OUR CHOICES REALLY MATTER Genesis 11-15,18-19
Every year is filled with decisions. Our decisions and the outcomes of them have major impact on our quality of life and on our witness for God.
It is imperative then that we continue to improve our decision-making capacity, especially as Christians striving to live our lives as a testament to God’s grace and goodness. Philippians 3:12-14
We know that unbelievers can make bad decisions, but the person we are going to look at is a believer who made bad decisions. Lot was one of the worst decision-makers in the Bible.
Lot’s life story is found in Genesis chapters 11-15, 18-19
Genesis 11:27-32 Lot’s father died and Terah, the grandfather, looked after Lot along with Abram and Sarai (son and daughter-in-law). They travelled from Ur to Canaan. On the way they settled in Haran where Terah died.
Genesis 12 Abram received the call of God to continue to Canaan with all the family and possessions, taking Lot with him. Both Abram and Lot became wealthy ranchers.
Genesis 13 sees conflict between Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen, for the pasture between Bethel and Ai was not able to support their vast number of cattle. Abram, in order to avoid family conflict, let Lot choose where he wanted to reside with his family, and he selfishly chose the best land located near the sinful city of Sodom (see verse 10)
Genesis 14 Lot was confronted with a war between kings which resulted in Sodom being taken over, and he and his family being taken into captivity and his riches taken. Abram rescued Lot and his family and they continued to live in Sodom where Lot assumed a position as a city elder. The city of Sodom became more hedonistic and immoral with Lot and his family increasingly immersed in its culture.
Genesis 18 God appeared to Abram to tell him of the blessing of a child to him and Sarai, but also of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Fearing for the life of Lot and his family, Abram pleaded with God to spare Sodom if there were 10 righteous people in the city. God agreed.
Genesis 19 Two men (angels in disguise) were sent by God to assess the moral state of Sodom. Lot, in his position of Elder of the city, met the two men at the city gate, and offered them hospitality and protection from the homosexual men of the city. Whilst the angels were in Lot’s home, the men of the city surrounded the home and demanded that the two men be given over for homosexual acts. Lot tried bargaining with them, however they became violent and Lot was dragged into the home by the two men. Using their spiritual powers, the two men caused blindness in the attackers. They then told Lot to collect his family and flee to safety from the city and do not look back. The daughters’ partners decided to stay in Sodom; Lot was hesitant to leave but was eventually led away with his wife and daughters. Lot requested to go to the town of Zoar. On reaching Zoar, Sodom and Gomorrah were already under destruction. Lot’s wife in disobedience looked back and immediately turned into a pillar of salt.
Lot, obviously having lost his wife and some family members, as well as losing face, decided not to live in Zoar but in a cave with his two daughters. The daughters conspired to get Lot drunk, engaged sexually with him in order to become pregnant and preserve the family line which had all but been destroyed. Both daughters had sons to Lot, Moab and Ben-Ammi, who became leaders of the clans of the Moabites and Ammonites respectively.
What a tragic story of poor choices and devastating consequences.
Despite Lot's choosing the best land for himself, offering his daughters to rapists, and living in fear at the end of his life, he is remembered as a righteous man who grieved over the wickedness of the people of Sodom and tried to turn them from their ways (2 Peter 2:7–9). Peter pointed to Lot as an example of someone God rescued and called believers to have hope that God will also rescue them as well. In Lot's story, we see the effects of greed and pride and how sinful environments can negatively influence us. But we also see the mercy and faithfulness of God.
A summary of Lot’s life
Some people simply drift through life. Their choices, when they can muster the will to choose, tend to follow the course of least resistance. Lot, Abram’s nephew was such a person. God wants us to do more than simply drift through life. God wants us to be a positive influence/witness for Him committing our lives to His purposes
Four mistakes made by Lot in his decision-making and choices
Mistake 1: Lot made decisions by sight (Genesis 13:8-11)
Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 11:14
Mistake 2: Lot made important decisions in a panic (Genesis 19:4-8)
1 Corinthians 10:13
Mistake 3: Lot made urgent decisions slowly (Genesis 19:15-16)
Mistake 4: Lot didn’t learn from his mistakes (Genesis 19:30-38)
We need to understand - Lot was not a person who hated God. He was not an atheist. He was not an idol worshiper. He was a believer, but his life went woefully wrong. His life was sadly destroyed, all as a result of poor choices. His story is a reminder that any of us could experience similar outcomes through making poor choices and decisions. Colossians 1:10
Eight Steps to Making the Best Choices
The following provides a pathway for wise decision-making and good choices….
1. Pray for God’s guidance in seeking His will.
Proverbs 16:3; John 14:13; 1 Corinthians 10:31
2. Praise God for his blessings.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
3. Go to Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
4. Use your Christ-redeemed mind to analyse the situation.
Romans 12:2
5. Seek godly counsel.
Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 15:22
6. Analyse your motivations.
Jeremiah 17:9;1 John 1:8; Psalm 139:23-24; Galatians 13b-14
7. Accept that the answer may not be as clear as you desire.
Proverbs 3:5; Ephesians 2:10
8. Review your choice by playing it forward and assessing the consequences Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Prayer
Loving Father, only you know my end from the beginning. Nothing I do or say catches you by surprise. You know what is in my heart, good or bad. Everyone around me is choosing to do things their way, and it is very tempting for me to do so too. But Father God, I want your will to be done in my life. If it is not your will for me to take a chosen path, then Father, give me divine strength to accept and to follow your lead. May every decision I make be pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray. Amen.