LOT'S
BACKSLIDING
Gen
13:1-13
Intro:
It is hard to understand how an Abraham could raise a Lot.
Just as it is also hard to understand how a David could have raised
an Absolam.
Today I want us to look at three things about Lot's
backsliding…
I.
THE REASON FOR LOT'S BACKSLIDING
V 5-9
1. Success……..V 5
Gen 13:5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
2.
Selfishness..…V 6
Gen 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
3. Strife………...V 7
Gen 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
4.
Separation...…V 8-9
Gen 13:8 And 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.
Gen 13:9 Is 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.
These
four sucessive steps are a common path to backsliding.
II.
THE ROUTE OF LOT'S BACKSLIDING........V 10-13
Lot
Chose:
1. The
route of least resistance.....V 10
Gen 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
-The
plains instead of the mountains.
2. The
route of lustful reasoning......V 10
Gen 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
-Had
his eyes on the Grass instead of God.
3. The
route of loose restrictions......V 13
Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
-He
chose to leave the Godly and live among the ungodly.
III.
THE RESULTS CF LOT'S BACKSLIDING…...Gen 19
Lot
Lost a lot....
1. His
Christian character.......V 5-8
Gen 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Gen 19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
Gen 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Gen 19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
2. His
children's confidence.......V 14
Gen 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
3. His
choice cattle.......... ....V 16, 24-25
Gen 19:16 And 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.
Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Gen 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
4. His
chosen companion......V 26
Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
5. His
children completely.....
--Some
in Sodom.......V 14
Gen 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
--Some
in Sin.........V 33-38
Gen 19:33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Gen 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
Gen 19:35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Gen 19:36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
Gen 19:37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
Gen 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
It
truly can be said that "Lot lost a lot”
