Genesis 12:1- Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
But, like most people today, Abram decided to obey God his way. He took his nephew, Lot, with him. But, as it always is, doing things our way brings consequences and complications.
Genesis 13:5-7- And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
First, Abram and Lot's servants started to fight! This caused so many problems that Abram realized they needed to separate. It's funny how people have to go through fights and problems before they realize God's way was the best way! Sometimes, we can't fix what we've done- and Abram had to watch Lot go through more because of his selfish decision.
Genesis 13:8-9, 12- And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
So, Abram and Lot separated. Lot decided to go toward Sodom. But, Lot made a mistake. You see, the people we hang around are the ones we become like. If we hang around people who spend money foolishly, we will be tempted to spend our money foolishly. If we hang around people who talk baldy, we will be tempted to talk badly.
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17- Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Genesis 13:13- But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Lot started hanging around with wicked men. Pretty soon, he was living in the city of Sodom. And he was around their wicked ways every day!
Genesis 18:20-21- And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
Sodom was so wicked, that the Lord decided to go see what was going on. He told Abram that he going to destroy Sodom if it was truly that wicked.
Abram knew that Lot had moved into Sodom, and he was afraid Lot would be destroyed with the city. So, Abram pleaded with God to spare the city if there were some righteous people in it.
Genesis 18:32-33- And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Abraham asked God to spare the city if 50 were righteous in it, and then wittled it down to 10! Just 10 righteous people! Surely, Lot had witnessed to someone!
Genesis 19:1- And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Lot met the angels the Lord sent and invited them home with him. But, the men of the city tried to attack them! The Lord saw that the city was wicked, and he knew he had to destroy it. But, the Lord was merciful to Abraham, and he decided to save Lot and his family!
Genesis 19:12-13- And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
Lot tried to gather up his children so they wouldn't be destroyed. But, like the verse above said, they became like their friends.
Genesis 19:14-And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
His daughters and sons in law thought he had gone crazy! They liked sinning. They didn't want to repent. They didn't want to leave their friends. And so, they had to face the judgement of God!
Genesis 19:15- And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
Lot didn't want to leave because he had family and friends here. But the Lord was merciful to him,because of Abraham, and the angels dragged him, his wife, and his 2 daughters that lived at home out of the city.
Genesis 19:29, 16-17- 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. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Genesis 19:23-25- The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
God destroyed everything that Lot had. Remember, he was a rich man with cattle and servants. He lost it all when God destroyed Sodom!
But, the most heart-breaking thing he lost was his wife. You see, his wife was feeling bad about what she was losing. Perhaps it was her children that she left behind, or maybe it was her friends or her posessions. I'm not sure what it was she missed, but...
Genesis 19:26- But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
God's judgement came on Lot's wife. She escaped the destruction of Sodom, only to be turned into a pillar of salt!
Christ warned people, while he was on the earth not to try to hold onto the world.
Luke 17:31-33- In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
If you try to keep your worldy life, you will lose your life just like Lot's wife. But, if you're willing to obey God and give up your worldy life, you will find blessing of the Lord that are worth more than what you gave up!
