The Choice of Lot

The Choice Of Lot
Genesis 13:10-12

The examples of men and women as recorded in the Bible can provide valuable lessons.... From Abraham we can learn the value of faith in God. From Joseph we see the workings of God’s providential care. From Job we learn the importance of patience and faith under trial. From Lot, the nephew of Abraham, we can also glean valuable lessons in the art of decision making and the importance of making proper choices. In this lesson we will first take an overall look at the life of Lot, and then focus upon a decision he made and how it affected his life.

Lot’s choice, in the book of Genesis, is initially introduced to us as Lot being the nephew of Abraham who sojourned with him - Gen 12:5 “And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan.”; 13:1 “So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.” Lot was a man who like his uncle became quite wealthy - Gen 13:2-5 “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,” Because of the combined wealth of Abraham and Lot, they were forced to separate - Gen 13:6-9 “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."’ Given the opportunity to choose where he could go Lot made a choice, which on the surface was a good one - Gen 13:10-12 “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. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.”

As good as it may have seemed, it resulted in much sorrow and hardship for Lot! As a result of his choice, Lot suffered war - Gen 14:8-11 “Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.” Kidnapping - Gen 14:12 “They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.” Lot suffered oppression and torment by the citizens of Sodom - 2 Pe 2:7-8 “and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard)”; (see the details in Gen 19:1-11). Lot lost of all his material wealth - Gen 19:15-16 “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.”, 24-25 “Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.” Lot suffered the death of his wife - Gen 19:17 “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."’, 26 “But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Lot suffered the shame of incest with his daughters – see Gen 19:30-36. -- All these things happened despite the fact that Lot was a righteous person – see 2 Pe 2:7-8

The example of Lot should impress us with the importance of making the proper choices in our lives. In view of what happened to Lot, we will now consider:
w Some of the choices we make that greatly affect our lives
w Some suggestions on how to make the right decisions
w What to do when we realize that we have made the wrong ones
Consider, then our choices. What choices do we make that greatly affects our lives…?

Choosing to follow Jesus. The one that will affect your life more than any other!. It will determine your place in eternity. It will have a bearing on every other choice you make; for as a follower of Christ you will be concerned with doing His will, not your own.
Choosing your career. The choice you make can have a lasting effect upon your marriage, family, and your service to God. Even from a worldly viewpoint, your choice is important, for the job market can change drastically.
Choosing your mate. The decision made will to a great extent determine your degree of happiness in this life. It will have a permanent bearing on your children and their emotional well-being! You may think you can simply divorce a person who turns out to be a bad choice. But once you have children, there is no way to reverse the choice you made as to who is the mother or father of your children!
Choosing your friends. Having close friends can be a wonderful blessing - Pro 17:17. But the wrong friends can be a curse for the righteous - Pro 12:26; 1 Co 15:33. Choosing where you will live. It was in this choice that Lot made his mistake. It might just be there are some modern-day “Sodoms” and “Gomorrahs”!

How can we more likely make the right choices...? We can ask God for wisdom - Ja 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” We can seek advice from others - Pro 11:14 “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”; 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Discuss your alternatives with older, mature Christians. Consult the wisdom found in the Bible (especially in a book like Proverbs). Whatever you do, do it for the Lord’s sake - Psa 37:5-6 “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”, 23-26 “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.”; Ja 4:15 “Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."’

What should we do when we realize our choice was wrong…? Do what Lot did... Heed the word of God (as in fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah). Do what is right without reservation (remember Lot’s wife!). Do what Peter did after he denied Christ... Repent, if there is sin involved in the choice made. Resolve to serve the Lord. Do what Paul did after persecuting the church... Accept the forgiveness Jesus provides. Determine to live for the Lord the rest of your life to the best of your ability. The wrong thing to do is to continue in the choice because of pride or some other reason! (although there are some choices we must live with...).

The example of Lot should serve to teach us that making the proper decision is very important. Lot’s example should warn us not to make our choices lightly. Remember Lot the next time you are faced with an important decision.... Seek to make that decision based upon the will of the Lord and not your own. Your eternal destiny (and that of those you love) might rest upon your choice!

Have you made the most important decision you will ever face? Have you made the decision to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not today? - Mt 28:19-20; Ac 2:38