Old Testament Character Study Series: Lot’s Story
Selected Passages:
This is our 6th week studying Old Testament characters. We know Lot to be the son of Haran, Abram’s brother who died in Ur. That makes Lot a nephew of Abram (Genesis 12:1-5.) So, when Haran died, Abram looked after Lot. And when God commanded Abram to leave Ur, Lot, and his family along with his possessions, went out of their city together with his uncle.
Do you remember Jacob’s dream of a ladder from heaven where angels were seen descending to earth and ascending to heaven in Genesis 28? Jacob’s dream was a graphic portrayal of God’s involvement in the affairs of His people and God’s angels would carry out His plan. Lot’s story was a demonstration of that. I hope and pray that you will learn how God involves himself in human affairs.
1. God elects people to righteousness.
“7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard).” 2 Peter 2:7-8.
· Most probably, Abram verbally shared with Lot, God’s promises to him, on or before their journey to Canaan.
· Part of the covenant was a Seed would come from Abram, and this Seed would be the Redeemer and a great blessing to many nations.
“16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.” Galatians 3:16.
· Lot was counted as righteous the same way that Abram was – by believing the promises of God.
· The promise of forgiveness - “25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25-26
· And the promise of outpouring of grace to those who believe.
2. God outpours His unmerited favour to the righteous.
“6 the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together… “Lot looked and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt… “11 Lot chose all the Jordan valley for himself. And as Lot traveled east, they went apart from each other. 12 Abram made his home in the land of Canaan. Lot made his home in the cities of the valley and moved his tents as far as Sodom, 13 whose men were sinful, sinning against the Lord.”” Genesis 13:6; 10-12.
· Grace abounded even in Lot’s many sins and mistakes.
· Lot chose to live near a wicked city that rub off on him some of the Sodomites wickedness.
· He loved the good life in Sodom’s city.
· The Sodomites were morally bankrupt, and behaviorally outrageous and against the Lord. See Ezekiel 16:49-50.
· Lot participated in discussing the affairs of Sodom when he sat at the gate of that city. See Gen. 19:9.
3. God rescues the righteous from divine judgment.
“11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom…. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.” Genesis 14:11-12; 14-16.
· Lot was now deeply involved into the city life.
· 4 kings defeated Sodom and took away their spoil including Lot and his family.
· Providentially, Abram came to know about Lot’s capture, so he sets out to rescue him together with his “318 trained men.”
· Lot returned to Sodom because he loved the good life.
· The sin of Sodom continued to grow and had reached the point of no return and so God assessed that it’s time for judgment and sends His angels.
· Sodom’s wickedness extends even to the young generation, “4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom —both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Genesis 19:4-5.
· God sends His angels to literally drag Lot away from that city before He finally destroys it.