The Wide Path--Case Study of Lot
Jesus challenged us to choose the narrow gate to righteousness and warned that the wide path leads to destruction. The narrow gate is one of holiness, seeking God's face with all of our energy. The wide path is that of the world. The wide is made up of lies and corruption. Rather than finding a sense of salvation, those find emptiness and despair. Now, with that let's look at Lot's life.
Read Genesis 12:1-5.
Lot's journey begins with Abram taking him away from the past. Abram has been promised a great future and is willing to take his nephew. Lot begins this journey follow a man--Abram--not God. No where does it say that Lot knew God or he was seeking God's face.
Read Genesis 13:8-11
What was LotÂs sin? It was the idea that Abram had brought him along this great journey and instead of submitting to his uncle, Lot chose the greatest for himself. (True, Abram offered it, but humility was not a product of Lot.)
Genesis 13:12-13
What was LotÂs sin? Instead of seeking God, Lot chose to place his tents (with his daughters) outside the sinful city of Sodom. He did not see the destructive nature but the possibility of wealth and lust that a city brings. He had been given a great piece of land, yet he moves to the boundary that would lead him to sin.
Genesis 19
Lot obviously has no idea who God is. He chose to move into the city of sin. He recognized the angels but did not offer his family protection. His future sons-in-laws failed to recognize God''s will. Lot's wife failed to yield to the directions of God. His daughters, in fear of survival of their family, chose to have sex with their father rather that seeking God.
Lot chose the easy pathway. He saw wealth and the temptations of urban life. Rather than working hard on the land, he chose to risk his family's well-being for his own desires. This is all a product of his journey. Rather than learning about God from Abram, Lot chose to follow his own evil desires.
This is the wide path. As you read and ponder these truths, you must ask God what parts of your life are related to this "wide path" mentality.
Read Genesis 12:1-5.
Lot's journey begins with Abram taking him away from the past. Abram has been promised a great future and is willing to take his nephew. Lot begins this journey follow a man--Abram--not God. No where does it say that Lot knew God or he was seeking God's face.
Read Genesis 13:8-11
What was LotÂs sin? It was the idea that Abram had brought him along this great journey and instead of submitting to his uncle, Lot chose the greatest for himself. (True, Abram offered it, but humility was not a product of Lot.)
Genesis 13:12-13
What was LotÂs sin? Instead of seeking God, Lot chose to place his tents (with his daughters) outside the sinful city of Sodom. He did not see the destructive nature but the possibility of wealth and lust that a city brings. He had been given a great piece of land, yet he moves to the boundary that would lead him to sin.
Genesis 19
Lot obviously has no idea who God is. He chose to move into the city of sin. He recognized the angels but did not offer his family protection. His future sons-in-laws failed to recognize God''s will. Lot's wife failed to yield to the directions of God. His daughters, in fear of survival of their family, chose to have sex with their father rather that seeking God.
Lot chose the easy pathway. He saw wealth and the temptations of urban life. Rather than working hard on the land, he chose to risk his family's well-being for his own desires. This is all a product of his journey. Rather than learning about God from Abram, Lot chose to follow his own evil desires.
This is the wide path. As you read and ponder these truths, you must ask God what parts of your life are related to this "wide path" mentality.
posted by Was at
9:37 AM
2 Comments:
excellent study Was ... I love the look at the full narrative; we cant just break up the Old Testament into little fragments and try to draw conclusions or applications...
I think that Lot has heavy smyptoms of three major problems that are clearly still problems in Christian circles and the church today. This isn't scholarly work or anything its just my thoughts but heres what I see as the problem.
1 - Lot had a faulty view of God. This dethronement of the Holy One in his heart is what I believe allows for his disobedience. Because he did not view God rightly...
2 - he did not fear God. Abram who demonstrated faith and became Abraham did fear God. He was ready to offer his own son because it was demanded by a holy God. He knew what the NT would refer to in Hebrews 10.31 "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God"
3 - Finally, Lot did not choose to learn to love the things that God loves and hate the things that He hates ... namely sin. Lot fell into sin because he didn't hate it.
I wish I was there with yall it sounds like God is truly speaking.
He definately has been...unfortunately he sounds like a goofy history teacher who giggles alot every Monday night-it's really strange...
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