Best Trap

Best Trap

Genesis 13: ⁸ So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

 

¹⁰ And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. ¹¹ Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. ¹² Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. ¹³ But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.

 

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After being tricked by Satan, Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Cain, may have tried to build his own garden, since he and everyone else, was not allowed back in the place that was heaven on earth. BUT GOD rejected Cain’s “sacrifice” of vegetables from his garden. From that moment, Cain and his descendants despised GOD.

 

BUT GOD saw their hearts. Only a few people willingly walked with HIM. HE told Noah to build an ark. HE saved only Noah and his family. After the flood Shem followed the LORD. But Canaan did not. Canaan sought power. Noah cursed Canaan, but Canaan rejected the curse. He founded many cities. Sodom was one of them. He was brilliant. He and his followers felt they could make heaven on earth, despite GOD. Lot chose what Cain and Canaan chose, namely “the bast.”

 

My Observations:

• Humans seem to want the comforts of heaven, while being on earth.
• Lot saw the best places on earth as an opportunity to grow wealthy and live lavishly.
• The places Lot chose were the most evil places on earth.

 

Seeing the best places became a temptation for Lot. He overlooked the people, perhaps thinking he would not be affected by what they were doing. Unfortunately, he would be wrong. The “best” place without GOD is the worst place anyone could be. He may have thought his upbringing could withstand the temptations wealth and power could bring.

 

Sodom had men who were very smart, super productive yet cursed GOD, possibly because of HIS just decision to throw Adam and Eve out of the garden. They no longer believed that GOD created the land they claimed and built a replica of the garden that was “well watered” everywhere. Lot may have been tired of famines and fighting. He wanted the best and did not know he was falling into a trap.

 

Challenge

• What is the tone from GOD as HE explains Lot’s choice to Moses?
• Have you ever wanted the best, overlooking the consequences of getting the best?
• Can you seek GOD and HIS kingdom first as your best instead of seeking human kingdom’s that may exclude HIM?