Under the influence of others, Lot had accepted the outside path: Left to his own choice, he showed that the world was in his heart (Gen. 13:10-13). Without seeking direction from God, he chose his path according to sight. “Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plain of Jordan.” It was an alluring sight and had promise of present ease and plenty. Everywhere there was water for his flocks, without the labor of digging wells. So fruitful was the plain that it was “even as the garden of the Lord.” Most significant of all, it was “like the land of Egypt.” Alas! Lot, having followed Abraham into Egypt, had acquired a taste for Egypt’s pleasures and thus had strengthened the desire for worldly ease and plenty.
So Lot chose all the plain of Jordan, gave up the separate path for which he never had personal faith, and forever left the land of Canaan. There was nothing gross or wrong in choosing a well-watered plain, but it proved that the heart was not set on the unseen land of God’s promise. Moreover, the real danger of the well-watered plains was that Satan had reared Sodom in their midst.
Abraham remained in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain. Having left the path of faith and chosen the path of sight and worldly ease, his way was always downward, for we next read that he “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Of this city we are told, “The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.” We shall yet learn that for Lot there was no recovery. Lower and lower he sank, until at last he passed from the scene under a cloud of shame and dishonor.
H. Smith