After his bad experience in Egypt, Abram returned to the Promised Land. He headed back to the altar he had built near Bethel, and there he worshipped God, Genesis 13:1-4. If you are not as close to God as you once were, God has not moved – you moved. The book of James gives God’s solution. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. That is what Abram did. He drew near to God and confessed his sins to the Lord.

As so often happens, shortly after Abram got right with God, the devil began to give him troubles. Abram’s nephew Lot began causing problems.

Transition

This morning as we look at the conflicts, choices, and consequences that both Abram and Lot faced, I want us to learn principles that will help us when faced with tough choices.

Conflicts, v.5-7

  1. Lot now had a family of his own
    1. Abram still had no children, but he and Sarai were wealthy. They had many flocks, herds, servants, and tents.
    2. Abram was Lot’s guardian, but now Lot was a man. He too had family, flocks, herds, servants, and tents.
    3. Their flocks and herds were too large to dwell together. They needed more space.This reminds us of an important family principle that God established in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” It is not good for married children to live with their parents. It is not good for more than one family to live under the same roof. This interferes with the father/husband’s leadership. Two heads cause conflicts.
  2. Lot’s herdsmen argued with Abram’s herdsmen
    1. There was strife between their herdsmen. They probably fought over paddocks, over water, and over shelters.
    2. Another problem was that they lived among the Canaanites and Perizzites.
    3. There was tension between Abram and Lot. They were in conflict.We too often face conflicts. They may be conflicts with your spouse, conflicts with your children, conflicts with in-laws, conflicts with relatives, conflicts with neighbours. Some conflicts are inner conflicts like choice of occupation, lifestyle, debt, music, entertainment, friends, and a spouse. When we face conflicts, we must turn to the Bible and find out how God wants us to deal with them.

Choices, v.8-11

  1. Abram makes a selfless offer to Lot
    1. We live in a selfish, self-centred, self-loving, egotistic society. Selfishness is part of our sinful nature. This attitude existed in Abram’s day, but God tells us that it will increase in the last days.2 Timothy 3:1-2 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
    2. Abram was older. He was the guardian uncle. Abram had every right to give him the poorer paddocks and keep the best for himself, but that is not what he did. He humbly gave Lot the choice of land, v.9.
    3. The principle of putting others first is one that will sweeten our marriages, improve our families, build relationships, and honour the Lord. Here is some of what the Lord says about putting others first.Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

      Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

      Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

  2. Lot responds in the fleshWe see no humility in Lot, no gratefulness, no respect for his elders, only selfishness. Here are three reasons we know he responded in the flesh.
    1. He let greed lure him, v.10.
      1. He looked greedily at the well-watered plain of Jordan.
      2. He saw it as the garden of the LORD.
      3. It was like the land of Egypt, which he had recently visited with Abram, especially down near Zoar at the bottom of the Dead Sea.
    2. He lacked discernment.
      1. The Jordan valley was a good place to raise sheep but a poor place to rear a family, v.12. He chose to live in the godless cities of the plain.
      2. Certainly he knew that the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners, v.13.
      3. Where was his discernment? He made his decision based on gain not on godliness, on pride not on piety, on worldliness not on wisdom.
    3. He left God out of his life.
      1. We do not read that he asked God first.
      2. He chose to live among the wickedness of Sodom.
      3. If Peter had not told us that Lot was a just or righteous man, we would never have guessed it by his lifestyle.What does God want us to do when we face decisions? We need to pray for wisdom (James 1:5). We must be wise toward good and simple toward evil (Rom 16:19). Be sure God approves. 1 Thess. 5:21-22 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
  3. Abram took the leftover land
    1. We find no hind of complaint.
    2. He truly put others first.

Consequences, v.12-18

  1. Lot gained the world but eventually lost everything
    1. He chose to make wicked sinners his good friends.
    2. As far as we know, his whole family went to hell.
    3. We will see his sad future unfold in future chapters.
  2. Abram maintained God’s blessing
    1. God again promised him the land.
    2. God again spoke of his innumerable seed as the dust of the earth.
    3. God encouraged him to walk through the land that would one day belong to his seed.
    4. Abram moved his tent and all that he had down to Hebron, in the plain of Mamre, v.18.
    5. Abram again built an altar and worshipped God.
    6. Abram did not need the well-watered paddocks for his flocks to increase. He did not need the social life of the cities to make a name for himself. God blesses those who put Him first.If, like Lot, your choices are fleshly and selfish, you may gain prosperity, pleasure, popularity, and prestige, but you will enter eternity with nothing but regrets. However, if like Abram, you live godly and selflessly, and invest your time, talents, and treasures in the work of the Lord, you will reap dividends for all eternity.

      Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Conclusion

This morning we have looked at Abram and Lot’s conflicts, choices, and consequences. When you face conflicts, you will need to make choices. Will you follow Lot’s example of godless, selfishness, and greed, or will you follow Abram’s example of humility and godliness? The choice you make will determine the consequences that follow.

I urge you to memorise 1Th 5:21-22 and follow its God-given instruction in every decision – big or small.

If you have already made bad choices confess your sin to God and receive His cleansing. He promises to forgive you, but that does not always change the consequences.

Song: Is Your All on the Altar? 381
—
Tough Choices
15 June 2014 AM – Genesis 13:1-18 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs