“Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.”-Genesis 13:10-13
After having watched someone make a mistake, have you ever gone on to make the exact same mistake that they made? The whole precedent that led Abraham to Egypt was the allure of a beautiful land that could meet their immediate physical needs.
Upon being given the option to choose, Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley. Although he doesn’t know it now, that long look was going to be the genesis of a lot of issues in his life. He gazed upon the land and saw that it was well watered and compared it to the garden of the Lord or (believe it or not) to the land of Egypt. However, rather than consult the Lord, he chose for himself, the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He pitched his tents near Sodom, and even though the people of that area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord, Lot’s decision was made with his eyes. He saw what looked to be a prospering land and chose it for himself. Even though the wickedness that abounded there would eventually bring God’s judgment, Lot chose to stay.
“Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.”-2 Peter 2:8
Sodom vexed Lot’s soul, yet he didn’t choose to leave. God would have to ultimately rescue Lot before judging this sinful city, but it will cost Lot greatly. Lot’s choice begs this question: What moral compromises are we willing to tolerate to maintain our lifestyle? Sometimes God sends people to difficult places to be a conduit of the gospel to those living in darkness. However, that is not the case with Lot. He wasn’t there to evangelize and win the people of Sodom to the Lord. He was there for economic reasons. He was prospering financially and overlooking much to do it. And although Lot camped outside of Sodom when he first arrived, later we will find him moved fully into the city itself. When we stay settled too long in sin’s backyard, it’s not long before we are living inside. Lot was seduced by Sodom. It appeared to have everything Lot was looking for. It was spacious, well-watered, and prosperous. However, it was also sinful and wicked. Lot made a choice to stay and endure the wickedness so that he could benefit from the resources.
Sodom was a microcosm of Egypt. Egypt was like the Jordan Valley but on a much larger scale and although many people would contend they would never get caught up by the allure of Egypt, they are often seduced on a smaller scale by the seduction of Sodom. We have a tendency to justify moral compromises when they are small compared to bigger more blatant acts. But whether big or small: Moral compromises begin when a heart settles too close to sin. Lot chose to pitch his tent near Sodom, but Abraham chose to listen to God.
“After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants[a] as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.”-Genesis 13:14-18
Because Abraham chose to trust God for his provision, God reminded Abraham of the covenant He had made with him. God spoke to Abraham where he had once been silent. Abraham moved his camp and settled away from Sodom. Although going without knowing will cause us to have to trust God even when things don’t look promising, we can be certain that God’s plans and promise will never require moral compromises from you.
Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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