Jeff Adams

You remember the Abraham and Lot story, right? Abram, as he was first called, has just come back from Egypt after taking refuge there in a time of famine. In Genesis 13 it becomes apparent that the combined and expanding flocks of Abram and his nephew Lot are seriously taxing the land.

Lot has been along since the original migration from Mesopotamia (Iran/Iraq), but this is the first glimpse scripture gives us into his character. Rising tensions between shepherds for both men and other herders in the area bring matters to a head.

Abram wisely decides that something has to be done. He offers Lot first choice of the area he desires for his flocks. Whatever he chooses, Abram will go in the opposite direction in order to maintain peace in the family. Lot chooses the obvious best option – the rich Jordan Valley. As things would turn out, this is great for his herds, but probably not the best choice for raising his children.

Many years pass and both men prosper in spite of significant challenges, including the first “war” recorded in the Bible between two coalitions of local kings.  Abram rescues his nephew after he is kidnapped in the battle for control of Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot calls home. Abraham continues his journey of faith, growing by God’s grace and learning from his mistakes.

Abraham is still living the nomadic life in Genesis 18, when heavenly visitors arrive at his tent to announce the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to unbridled sin and perversion. Abraham intercedes for the righteous living there.  His prayer is answered.

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. (Genesis 19:29)

What I find fascinating is the commentary on this story that is offered in Peter’s second epistle.

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. (2 Peter 2:6-7)

God spares Lot from destruction and calls him just or righteous! Can you believe that! By this time his life is a disaster and getting worse. Lot lived the good life of Sodom for quite a time. Now, with the destruction of his city of choice, he looses his h9me, his influence, his wife and everything he has. He doesn’t even have the credibility to convince his sons-in-law to flee the coming doom. Soon, he will fall into incest with his daughters.

There is an obvious disconnect between God’s use of the term just and the reality of Lot’s earthly existence. This is much like the credibility gap between those who have put their trust in the Gospel for eternal life yet contradict their faith daily with the way they live out their lives.  Lot lacks integrity and it seems everything points back to his choice of the best land for himself. From this moment forward, his life begins to spiral downward.

Here’s the question that occurs to me. What would I have chosen had I been Lot? Would the “spiritual” decision have been to choose the worst land for me so Abram could have the best, giving deference to the elder? Or, would it have been possible to have worked out some compromise or alternative? Perhaps they could have instituted some sort of rotation system.

At the very least this causes me to think about the importance of the decisions and choices we make in life and the lasting and extended consequences they bring. Maybe what I can take away from this is the idea of making choices by considering not my own potential benefit, but the benefits to the Kingdom of God.