The Lot Lesson - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) April 26, 2024

As human beings, we are tasked with making many decisions. What to eat or wear, for example. There are so many decisions and micro-decisions that we get used to making choices by ourselves and soon ignore that God is supposed to guide us on even the smallest decisions.

Lot's experience is a great reminder that no matter how intelligent we are or how simple a decision may appear, we need the Lord to direct us. The most insignificant choices could have the most significant impacts on ourselves and others.

Genesis 13 tells us that at one point, he and his uncle Abraham lived together, their herds of animals (and wealth) growing in numbers. That, however, led to quarrels between their herdsmen. Genesis 13:8-9 - So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Lot chose to live near Sodom and Gomorrah because the land in that area was "well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt" (Genesis 13:10).

Seemed like a straightforward choice, correct? Most of us would have done the same. However, this choice was ultimately disastrous for Lot and his family.

Firstly, when war broke out between the King of Elam and some lesser kings (which included the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah), Lot, his family, and his possessions were captured. Fortunately, and by God's grace, Abram was able to rescue them from captivity.

Things worsened when God sent His judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah for the people's sins. Angels visited Lot telling him to get his family far away to escape the coming punishment. Sadly, his sons-in-law ignored the warning and chose to stay behind losing their lives in the process. Lot's wife turned to see the destruction, despite being instructed not to do so. She became a pillar of salt. His two daughters decided that there were no men to have children with, and tricked their father into sleeping with them. With this Lot also lost his dignity.

That choice of a well-watered area that looked capable of increasing his wealth proved to be destruction for Lot and his family. In the end, he left that land with his life and not much more. It is easy to dismiss Lot's story and think this could never happen to us, but a lack of wisdom and pride creates great risk (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Every Christian must slow down and invite God into their decisions. We need to seek His direction so we don't make a choice that seems easy in the short term but costs us dearly in the long run. We are so blessed to have Jesus who serves as our High Priest and intercessor at the right hand of God. He has assured that all who call on Him will receive His help. He has taught us how to seek God in prayer by giving us the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6. And, He's given all who believe the Holy Spirit so they walk with the Spirit of the Lord everywhere they go.

These gifts shouldn't be squandered but treasured and put into practice in faith. We may think there isn't enough time to seek God's face on everything but once we start, we'll soon learn that He will ensure we have the time to receive guidance. We'll notice that as we open our Bibles the answers are already waiting. He'll also tell us what is to come so we are prepared. All because God wants us to walk in His light. He wants His people to experience success and goodness in all areas of their lives.

And by His grace, we will cultivate the habit of looking to Him before we make the big and small choices that can determine the course of the rest of our lives. Praise the Lord.​