THE ERRORS OF LOT

Genesis 11:27, 12: 1-3

There are lessons to learn from different people such as learning from their failures, how to become successful and so on. We will be looking at the person of Lot in order to learn from his life so we do not make the mistakes he made.

BACKGROUND

Lot was Abraham’s nephew. From the time Abraham’s father took them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into Canaan, Lot went with them. When Terah died before they got to the land of Canaan, Abraham had an encounter with God to move on to the land He will show him (Gen.12:1-2). You will notice that everywhere Abraham went, Lot went also. From the verse of scripture above, you can tell that they were men of means, they were not poor and it seems that Lot was in the picture of the encounter Abraham had. However, when famine hit that land, Abraham went down to Egypt. 

Note: When things become stuck, it calls for intimacy with God, more dependence on and obedience to God, instead of rationalizing it.

By Chapter 13, Lot’s place came behind the things they had acquired. This was not so at the beginning. Lot was mentioned with Abraham but now as he made progress, grounds shifted and the order changed. Somehow, Lot was down the ladder. Often, the things that didn’t matter when we took off start becoming an issue because our attention has shifted. This shifting in Lot could have been as a result of those things. You see, just as Abraham had substance and great wealth, Lot also had great substance.

In spite of the state Abraham had gotten to, he didn’t lose sight of his foundation, he was still conscious of the beginning, of the reason for his greatness. Whatever Lot had was because of the connection he had with Abraham, it wasn’t because of his own smartness or otherwise.

Note: one mistake people make is that they feel just because they were a part of something that brought about the increase, they can now “rub” shoulders with the “boss” thinking they are the same.

Abraham and Lot had become so great that the land was no longer able to contain them. However, this was no issue but the carnality of Lot made it a problem. 

Note: when you don’t interpret events correctly, satan will take advantage of them against you. The contention was between their herdsmen. Where there is strife, satan can go to any length. There is no reason justifiable enough to walk in strife. Where there’s strife, there’s every evil work. The closer the unit, the more the potential for strife to exist in it.

Lesson: Lot’s parameter for choosing was not spiritual at all. He didn’t include God who had blessed him into his decision making. Besides, if he had recognized Abraham’s headship over him, he should have deferred to

him. This is what happens when one thinks he has “arrived”. Separation was 

not the problem, the problem was how it was done. What was the basis for Lot’s choice? The physical. In his choice, he apparently left nothing for Abraham. Meanwhile, everything Lot got was as a result of Abraham in his life. Lot was greedy. It must have been that Lot somehow saw himself as equal to Abraham.

 Lesson: Never put things above relationships or persons in your life. Anytime there is a conflict, let the things go. Lot went and pitched his tent with wicked men, sinners, exceedingly unrighteous before the Lord. In all his desperation to keep the wealth he had acquired, he still couldn’t keep it. (Ps. 127:1). How can you keep in the flesh what came by the Spirit? You have to be conscious not to outgrow the seemingly little things that took you up in the first place e.g. praying, fasting, studying the word, respect for those who have gone ahead of you, no job, profession, status should cause you to outgrow certain things. Even as married couples, you don’t outgrow saying “I love you” etc. Lot felt he had come of age and could choose for himself. God kept quiet as Lot was choosing and Abraham was not moved because his confidence and trust was in God, knowing God can still reproduce everything even if he lost everything. NOTE: The greatest battle you must keep fighting is the battle to keep the faith. As long as you keep the faith you have lost nothing. Besides, all our problems spring out of our gradual disconnection from Him. Maintain that connection no matter the circumstances you find yourself. Lot wasn’t bothered about this disconnection because he was full of the things the connection brought.

 In this New Year, we must be resolute in making the decision to stay connected to God no matter what, let God be your first priority. It was not Abraham that made himself master over Lot and if Lot had recognized the authority of Abraham, automatically he was recognizing the authority of God. The bible admonishes us to submit to one another in the fear of God. On the surface, Lot was making progress in the midst of wicked and sinful people. By chapter 14, the place he was, was invaded by four (4) kings. It was Abraham that came to rescue him. In Chapter 18, God told Abraham what He had in mind. How come God didn’t tell it to Lot? It showed Lot was totally disconnected from God.

In Gen.19:1 – Interestingly, Lot didn’t lose his wealth outwardly but he was

dying on the inside.

Lesson: Don’t use the wrong parameters to measure progress. He recognized the angels when they came, it showed he was still religious and even when God showed him mercy and rescued him, he couldn’t be rescued. He lost everything that made him pitch his tent with wicked men-he lost his wealth, his wife and children. 

Note: Not having can also become a distraction; sometimes, when things are not working the way they ought to be, God suffers for it, anytime you are angry, the church suffers for it etc. King Uzziah is also another example of the errors of Lot. See 2 Chron. 26: 5,16. The major determinant in everything is your soul prospering because when your heart is right, you can’t miss God.

Four Scriptures that played out in the life of Lot.

1.  Luke 12:16-21 – Make sure that as you are getting richer, your richness towards God is also on the increase

2. Rom. 8:6 – Lot was carnally minded but Abraham minded spiritual things. To be carnally minded results in death.

3. Matt. 13: 22 – Lot allowed the things he had acquired to give him the wrong impression of who he was. Deceitfulness of riches can make you step your bounds and take responsibility you are not ordained for.

4. Matt. 16: 24 -26 – You have to be able to take up your cross, deny yourself and follow God. Lot was trying to save his life, thus he lost everything. “What shall it profit a man if he gained the world and loses his soul”?