Abram was a different man from the one who was
self-serving in Egypt. There he tried to preserve his own life at the expanse
of Sarai his wife. So he deceptively made Pharaoh think that Sarai was his
sister and not his wife. God protected Sarai and his deception was uncovered.
He and his entourage was then expelled from Egypt. But when we come to his
dealing with Lot, we see a very different man. He showed great magnanimity and even
gave Lot the first choice to the land, in order to prevent conflict and misunderstanding.
Hence they parted way peacefully. How magnanimous can one get? Abram then
settled in Hebron where he built an altar to God. Obviously he led a worshipful
life making God central in all he did. Lot, on the other hand, pitched his tent
near Sodom. And in his pursue of prosperity, according to verse 12, he went to
Sodom and lived there.
In 2 Peter 2:7, Lot was said to be righteous. This
could be true while he was with Abram and was rightly influenced. But in pursuant
of prosperity, he was blind-ended by his ill-conceived love for wealth. He departed
and went to stay in Sodom. He was clearly oblivious of the danger lurking in that
city. He was exposed to all kinds of wicked and insidious influence and he did
not even know it. Like Lot, Christians can also live life wearing a blinker. Instead
of seeking the plan and purpose of God, Christians would put their focus on the
things of this world and riches, and become hedonistic in the process. It pays for
us to be careful.
Lot made a wrong calculation, and he lived to
regret it. He came to live in Sodom which was a city that was part of a group
of five cities, each ruled by a king. For twelve years these confederation of five
cities had been paying tribute to a coalition of four kings from the east. But on
the 13th year they rebelled and refused to do what they would do annually. So a
war was provoked with the coalition of four who were seeking what they felt was
due to them. To cut he long story short, the invasion led by king Chedorlaomer captured
the five rebellious city. We are told in verse 12 that Lot, Abram’s nephew, was
captured as well. Whatever he had, became the spoils of war of the coalition of
four led by Chedorlaomer.
Surely when Lot was with Abram, he must have seen
how God had blessed his uncle. And he must have also known that he was blessed because
of his association with Abram. Now by a wrong move, Lot chose to try to make it
big without his uncle. So he went to Sodom chasing his dream. But alas, his dream
brought him to danger that he did not want. He settled in the sinful city and
was sucked into the mire of wickedness. This account of Lot serves as a
reminder to us that seeking God and following Him to fulfil His plan for our
life is paramount. Never be upended by a love for riches. We can never be any richer
than when we are in the protective hedge of our loving Lord. Here’s a warning
from 1 John 2:15-16, “Do not love the world
nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh
and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from
the Father, but is from the world.”
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