"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"-Gen 13:12

What a sad verse! We know what awaits righteous Lot as he pitches his tent toward Sodom. Looking ahead, we can see it only means disaster and shame for him and his family. Yet we see him tragically traveling toward his downfall thinking only of the "well watered" plain of Jordan "like the garden of the Lord"(v. 10). This was the best land, he thought, for his many "flocks and herds and tents"(v. 5) to spread out and multiply. We read only a small warning: "But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord"(v. 13). Let us consider Lot's story and the important lesson we can learn from it.

Lot's decision to move to Sodom seemed at the time to be innocent of spiritual consequences. It was strictly a business decision-these fields were better than the others, and so he chose them. Yet Lot's "business" led him to a place so wicked that God Himself came down to "see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me"(Gen 18:21), an evil so great that it is difficult to imagine. One scene gives us a hint at the awful state of things in Sodom-when angels come to Lot's house, the men of Sodom call to Lot to "Bring them out to us so that we may know them carnally"(Gen 19:5). Not satisfied with their own shameful abuse of nature (Rom 1:27), they attempted to involve Lot and his heavenly guests. Can you imagine your neighbors and friends being so wicked that they would beat on your door to abuse you and your guests?

We ought not think Lot was happy or satisfied in these surroundings. Scripture tells us of "righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked" and that he, "dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds"(2 Pet 2:7-8). He has the reaction we all hope we would have-to be so frustrated and upset with his friends and neighbors that his soul was tormented. It is true that on this earth we will always have contact with those who are wicked (1 Cor 5:10). Yet Lot had a worse lot than most-to be surrounded by a people so awful they have become a byword to all future generations (Deut 29:23, Isaiah 1:9, Jer 23:14). We certainly can take comfort in Lot's steadfast devotion to Jehovah. Yet we must consider that Lot voluntarily chose and remained in Sodom despite this wickedness. It would cost him dearly.

The angels told Lot to clear out-they would destroy the city. We are not told, but it is implied that Lot lost all his possessions in the great destruction, including the "flocks and herds and tents"(Gen 13:5) he had come to Sodom to nourish. His sons-in-law and daughters would perish, and his wife was disobedient to the angels' command and lost her life (Gen 19:26). Lot ends up poor, old, and forsaken in the mountains with his two virgin daughters, who scheme and trick him into fathering future generations. This is a sad, sordid tale with an unpleasant end, yet it all began with one simple, seemingly innocent decision.

What can we learn from Lot? Many decisions we must make are either good or bad-we do God's will or the devil's. Yet some, like Lot's, are neither good nor bad, only wise or unwise. These decisions are of critical importance in our lives and we must learn and pray for the wisdom to put ourselves in positions that will aid rather than hinder our spiritual progress. The Hebrew writer declares, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"(Heb 12:1). Whatever things might weigh us down, we must lay them aside so that we can run the race well. Let us ask of all nonessential things in our lives: Will it help or hinder me in my walk toward heaven? Perhaps it seems unimportant, but surely the land of Canaan or the plain of Sodom seemed unimportant to Lot.

We can also take comfort in God's deliverance of Lot. Peter emphasizes that if God "delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked," "then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations"(2 Pet 2:7, 9). Even if we make foolish decisions, God can help us overcome them if we want His help. Had Lot become one of the locals, is there any doubt he would have been destroyed along with them?

We must do our best to make wise decisions in matters on which God has not spoken. Let us remember to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"(Mt 6:33) and let all things be second to our goal of heaven. Let us trust in the God who can deliver the righteous. Let us be wary of pitching our tent toward Sodom.___Jacob Hudgins