PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS

PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS “Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.” (Gen 13:5) Abram was very wealthy, but Lot also had flocks, herd, and tents. In fact, these two men had so many possessions that the land could not support them both. Abram graciously gave Lot first choice on a place to live. If Lot chose the left, Abram would move to the right, and vice versa. It was then that “Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord. . .” (Gen 13:10) Consequently, Lot chose the “whole plain of the Jordan” and “pitched his tent toward Sodom”. Abram, therefore, allowed Lot to enrich himself by moving to the lush pasture of the Jordan, while he remained in the uninviting hill country. Lot’s prosperity in Sodom suffered a temporary set-back when four kings from the East defeated five kings from the West. These victorious kings carried away Lot, his family, and “all his possessions”. Fortunately, Abram rescued Lot and “all of his possessions”. While Abram took nothing for his efforts, he did pay tithes from the spoils to Melchizedek. We assume, therefore, that the bulk of Lot’s precious possessions were again safely under his control back in Sodom. To his credit, Lot was not happy with the life style of his neighbors. Peter wrote that Lot was a righteous man who “was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men” and “was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard” (2 Peter 2:7, 8) Apparently, however, his distress was not great enough to make him move. Sodom, as wicked as it was, was apparently still a good place to make money. Now the plot thickens. God was aware of the grievous sins of Sodom and decided to destroy it and several other surrounding cities. Because Abram was the friend of God, God told him what He was about to do. Abram negotiated with God to save Sodom, but failed. In all of Sodom there were not even ten righteous people to be found. (See Gen. 18:22 - 33) Decision time for Lot came when two angels told him to immediately leave. He was to take his wife, his two daughters, and his two sons in law with him to avoid being “swept away” when that sinful city was punished. His sons-in-law, however, thought he was joking and refused to leave. Thus only four people believed the angels and decided to leave! When Jesus warned people to flee from Jerusalem, He told them not to take anything with them. They were not to go back to take “anything” out of their houses, not even a cloak (Matt. 24:16 - 18). It is logical to assume that Lot and his family faced a similar situation. Lot told his sons-in- law to “hurry”, and the angels told Lot to “hurry”. When Lot hesitated, the men grasped his hand, and the hands of his wife and two daughters. As soon as they got out of the city one of the angels said: “Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" (Gen 19:17) As you know: “Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Gen 19:26) This is the only woman in the Bible we are commanded to remember! When Jesus warned His people to be ready for His return, he used Lot and his family as an example. I t was in that context that Jesus specifically said: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Lk. 17:32). While the Scriptures do not tell us “why” Lot’s wife looked back, it is quite possible that it involved earthly possessions. Lot did not choose to pitch his tent toward Sodom for spiritual reasons. It was the lush pasture that lured him to Sodom. As one politician said to another: “Once you get over principles, the rest is easy”. So, behind Lot’s wife was a comfortable home and all her possessions. Before her was life in a cave with no possessions. Maybe this is why she looked back! Therefore, when you think about your own possessions, “Remember Lot’s wife”!