Genesis 13

Genesis 13 verses 1 - 18

The story of Abraham and Lot.

Abraham was an outstanding man of God, had a wonderful testimony.  He was an idolater.  He lived in Ur of Chaldees and did not worship the true and living God.  God called him out of that idolatry.  God spoke to Abraham but he revealed it one step at a time.  In verses 4 and 18 the most important thing in Abraham`s life was the altar, the place where Abraham met with God.  This was the place where he yielded to God, was sold out to God and did what God wanted him to do.  Abraham built up an amazing relationship with God.  God led him on a great pilgrimage.  God entered into a great covenant with Abraham to bless him and give him a great land.

Lot was weak in his devotion.  He never had an altar in his life.  We do read of him plotting, scheming and moving on for himself.  He was selfish in his devotions - verse 11.  He made a choice without seeking God.  As he looked out on the plains of Jordan he wanted what he saw.  He was also wayward in his desires.  He pitched his tent toward Sodom until he got nearer and nearer and eventually was living in Sodom.  He was wrong in his decisions.  In chapter 19 we see 2 angels came to take Lot out of Sodom.  Lot was a man that had been brought up and accompanied a man of faith on his journey.  He was given a choice by Abraham.  Because of Lot`s ungodliness and unselfishness he got nearer to Sodom until eventually he ended up in Sodom.  "he waxed his righteous soul from day to day" 2 Peter 2 verse 8.  Lot was given a choice to come out of Sodom but he lingered.  Are we lingering to do what God wants us to do?  The angels had to take Lot by the hand and drag him out of where he shouldn`t have been.  His wife didn`t want to leave the city, she looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.  Lot tried to warn his sons-in-law but he seemed as one who mocked unto them.  He had lost his testimony.  Is our word believed and accepted today without hesitation?  Because of Lot`s weakness of his devotional life and the waywardness of his desires he made the wrong decisions.  He was saved by the skin of his teeth out of Sodom - Lot is a warning to us all!