Abraham and Lot Day 2

You will need your Bible today.

After becoming so wealthy that the land could not support them both together, Abram gave Lot the pick of the land. Lot who was young and ambitious choose the land that looked the best and offered opportunities for trade and to further increase his wealth.

"So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company; Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom." Genesis 13:11 & 12

While Abram trusted God to prosper him where ever he went, Lot trusted his eyes and went where he was sure he would prosper. Unfortunately looks can be deceiving. While the land may have been lush the area was already gaining a reputation.

"Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD." Genesis 13:13

Please read Genesis 14:1-24

Lot was more concerned with what could benefit him financially then what could harm him morally. When the 4 kings attacked, Lot was no longer living outside of Sodom, he'd moved inside and was guilty by association.

A major theme in the New Testament is sanctification; it means to be made holy, devoted to God. The main idea it that something that is sanctified is set apart from what is common.* Christians are supposed to stand out, be different from those around us.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

(We often associate this verse specifically with marriage but it should be applied to all our close relationships)

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:15

God wants us to be in the world as salt and light, showing the world who Jesus is. When we are immersed in the culture and become part of this world, its much harder to maintain your saltiness, and brightness. The tendency is to become tolerant, or desensitized and remain silent about sin. The world sees Christian silence as condoning sin, not tolerance.

Abram on the other hand had separated himself from the "world" and chose to dwell where he could hear God. (Interestingly Hebron means communion or fellowship**) God blessed him not only by renewing the promise of the land, but when Lot's choice led to trouble, God gave Abram the victory.

God wants us to be holy, set apart and distinct from the world. He does not want us to disengage from the world. Abram may have gone after the 4 kings to rescue his nephew, but he saved everyone. His heart was still tender.

Sometimes we think of being separate from the world as being above it, but that's not God's intention. Jesus, who was with God at Creation and is God, came to earth as a man. He didn't lord over men, but became a servant offering himself as the perfect sacrifice for our salvation. He ate dinner with tax collectors and spoke to women with bad reputations because He loved them and wanted them to be made whole, but His most intimate relationships were with His disciples. They are the ones He spent time with, fellowshipped with, and lived with.

We need to imitate Christ; be in this world and love it but not be like it.





* Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible NIV. Chattanooga, TN. AMG Publishers 1996. pg 1572

** Courson, Jon. Application Commentary: Old Testament Vol. 1. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson. 2005. pg. 63