges us to consider: Are we pitching our tents toward Sodom, or are we building altars to the Lord? Are we making choices based on immediate appeal, or on faith in God's promises?

But even as we strive to make wise choices, we can take comfort in knowing that God's grace is greater than our missteps. Just as God eventually rescued Lot, He offers redemption to all who turn to Him. As we leave here today, let's commit to anchoring our lives in worship, like Abram did, calling on the name of the Lord and trusting in His guidance for every step of our journey. For in doing so, we not only safeguard our own hearts but also position ourselves to be a blessing to others, just as God promised to Abram.

May we go forth, not merely avoiding evil, but actively seeking God's presence, building altars of faith in our daily lives, and trusting in the ultimate redemption found in Christ. Amen.

Next week:

Abram sweeps in and rescues Lot from the kings of the land… Jesus comes in a binds the strong man pillaging his house.