Learning to Trust God: the finale

We can learn a lot from studying Abram’s association with Lot. Abram became the source of blessing to the world. People who associated with Abram would in turn be blessed. Abram had become wealthy. He had received livestock and possessions from Pharaoh, probably as a dowry for Sarai (Gen. 12.16). Lot was traveling with Abram and had also acquired many possessions.

A problem surfaced when the land could not support the livestock of both Lot and Abram (13.6-7). If Abram is the seat of blessings and Lot has been blessed in his association with Abram, what would be the wisest choice for Lot? Yet Lot lifted his eyes and saw the Jordan valley. The verb translated “saw” is the also used in Genesis 3.6 when Eve was saw tempted. Lot is being tempted at the sight of the Jordan plain. There is a random reference to the garden in 13.10, probably another indication that Lot is being tempted. Lot separated himself from Abram and dwelled near Sodom.

Biblical Hebrew has its own narrative verbal system. Sometimes what is known as a disjunctive waw interrupts the narrative giving necessary information for the understanding of the text. Such is the case in Gen. 13.13 when the narrative pauses to describe the sinful condition of the city of Sodom. As the plot thickens, the author's placement of disjunctive waw's give us plenty to reflect upon. In Genesis 14.12, we learn that Lot has moved into the city of Sodom. Another disjunctive waw appears in 14.13 to tell us that Abram is living under an oak tree in Mamre.

What can we learn from comparing Abram and Lot? First of all, Appearances really are deceiving. Abram is the seat of blessings (as Christ is now). If Lot were wise, he would have realized that his future would be blessed by staying with Abram. The plain of Jordan was beautiful to the eye but wicked to the soul. Second, staying with Abram would have necessitated Lot leaving behind all of his possessions. Rather than relinquishing his possessions he distances himself from Abram and inches closer to wickedness. Lot needed Abram's example of how to trust God. Finally, Lot sought security behind the walls of Sodom while Abram is living in the open under an oak tree. Lot sought security and prosperity behind city walls, but Abram lived under a tree. Peace and prosperity come not from city walls, but a right relationship with God!