Lot and Abram Part

Intro:

Genesis 13:1–11 ESV

So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.

Consider the cause, course, curse of Lot’s Choice.

Consider the cause, course, curse of Lot’s Choice.

I. Its Cause

a. The chief element in determining his place in life was worldly advantage

Lot was totally focused on material things.

He wanted what gave him the most advantage and easiest life.

b. A want of generosity –

Selfishness; how mean to take that which was rightfully another’s and that a benefactor

God had promised the richness of the land to Abraham,

Lot took it for himself!

What a lack of gratitude and generocity

c. Disregard of religious privileges.

Had his heart been right with the Lord, he would have seen the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah

Even after moving, he would have worked to convert them

he would not have ventured among the Sodomites; his aid may have been to convert them, but he came away without one convert.

Even if he tried, he came away without one convert, not even his daughter’s husbands.

II. Its Course

a. Downward – Earthward

Lot was on a path of compromise

His path was pulling him away from following the example of Abraham.

b. It was a Gradual

i. Lifted up his eyes – beheld

Genesis 13:10 ESV

And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

Gen 13:10

ii. Chose

Genesis 13:11 ESV

So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.

iii. Dwelled…pitched his tent toward Sodom

Genesis 13:13 ESV

Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

He set up camp with the wicked.

Psalm 1:1–3 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

We are called to move upward, Lot went the other way.

III. Its Curse

a. He lost his friend Abraham

i. What a friend that must have been who is called the “Friend of God”

The contention couldn’t be resolved and thus they were separated.

b. He lost his wealth

Genesis 19:12–22 ESV

Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Gen 19:12-

i. It was all consumed in Sodom and he was glad to escape even with his life

He didn’t foresee the outcome, but judgment was coming.

God was going to punish the wickedness of the plain.

Lot thought he gained the best deal, instead it would lead to losing it all.

c. He lost his influence

i. With his neighbors

They wouldn’t listen

They wouldn’t follow

ii. With his family

d. He lost the presence of God

i. Only 2 of the 3 who visited Abraham, came to Lot, and they wanted to carry in the streets

e. He lost his honor; in his drunken revelry he lay with his own daughters and became the father of the Moabites and Ammonites

Genesis 19:30–38 ESV

Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose. The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Gen 19:30-38

Conclusion:

1. Behold the importance of choosing the right work the right residence, the right companions

Those around us, will influence us.

2. Behold the importance of a personal knowledge of God

a. Lot Got his religion secondhand

b. He went with Abraham – Abraham followed God – Lot followed Abraham

That won’t last

When storms come, others’ faith will fail us.

We need a personal faith.

3. Behold the best way to settle disputes

a. Let the other fellow have all. Is not the whole land before thee?

Abraham was more noble and generous.

4. Behold the best way to get rich – by yielding all

5. Behold the mercy of God – To save wayward ungodly Lot.