Tuesday: Lot’s Bad Decisions
When Abram left his homeland in response to God’s call, his nephew Lot chose to go with him on his pilgrimage. Genesis 13:1-18 records that God blessed Abram to the point that he “was very rich in cattle [the primary measure of wealth in that culture], in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2). Lot also “had flocks, and herds, and tents” (Genesis 13:5). They both became so wealthy with their extensive livestock herds that they could not dwell close together. In order to avoid strife between their herdsmen, Abram offered Lot the choice of where he would like to live. Of course, Lot should have deferred to Abram, his senior, and because he owed his own prosperity to his connection to him. However, he showed no gratitude to his benefactor and selfishly wanted what he considered the best land available.
Read Genesis 13:10-12. What rational factors could have led Lot to make the decision that he did?
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However easily Lot could have justified his decision to move to the city, things didn’t turn out so great for him there, and when Abram heard about what happened to him, he didn’t say, “Well, too bad, Lot. You reap what you sow.” Instead, he came to his rescue (see Genesis 14:1-24).
Sometimes in our quest for more stuff, we don’t learn our lessons well. Lot moved right back into Sodom! But in His great mercy, God sent messengers of warning to Lot and his family, letting them know of the pending destruction of these cities.
Read Genesis 18:20-33. What did God tell Abraham was the reason for His visit to earth? What was Abraham’s response to the news that God was planning to destroy these wicked cities?
Because of Abraham’s concern for Lot and his family, he bargained with God to spare the cities if righteous people could be found in them. He started with 50 and went down to 10. In harmony with His character of love, God never stopped granting mercy until Abraham stopped asking! God and the two angels personally delivered Lot, his wife, and two daughters. But his wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Lot entered Sodom a wealthy man and came out with almost nothing. How careful we need to be about the kind of decisions that we make, especially thinking only of short-term gains in contrast to the big picture (see Mark 8:36-37).
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To be honest, I don't like big cities. I live 100 km north of Sydney and I can visit it any time I like for a $2.50 return train ticket. I don't go there very often though and I would hate to live there. Big cities smell of grinding steel and garbage that has been left out too long. They sound like an accident with the intermittent wail of sirens. And the people walk past you with that fixed "no contact" stare in the concrete canyons that either trap the heat in summer or funnel the cold wind in the winter. I am aware that there are 5 million people who think differently and who love living in Sydney. (It is actually quite a nice place - for a city.)
But the lesson today is not really about the choice of city vs country living is it? I am sure that if the decision had been the other way around, Abraham would have made good choices once he got there. The real issue is about what is the motivation for making choices. There is nothing wrong about making a choice that is to your advantage, but not at the expense of others. As always it is what is in the heart that counts.
Psalm 51 is a prayer about this topic. I recommend that you read all of it. The keystone of this prayer is:
Our natural inclination is to make decisions based on "what's in it for me?" Good decisions work on the principle that benefiting others ultimately benefits us all. Sometimes we are slow learners.
Thank you, Maurice. Psalm 51 is a favorite of mine.
We need to be incredibly careful about short-term decisions when considering the big picture. The Bible teaches us that prioritizing short-term gains over wisdom and thoughtfulness can have dire long-term consequences (Mark 8:36-37). We need to think carefully and consider both short-term and long-term impacts before making any decision. We should also seek God’s guidance and wisdom, and remember that He sees the whole picture and knows what is best in the long run.
It is informative to observe the similarity between what Lot does in Genesis 13:10 and what Eve did in Genesis 3:6. They both "looked and saw" something that was emotionally appealing and then followed (ie, indulged) that pathway as a 'passenger' from then on. Ellen White well describes this phenomenon as passion dethroning reason. In neuroscience terms, this is being carried along by subconsciously-initiated* impulses rather than by conscious and intentional consideration and choice of what ultimately is beneficial versus what is detrimental.
In light of the above awarenesses, the principle being referred to by Solomon in Proverbs 14:12 makes perfect sense. And Paul's 'advice' regarding what is necessary for those who want to live in harmony with God's Kingdom also makes perfect sense. Bringing every (subconscious) thought/impulse captive to conscious awareness and consideration where the Spirit will assist with evaluation of that thought/impulse (2 Corinthians 10:5; John 16:8) is vitally necessary so that Proverbs 14:12 is avoided.
I have unpacked the above a bit to assist understanding of how we often end up on a detrimental course of re-action rather than beneficial action. It is not so much that we consciously and intentionally make a bad choice - though this is possible and may be the case sometimes. However, more commonly we fail to do what is necessary to consciously and intentionally make a good choice and in so doing, by default under humanity's fallen tendency, get swept up in a detrimental 'choice' that our subconscious makes for us and serves up as an impulse to be carried out (see Romans 7:17 on this point).
By practicing bringing every though captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), in co-operation with the empowering of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), we progressively become transformed from the pattern of this world to the pattern of God's Kingdom via the progressive renewal of our mind (Romans 12:2).
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* Our subconscious appears to focus exclusively on the potential benefits of a course of action whilst ignoring the associated costs. In contrast, mature functioning of the conscious looks at the whole package - benefits and costs and carefully considers these in light of other potential options (as per 2 Corinthians 10:5). Being led by our subconscious is essentially effortless, whereas utilising our conscious is considerably more effortful - especially when needing to enact restraint against the pull of habitual, subconscious impulses.
Thanks for this Phil. So how do we actually do this in practical terms?
It seems to me it's a matter of "guarding the avenues of the soul," as one author put it - the avenues of the soul being our senses.
To bring "every thought captive," we would need to consciously decide what sort of things we allow into our minds through the avenues of the eyes, the ears, the taste, the touch and sense of smell.
We need to decide not to allow our eyes to see things (think popular media and literature) that would influence us contrary to the ways of God. We need to guard our ears in the matter of music as well as talk that would draw us away from God. The sense of taste and smell can cause us to consume harmful substances or too much of "good" things to harm our bodies. Touch makes me think of physical closeness (sexual or otherwise) that might beguile us into agreeing with someone who might draw us away from God.
Phil. 4:8 could be helpful....
What do you think?
Lot chose what it seemed at the time as the best looking place to live. Although he was younger than Abram, he chose first. He was looking to preserve (or gain more) what he had. But later, this choice made him lose everything.
Abram chose to have faith in God!
Because of my lack of experience, sometimes I just look to my own senses and choose based on what I feel; it's a parameter. Self-confidence is important, but it's necessary to unite it with trust in the Lord! When God comes first, the rest falls into the perfect place.
It’s nice to see several people posting for today’s lesson. Everyone’s comments have been thought provoking. What has been on my heart lately is there is no better place to get advice on what we think, eat, wear, behave than the Bible. Psalm 119:9
To not only study His Word but to live it!
One of Gutenberg’s Bibles is estimated to be worth 50 million US dollars. The first 2 owners of it put it on the shelf after buying and looking at it and never read it again.
We have this powerful book in our possession and if we truly read and believe it, there is nothing more important in this world than that.
Lot’s wife never would have been turned into a pillar of salt if Lot had not pitched his tent towards Sodom. That just goes to show how our decisions influence other people as well. Now it’s totally possible that Lot’s wife is the one who wanted him to pitch his tent towards Sodom, but either way, the fact remains that if Lot had done the right thing, his wife would never have been turned into a pillar of salt.
Both Lot and his wife reaped what they sowed. It is tragic to think of the consequences they endured, but it definitely is an opportunity for us to consider that Lot’s choices in the beginning to want his preference before his uncle’s preference is the beginning part of the tragedy. When we put others first and seek not to be involved in places where there is evil (not including city ministry) we are putting a hedge around our families. We are putting a hedge around our brain.
The devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We have to be on the offensive with him. We must be intentional about our thoughts, how we think of others, what we think about and do when no one is looking. Brother Earnhardt, when you posted about how you ruined Satan’s day by rejoicing, that has changed my life. That is how we can be on the offensive, just like Paul and Silas when they were singing praises to God in jail.
To bathe everyday in singing praises to Jesus is exactly what will invite God’s presence in our lives. It will help sweeten the atmosphere and bring obedience where there was rebellion, faith where there was doubt, purity where there was lust, love where there was anger, joy when there was pain and forgiveness where there was bitterness.
God bless all of you! And may today bring us one step closer to Jesus.
Amen! Be blessed. Our choices determine our destiny. Gal. 6:7 says, Do not be deceived, for what a man sows is what a man reaps. Let us make more beneficial decisions for a better future.