Be Careful Where You Pitch Your Tent

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Genesis 13:10–13 NASB95

Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.

Intro

where you choose to stay has much to say about your character

there are billionaires who choose to live in a simple house despite their riches

there are average earners who choose to live in plush villages despite their meager income

there are people who are more comfortable in noisy places, others in quiet villages

where you choose to stay can also affect or change your outlook in life

there are people

Abraham and Lot chose their own places to dwell and it changed their lives forever.

their choice showed the character of their hearts

their choice affected how things will come upon their lives.

Abram and Lot had Similarities and Differences

Their similarities

they came from the same family

they were both righteous men

Their differences

Abram’s journey was based on the call of God to Him in Haran

Lot’s journey was a personal endeavor to find greener pastures for his livelihood

Why they separated

there came a time when their flock multiplied to a point where their servants had to fight for a right to a watering hole

Abram decided that they separate ways and let Lot choose first

Lot saw the valley of Jordan and decided to pith his tent towards Sodom

Abram chose to stay in Canaan

Sodom and Canaan

Sodom is the world

Genesis 13:13 NASB95

Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.

Jude 7 NASB95

just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Luke 17:28 NASB95

“It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;

Ezekiel 16:49–50 NASB95

“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. “Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.

Ezekiel

Lot was vexed by Sodom’s lifestyle

2 Peter 2:7–8 NASB95

and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),