We wish briefly to show the contrast between the path of Abram and the path of Lot, as furnished in the Book of Genesis, but chiefly for the help of young believers who are called to face the terribly increasing evil and alluring influences of these last difficult times.
When Abram was called to leave his country and his father's house and go into a land that God would show him, his nephew Lot went with him. Both became rich in flocks and herds; and when their respective herdmen strove at Bethel on account of the land being too small for them (allowed, no doubt, of the Lord to separate Abram from his relative), Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee.... If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." Gen. 13:8, 98And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:8‑9). From this point, mark the course of each of these two noted saints of God. Abram walked by faith, while Lot walked by sight, but observe with what vastly different results. "Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where.... Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan,... and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." Soon afterward Lot dwelt in Sodom. Then came his first warning; namely, in the war of the nine kings he was taken captive from Sodom, with all he possessed, to Hobah, near Damascus, whence Abram had to rescue him. Did this warning voice cause Lot to alter his course for the better? No, it appears not, as he returned to Sodom and became more involved than ever; for we read that he sat as a magistrate in the gate of the city.
Then came his second warning, which was much more solemn than the first. One evening two angels arrived at his house to announce that as the iniquity of the city was so great they had come to destroy it by fire. It is evident how far Lot's heart was in Sodom from the fact that next morning, "while he lingered, the men [angels] laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city," and said, "Escape for thy life.... Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven." Gen. 19:16, 17, 2416And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (Genesis 19:16‑17)
24Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; (Genesis 19:24). How solemn! And it is most marked that so little is said afterward of Lot in God's Word. Solemn warning indeed for any who have an eye or a heart for this world that lies in the wicked one; that is, under the prince of the power of the air, even Satan, the god of this world—a world under the righteous judgment of a holy God on account of man's sin.
Lot's backsliding consisted Of about four steps, and we are 'not aware that• a soul ever reaches the full length all at once. He beheld, he chose, he pitched his tent, he dwelt in Sodom. Should a world-bordering believer read these lines, we lovingly warn you, dear one, beware of the first wrong step; and may the Lord indeed in His mercy keep each of us from entering upon the lines of sight. For the Lord said for our learning, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." As to things of sight it is written, "The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." 2 Pet. 3:77But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7).
It may perhaps be said by some, Then we must needs go out of the world altogether to comply with these requirements. We do not think Abram would have said so; Lot might. But the secret lies in the Lord's words, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Of course the only One who ever did walk the path of faith in all its perfection was the blessed Lord Himself, and He left "us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1 Pet. 2:2121For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21)).
When circumstances forced Abram and Lot to part company, how much wiser it would have been had Lot conferred with such an honored man of faith as Abram, instead of being allured by that well-watered plain, where he took his first three wrong steps!
When Lot had departed, the Lord said to Abram, "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, a n d southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it.... Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD." Abram therefore got infinitely more by faith in God than Lot could ever possibly obtain by sight; "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof." Psalm 24:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1).
Abram had also four steps about the same time which are—he looked, he walked, he pitched his tent, he dwelt. But note, each step was in the path of faith, and in company with t h e Lord, which led to where he built an altar unto the Lord. The path of faith always leads Godward. Which of the two plains are you in, dear reader? Is it the plain of Jordan—well-watered it may be, but where your soul is lean and barren, and very likely out of your Lord's company? or are you in the plains of Mamre, with your soul increasing in fatness and in the true spirit of worship, having your altar unto the Lord? We read not of any such thing as an altar being built by Lot in Sodom. There is no altar with the world. The Lord says to His own, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate,... and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you."
It was apart from God that Lot went astray. His loss was enormous, but he did not cease to be a saint. We remember that the example of our blessed Lord is the only perfect one, for Abram had his failures as all saints have; but, beloved child of God, as all Scripture is written for our learning, we earnestly beseech you to let Abram's example, and not Lot's, be yours, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor. 5:77(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7).