Lot, or Barren Righteousness Genesis 13:1-13; 19:1-22, 29 p. 13 + 17

Introduction Movie on the plane ==> an open ended movie ● Movie on the plane ==> an open ended movie The life of Lot is such a story ●

Warning Scripture does not endorse these horrible behaviours These stories functions as “caricatures” ● ●

Introduction It is part of Scripture… Life is not always a happy end ● It is part of Scripture… Life is not always a happy end We are more like Lot than like Abraham Lot functions as a contrast to Abraham ● ● ●

Lot’s life: A Short Summary Lot is Abraham’s nephew Abraham is called by God to leave his country and family, and Lot goes with him. ● ● ● Sodom is attacked, by Abraham rescues Lot Lot returns to Sodom ●

Lot’s life: A Short Summary ● Abraham prays for Sodom (and for Lot) Sodom is destroyed and Lot barely escapes ● ● Lot flies to the hill country and lives in a cave His two daughters each give birth to a nation that will be enemies of Israel ●

Lot’s life: Evaluation ● Lot’s life ends in complete misery ==> he is not an example to follow Yet he is righteous: God rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (2 Peter 2:8) ==> Lot is a righteous fool! ●

Lot’s shortcomings (1) Lot is walking by sight… ● Lot is walking by sight… Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere… So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. (Genesis 12:10-11)

Lot’s shortcomings (1) … and not walking by faith: ● … and not walking by faith: Lot never took a risky decision. He always stayed “safe” He shows no consideration for spiritual consequences (v.13) Lot places himself outside of the promised land ● ● ●

Lot’s shortcomings (2) ● Lot is walking by sight, not by faith Lot is guided by opening opportunities Gen. 13:12: Lot moved his tent as far as Sodom. Gen. 14:12: Lot was living in Sodom. Gen. 19:1: Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom ●

Lot’s shortcomings (2) ● Lot is walking by sight, not by faith Lot is guided by opening opportunities “Abraham puts himself under the guidance of God; Lot’s life is a sequence of human decisions” (Walter Vogel) ●

Lot’s shortcomings (3) ● Lot is walking by sight, not by faith Lot is guided by opening opportunities Lot had no influence and no witness in Sodom whatsoever ● ●

Influence Lot sits at the gate (Gen. 19:1) ● Lot sits at the gate (Gen. 19:1) ==> He became an important person in Sodom Yet he had no real influence in the city Gen. 19:9: This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! ●

Influence Lot had little influence on his own family Gen. 19:14: Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in- law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. . . But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. ●

Influence Lot is unable to leave Sodom. He has to be dragged out. Gen. 19:16: But Lot held back. So the men seized his hand, and the hand of his wife, and the hand of his two daughters, for the Lord had compassion on him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ●

Lot’s relationship with God (1) ● He had no promise to live for. He has no real hope. Once Sodom is destroyed, Lot lives in a cave (19:30) ==> Lot lives as a living dead Lot lives full of fear (19:30) ==> he is unable to rest in God’s goodness By contrast, Abraham’s life is full of hope and trust ● ● ●

Lot’s relationship with God (2) Lot never followed God; he merely followed Abraham Gen. 12:4: So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Gen. 13:1: So Abram went up from Egypt… and Lot with him. Gen. 13:5: Lot, who went with Abram, … ●

Lot’s relationship with God (2) Lot never followed God; he merely followed Abraham “Lot seems to have been one of those men who take right steps, not because they are prompted by obedience to God, but because their friends are taking them.” (F.B. Meyer) ●

Lot’s relationship with God (2) Following friends (or family members) is not wrong! Almost all of us start there… At some point, we need to make a decision for ourselves. ● ●

Lot’s relationship with God (3) Lot never prays and never discerns God’s grace in his circumstances The war in Sodom should have been a warning to him Once God reveals his mercy clearly, Lot did not trust him ● ● ●

God’s relationship with Lot God never gave up on Lot! God showed his faithfulness despite Lot’s bad choices, inconsistency and lack of faith ● ●

Conclusion Three questions: Do you depend on God, or on people around you? What is the role of hope in your personal journey of faith? What are you hoping for? Is God asking you to take a step of faith? ● ● ● ●