LOT GOES TO SODOM

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It is Abram who makes the division. It took a big man to tell Lot this. In other words, Abram is saying that Lot could choose what he wanted and Abram would take what was left.

Genesis 13:10-13 KJV

[10] And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

[11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

[12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

[13] But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

Genesis 13:10 KJV

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

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“The lust of the eyes”. That was a beautiful spot in those days.

Abram’s and Lot’s large herds of animals made it impossible for them to continue to occupy the same area. Abram has suggested they split up and settle in different parts of the land around Bethel.

Rather than insisting on his right, as the patriarch, to choose his own territory, Abram gives his nephew Lot the first choice of what land to claim.

Lot surveyed the land. It was clear the Jordan valley was a lush, fruitful region. As Abram and company had learned during the famine described in the previous chapter, access to water was essential in this land.

The region Lot would choose had abundant water resources. The text describes the area as being like the garden of the Lord—a reference to Eden—and like the land of Egypt around the Nile.

Ominously, though, the writer points out that this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, foreshadowing events that would come later in the book (Genesis 19).

At this time, the reputation of these two cities was clearly established (Genesis 13:13). This means Lot’s choice involves two aspects: personal gain and spiritual risk.

Sadly, for Lot, the decision to move near to Sodom will lead to a life inside of Sodom, and the loss of virtually all he has (Genesis 19).

Genesis 13:11 KJV

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

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Lot didn’t seem to realize, as most don’t realize, that he was blessed by God because of Abraham.

He should have said to Abraham, that whatever the Patriarch desired, that’s what he desired.

But instead, he chose for himself, and as the future will prove, chose very unwisely.

When he separated himself from Abraham, he separated himself from the Blessing.

To resolve recurring conflicts caused by sharing limited resources, Abram approached Lot and suggested they move in two different directions to occupy different areas of the land.

Abram gave Lot the first choice of where to settle. This was a generous gesture, since Abram was the older and more entitled member of the family.

The previous verse describes the best spot, the well-watered plain along the Jordan river. Lot surveyed it, and now he chooses it for himself. Some have suggested this was a selfish choice, but the text does not say so.

Lot simply received the generous gift Abram had offered to him. Lot’s choice is not necessarily wrong, nor is it sinful. It was certainly the most profitable land.

What we learn in the next few chapters, however, proves that this decision is unwise. Lot’s choice to move his large estate to the east and settle near Sodom will prove destructive in the end.

By this time, the reputation of this region has been established (Genesis 13:13). The depravity is so bad that God will eventually destroy these cities.

By then, however, Lot will become so accustomed to the culture that he has to be dragged from the city by angels (Genesis 19:15–16)!

Genesis 13:12 KJV

Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

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Slowly but surely, the self-will of Lot takes him toward destruction, even as self-will always does.

In the previous verse, Abram and Lot parted company to keep the peace between their servants. They had both grown too wealthy in animals and servants to possess the same area of land together.

In a gracious, generous gesture, Abram offered Lot first pick of the available land.

Lot moved to the east, to the plain along the Jordan river near Sodom. Abram lived, more generally, in the land of Canaan. In the following verses, we will see Abram move more specifically to the area around Hebron.

Lot’s choice of land was not necessarily wrong—the territory he selected was fertile and a good pick for his family’s future success. However, the culture of Sodom was already known for wickedness (Genesis 13:13), and Lot knew it.

However, he seems not to have grasped the dangers of living so close to it. Lot’s unwise choice to pitch his tents near Sodom will become critical. Lot will go from living near Sodom, to living in Sodom, and it will cost him dearly (Genesis 19).

Genesis 13:13 KJV

But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

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The Holy Spirit through Moses, as he wrote the text, is very quick to characterize Sodom and its inhabitants.

When it came time for Abram and Lot to go their separate ways in the land God had promised to Abram, Lot chose to settle in the well-watered valley along the Jordan river.

That made sense in a land prone to occasional drought. From a material standpoint, this was a wise choice. Lot’s new land was exactly what his growing family and flocks needed.

However, Lot’s choice to pitch his tents near the city of Sodom was clearly spiritually unwise. At the very least, Lot does not seem to have taken the threat of Sodom’s depraved culture seriously.

We’re told nothing about Lot’s motive for settling his tents so close to the city. More than likely, there was no absolutely necessary reason to do so.

Later in Genesis, we will see Lot and his family actually move into the town itself. This gradual numbness to evil will lead to Lot’s tragic fate (Genesis 19).

Lot most certainly knew that the people of Sodom were wicked, as this verse reveals (Genesis 13:10). God was certainly aware of their great sins against Him.

Later in the book, it will become clear that those sins included participating in homosexuality and rape, among others (Ezekiel 16:49–50).

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

 

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