The Greener Grass Trap: What Lot’s Choice Teaches Us About God’s Will
Today’s Passages – Genesis 13 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 9 – 10; Proverbs 5; Psalms 21 – 25)
Read the “0105 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105
Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Plain Stupid;” “Back to Square One – Almost;” “Balanced and Biblical Separation;” “Relationships are More Important than Riches;” “Who is Melchizedek;” and “Good Friends are Hard to Come By.”
Have you ever been tempted to move for a better job, bigger house, or more exciting city—only to wonder later if you left God’s best behind?
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” (Genesis 13:10)
“But the men of Sodom were wicked before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13)
Returning from Egypt: Contrasting Desires
Have you ever been tempted to move for a better job, bigger house, or more exciting city—only to wonder later if you left God’s best behind?
The story of Lot is really a sad one. Lot came from the same stock as Abraham, lived in the same places, seemingly had the same training and influences; yet Lot had dreams and desires that were diametrically opposite to those of Abraham. In the account given us here in Genesis 13, we see Abraham and Lot both returning from a time of sojourning in Egypt. Egypt was certainly a busy place loaded with people. It had culture, education, and more pleasures than Lot had ever seen. Abraham had his fill of the big city. He wanted to get back to the place in Canaan where he built an altar for the Lord; the place where God promised to bless him. You see, Abraham finally realized that he didn’t need all of the excitement of the big city – he just needed God.
Have you ever found yourself missing the ‘excitement’ of your old life before Christ?
Strife Over the Land
Not long after they returned to Canaan, the land of promise, it seemed that Lot and Abraham began to fuss about the size of land their cattle were grazing on and whether or not it was big enough to provide for both of their herds. These men were both already very wealthy, yet it seems that Lot wanted more. Maybe he was tired of living under the shadow of Uncle Abraham. Maybe he didn’t like all of those righteous rules that Abraham governed his home by. Lot missed Egypt. He missed the exhilaration of the city life. Abraham senses Lot’s frustration and offers to let Lot separate from him. I am sure he divided up the livestock and sent Lot away with plenty. He also gives Lot the pick of the surrounding land. He told Lot that if he chose east, he would go west. You see, Abraham didn’t need what this world could offer him: he only needed God. It seems that he had learned much from the errors of his previous move into Egypt.
The Lure of Sodom
Lot, however, decides that Sodom is the place he ought to raise his family. I believe that there were three attractions that lured Lot to Sodom:
1 There were lots of people in Sodom. Now there is nothing wrong with people. I love people and, more importantly, God loves people. Jesus died to save people. However, it seems that whenever you get a lot of people grouped together in one place, wickedness just pours right in. Verse 13 tells us that Sodom was an exceedingly wicked place. Lot should have been repulsed by it, yet instead he was enamored by it. By the way, his attraction to this large number of people was clearly not for the purpose of evangelizing them. We will learn later in chapter 19 that Lot influences no one in the city for God.
2 There was a lot of pleasure in Sodom. He said it reminded him of Egypt. The Bible tells us that there is pleasure in sin for a season; but the wages of that kind of pleasure is death. Lot was attracted to the fast life.
3 Thirdly, we see that Sodom was a place of wealth and prosperity. There was plenty of money in Sodom. It was well watered. The livestock would do well there. Lot saw the chance to make some good money: maybe even a little more than ole Uncle Abe. Again, there is nothing wrong with money. I like what money can buy; but the love of money is the root of all evil. Lot wasn’t really concerned with the wickedness because all he could see was the dollars.
Which of these—people, pleasure, or prosperity—tempts you most today?
Don’t Chase Greener Grass
Through the years, I have seen a lot of saved people (remember, the Bible calls him “just Lot”) make the same mistake that Lot made. They leave the place of blessing where God is protecting them and providing for them, only to trade it in for a place where they think the grass is “well-watered.” My pastor in Bible College used to say that the grass may look greener, but it just might be artificial turf. Be very careful that you stay inside the perfect will of God. Don’t trade in the spiritual, eternal blessings for the temporary pleasures of this world.
This week, pray about any ‘Sodom’ temptations in your life—and share in the comments how God is speaking to you.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Genesis and tagged Abraham, Christian living, contentment, Genesis 13, God's will, Gomorrah, greener grass, Lot, Prosperity Gospel, Sodom, worldly temptation by Phil Erickson with 5 comments.
Full Disclosure
Today’s Passage – Genesis 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 7 – 8; Proverbs 4; Psalms 16 – 20)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1
Read the 0104 Evening and Morning devotion for today by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this passage – “Finding, Obeying, and Staying in the Place of God’s Will;” “Don’t Move Unless God Moves You;“ “The Beginning of Globalism; ” “The Land Belongs to Israel;” and “The Earth was Divided.”
Have you ever lied to get yourself out of some type of trouble. In our text, Abram (Abraham) lied to Pharaoh by telling him that Sarai (Sarah) was his sister:
“10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. 14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.” (Gen 12:10-20)
Technically speaking, Abraham was accurate when he said that Sarai was his sister because she was his half-sister, the daughter of his father Terah. However, he was leaving out a big part of his relationship with Sarai and was not being completely truthful. The half-truth that Abraham told here and again in Genesis 20, this time to Abimelech, was the cause of many problems for Abraham’s family and for the people that he was lying to. Really, it represented a lack of faith on the part of Abraham to trust God to deliver his family from difficult situations even when he fully disclosed his relationship with Sarai.
I have a few thoughts about this passage:
A Legitimate Fear
Abraham was right to be concerned about his family’s welfare in Egypt. Egypt was a dangerous place, and it certainly was a possibility that the Pharaoh would kill Abraham to steal his wife.
Have you ever faced a legitimate fear that tested your trust in God’s provision?
A Questionable Decision: Leaving Canaan
Abraham should not have gone to Egypt in the first place. He had just been told by God that Canaan was the land that God was going to give Abraham. When the famine came, however, Abraham’s faith in God’s ability to feed him through the famine was tested, and Abraham followed his own human wisdom instead and went into Egypt where food was more plentiful.
The Dangers Involved in Abraham’s Plan
Abraham premeditated and colluded with Sarai to not disclose to anybody in Egypt that Sarai was his wife. I wonder if Abraham would have allowed other men to sleep with his wife if he felt that was necessary for his own protection?
The Better Way: Trusting God’s Protection
- Abraham did not have to volunteer any information regarding his relationship with Sarai, but when he was asked, he should have fully disclosed that she was his wife. God would have protected and blessed him anyway. God is more powerful than any earthly king.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Pro 3:5-6)
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Pro 21:1)
It used to be when people were summoned to be a witness in a court of law, they had to swear to “tell the whole truth.” They had to give a full disclosure of whatever they were called upon to be a witness to. It has been my observation that in our society there is a lack of transparency in most people. They are hiding things about themselves because they are afraid of the negative outcome that might be produced if people were to find out. I have discovered that it is best to be completely honest with people; to let them see the real you, even with all the flaws and warts. However, the good news is, even when our faith falters (and it will), God’s faithfulness doesn’t—He protected Abraham and Sarai despite the half-truth, just as He covers us in our weakness.
Have you ever been tempted to withhold part of the truth out of fear? What happened when you chose full honesty instead? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Share this post with someone who needs encouragement to trust God fully.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Genesis and tagged Abraham, Abram, faith vs. fear, full disclosure, Genesis, Genesis 12, half-truths, honesty, lies, Sarah, transparency, trusting God by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.