Study 4: Lot - Blessings Received And Lost - CHARACTER STUDY SERIES

Study 4: Lot - Blessings Received And Lost - CHARACTER STUDY SERIES

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT: Lot was the son of Haran, the brother of Abraham. At the death of Haran, Lot was left in the charge of Abraham and he accompanied him and Sarah to the land of Canaan. (Genesis 11:28, 31, Genesis 12:4-5, 13:1).He was with Abraham and Sarah when they went into Egypt and back again to Canaan, and he was like a son to them.

It is true that when God's favor and blessing are upon a man, it spreads to members of his household. (Job 1:6-10, Genesis19:29). God formed an edge round them such that Satan could not penetrate.

Through Abraham, Lot knew and worshipped Jehovah. One can observe that the grace blessing of God in the life of Abraham spread to the life of Lot for he also was rich in cattle and increased greatly, Genesis13:5, Genesis 12:7-9, Genesis 18:19.

The Bible says that the land was not able to bear them that they might dwell together ... and there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abraham's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. And Abraham said unto Lot, let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee and between my herdsmen and thy herd men ... if thou will take the left hand, then I will go to the right or if thou depart to the right , l will go to the left. Genesis 13:5-9. It is noteworthy at this point that Abraham had trained and supported Lot until he also became rich in cattle.

"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." - Genesis 13:10-13

INSIGHT:

• When the allocation of anything is being made in a family, naturally, elders have the right to choose first.
• It seems in ancient family setting, children and parents up to the grand and great grand parents live together until death. Consider the stay of Abraham with Terah his father until his death. Genesis l1:31-32.
• Children of God should always seek divine guidance through prayer and the word of God, because not all that glitters is gold. The Bible says: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5 (Psalm 37:5, Jeremiah10:23).

It is a pity to observe that Lot was not thoughtful and prayerful in the choice of land, and in deciding to go down to live in Sodom. Compare the prayer attitude of Abraham's servant with the prayerless decision that Lot took. Genesis 24:10-14, Genesis 26-27. In making the choice of anything in life, let us always consider first our spiritual wellbeing and the will of God first. The Bible says: "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." - 1 Corinthians 6:12. (1 Corinthians 10:23). He did not reverence the elder position of Abraham as his uncle, but was carried away by his eager desire to get richer.

His first experience in Sodom was that he became a war captive. Though he was not living in sin, he was not where his spiritual life could be enhanced. Again the ungodly life in Sodom weakened the consecration of his wife that made her disobey the angel by looking back, so she was turned into a pillar of salt. The same influence could have made his daughters to get him drunk in order to commit immorality with him. (Genesis 14:11-12; 1 Corinthians 15:33, Genesis 19:31-38.)

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by God with fire is like when God will try our work by fire to know of what sort it is. The work of Lot could not stand God's test. He lost all he took to Sodom and that which He got there, including his wife, though he himself was saved (1 Corinthians 3:13 -15).

MEMORY VERSE: "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." - 1 Corinthians 3:13

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