BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 10

Consequences of Poor Decisions

Genesis 13

Me-

 The title of this lesson represent some times in my life.  One of the most vivid examples I remember painfully is the decision to become an insurance agent.  Why I ever thought I could be successful in a professional for which I was not suitable I will probably never understand.  The major problem stemmed from my personality.  Many do not realize that I am an introvert.  Although I have gotten better at meeting people and being able to speak before groups this has not always been the case.  I, a person who did not like to even knock on doors to do trick or treating, I should have followed my heart that told me, “Don’t do this.”

 As you can imagine I was a failure.  I never got over the fear of cold calling on people I did not know or even pressing my friends and acquaintances to buy insurances policies. Mercifully for me the job ended after about a year and I began to work in a position more suited for me.  I certainly learned my lesson well and since that time have never taken a job where selling would be involved.

We-

Churches are certainly not exempt from making poor decisions.  One such choice would be in the area of leadership.  Even though both parties might think that a particular leader is a good match for the church it turns out that he/or she should never taken the position.  Division and turmoil usually result with all parties being hurt.  It is fortunate if the departure of that person does not rip the church completely apart.

This is one reason for need of unity in the body when it comes to deciding almost anything.  Without it there will be winners and losers and most likely the whole body will suffer.  All decisions should be made only after prayerful consideration takes place.  To do anything based on emotion or one’s personal criteria will certainly put him/her at odds with others. 

In today’s lesson we will see the contrast of two different individuals.  After a disastrous episode in Egypt Abram exemplifies one who has godly characteristics.  Just the opposite of Abram, Lot continually makes choices that show his world nature.

God 13:1-4

Abram left Egypt and went into the southern part of Canaan called the Negev. Along with his wife and all of his possession, Lot also accompanied him.  As a result of the generosity of the Egyptians, Abram had become a wealthy man having not only a large number of livestock but also silver and gold.  The fact that the Pharaoh sent him away unharmed physically and let him keep what he had been given should have been a strong indicator to Abram that God was truly with him.  His journey did not end in the Negev.  He returned to the place where he had built the altar between Bethel and Ai.  This would put him far removed from Egypt and its influence on his life. There at Bethel he once again gave thanks for all that God had done for him in protecting him from harm.

1. In what condition did Abram return to Canaan?
2. Why did the Pharaoh let him go with harm either physically or materially?
3. What lesson should Abram have learned from his experience?
4. Why would Abram return to place near Bethel?
5. What actions did he take upon returning to the area near Bethel and Ai?

Genesis 13:5-6

Lot was still following Abram everywhere he went.  He had gained a great deal of wealth while in Egypt.  Evidently he was treated the same as Abram while there and much livestock of his own.  This presented a dilemma when they returned to the area around Bethel and Ai.  While the land could have supported one of them it did not provide enough pasture for both.  One other factor played a part in the problem.  The land would have been more suitable for sheep which only bites the top of the grass while cows and horses actually root up the vegetation.  Added to the situation although not mentioned would have been the flocks owned by the Canaanites.  This all occurred because Abram took matters into his own hands to avoid the famine and disobeyed God by leaving Canaan and going into Egypt  

1. Why did Lot continue to go along with Abram?
2. How did Lot acquire his wealth?
3. What kind of problems did the combined wealth cause upon their return into Canaan?
4. In what ways could this whole situation been avoided?

Genesis 13:7

The tipping point came as the herdsman of Lot and Abraham began to have a dispute over the available grazing land. It is interesting to note the author mentioned the existence of the Perizzites and Canaanites were living in the land also.  What a testimony to God was on display by the actions of those who belonged to Abram and Lot?

1. What was the problem that arose between those who belong to the two kinsmenWhy did Moses mention the Perizzites and Canaanites at that point in the narrative?
2. How do the actions of seemingly godly men affect those around them?
3. How do the actions of the church affect its witness to the unchurched?

 

 Genesis 13:8-9

It was Abram who came up with a solution to the problem.  He first established that there should be peace between all parties.  After voicing what the end results should be he offered Lot the first choice of the land into which one of the other would go.  It did not make a difference to Abram where he ended up.  God had promised him that the land would one day be his.  Of course this was not the motive for his decision.  In a way he was offering to Lot the opportunity to be satisfied with his lot in life.

1. Why was it important for there to be harmony between Lot and himself?
2. What does the offer show about the character of Abram?
3. What was he truly trying to achieve by giving Lot the opportunity to pick the land he desired?
4. In what ways have you acted like Abram in situations involving conflict?
5. How do the actions of Abram exemplify a Christ like attitude?

Genesis 13:10-11

Given the opportunity, Lot chose what appeared to be the best of the land for providing for his livestock.  The valley of the Jordan was described

• Well watered
• Like the garden of Eden
• Like the fertile land of parts of Egypt

Lot separated himself and travelled eastward away from the Promised Land and spiritually speaking further away from God and the godly influence of his uncle, Abram.  It will be seen shortly the consequences of Lot’s decision.

1. What does the choice Lot made say about him?
2. What was the appeal of the Jordan valley?
3. How does his decision fit the old saying about the grass appearing to be greener on the other side of the fence?
4. What happens all too often when you get to the greener grass?
5. How does it appear that he was taking his future in his own hand?
6. In what ways have we been fooled by what appear to be a golden opportunity?
7. In what ways can devil use the attitude of Lot and deceive church members?

Genesis 13:12-13

While Lot travelled east, Abram stayed put in the land of Canaan.  At that point he had learned his lesson well and settled down where God had told him to stay.  He was ready to wait on God for the next step in his life.  Moses indicated that Lot moved very close to Sodom.  That city was described as being populated by men who, “were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.”  Lot made a fatal mistake.  Like so many people he thought that he could live in the suburbs of a wicked place and not be affected by all that was occurring there.  Christians today try to flirt with sin thinking they are strong enough on their own not to be caught up in the web of deceit that satan is spinning.

1. What is the contrast between the life of Abram and Lot?
2. What was the danger for Lot in moving so close to Sodom?
3. How does flirting with sin affect the believer and unbeliever alike?
4. What are the indications of what we have already seen that Lot would either be able to remain strong in the faith or succumb to the lure of the sinful world of Sodom?
5. What do you think of the words concerning what Abram decided to do?

Genesis 13:14-18

Abram had finally obeyed God’s command to separate himself from all of his family. Now that Lot had left and the last roadblock to the following the commands of God had been removed, God once again appeared to Abram and reaffirmed the promises made to him at the beginning while he was in Haran.  They included:

• All the land he could see in every direction from his vantage point.  This would include the land into which Lot had travelled.  What Lot thought would be his possession would eventually come under the ownership of Abram’s descendants.
• A family that would grow so large that his descendants would be as the dust of the earth.  Remember this promise was made before Abram had even the first child.

God then told Abram to take a trip around all the land that was promised to him.  Abram then moved from near Bethel to the “oaks of Mamre” located in Hebron.  Once again Abram built an altar to the Lord.

1. Why did God wait until after Lot had left to once again appear to Abram?
2. In what way did Abram finally obey God to open the door for more conversation?
3. What was different about the promises than what Abram had first heard?
4. What did the land grant include?
5. What it did take on Abram’s part to believe that everything God said would happen? Why?
6. What was the significance of the building of an altar after Abram had relocated to Hebron?

You-

• Think about the consequences of a time when you were caught up in a grass is greener situation.  What were the results?
• Pray that God will give you the patience to wait on Him before taking action.
• Pray that you will have the kind of wisdom that will not give the world an opportunity to criticize the church.
• Do not think more highly of yourself but be willing to put others before yourself.

We- 

We in the church should look forward to what God wants to do with us.  The lessons that we have learned from the past should help us to become the kind of people that will be a good witness to the world around us.  Abram exemplifies for us the transformation that can take place when we learn to wait on the Lord for direction. God has promised that His family will grow if we are faithful to obey His commands.  Only through His Spirit can the church grow to become as many as the dust on the earth.

Additional Notes:

BL- In chapter 13, Abram and company headed north to the Negev.  Here, the grazing was not sufficient to support both Abram’s and Lot’s herds, so Abram proposed that he and Lot part company.  Lot, who was given first choice of land, took the fertile Jordanian plain.  He pitched his tents near Sodom, a city well known for its wickedness, thereby choosing to move away from a man of God and live near godless ones. (How careful are you and I about the company WE choose to keep?  Abram remained in Canaan, and once Lot had departed, God once again spoke of His promise to bless Abram in vv. 14-17.  How often do we promise to serve God while still holding onto our ‘Lots’–our past sins, our treasured possessions and bad habits?”  Only with the departure of the last family member was God able to bless him. Is there anything standing between us and God that WE need to leave behind in order to know the full measure of His blessings?

M-“Abram called on the name of the Lord.”  There may be more than one reason that he would have called out to God.  It was first of all from an attitude of thanksgiving for the many blessings he had received.  Thankfulness for a safe trip may have been in order. He may have been seeking of forgiveness for his lack of faith.  Whatever the purpose, we see a man who seeks God’s direction for his life. (Gen. 13:4)

C-Abram finally separated himself from Lot.  This completed the command that God had given to Abram to leave his relatives.  After Lot had gone his way then the Lord once again promised Abram the land which would be a permanent possession of his descendents forever. (Gen. 13:5-15)

GC-One of the beatitudes tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”  How did Abram exemplify what Jesus was expressing in this beatitude? (Gen. 13:8; Ps. 120:7; Matt. 5:9)

GC-Man is always to consult God before making a decision.  What might seem good for the moment may have long-term devastating consequences. (Gen. 13:10; 16:2)

M-In Lot we see a type of all the men who are seeking the greener pastures, the better life and success according to the world’s standards.  On the other hand there was Abram who was willing to trust in God for his provision and to be right in the center of God’s purpose for his life.  Men of evil practices will congregate in those places that are like a counterfeit garden of Eden.  God said to Abram, “All the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendents forever.” (Gen. 13:10-15)

WM-Although God had promised to make Abram into a great nation he by his actions showed that he some reservations that the word of God was true. (Gen. 13:10-13)

WM-Goodness was non-existent in the city of Sodom where Lot chose to live.           (Gen. 13:12; 18:20)

WM-Unlike Paul, Lot did not have contentment.  He always was looking for the greener pasture.  The insatiable appetite for what he did not have eventually led to him losing all that he had except for his two daughters. (Gen. 13:10-11)  

DM-Lot chose to go to the land that seemed well suited for his herds and flocks.  It was a land with plenty of water and as the Scripture say, “like the garden of the Lord.” That choice eventually landed Lot in the city of Sodom. (Gen. 13:10, 12)

RT-Unlike Lot in obedience to the Lord Abram remained in Canaan the place that God promised to give him and his descendents. (Gen. 13:12)

RT-Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the promise land.  He could have kept his eyes focused on his immediate surroundings and the circumstances that had brought him to this point.  With the departure of Lot he may have had second thoughts about the decision to go their separate ways.  God said, look to Me, I have much more for you.  Just look around as far as you can see at the land that is to be yours. If that is not enough you have My promise that cannot be broken, to make you into a great nation.  That should be enough for anyone.  Walk in the land and travel with Me and we will make the journey together until the final promise land belongs to those of like faith. (Gen. 13:14-17)

UE-God will not do in and through us those things He wants to accomplish as long as we insist on doing things our own way.  It was only after Lot departed that God renewed the promise He had made to Abram. (Gen. 13:14-16)

E-It took the departure of Lot for God to once again come to Abram and issue His promise to him.  Abram was given two commands:

1. He was to look in every direction
2. He was to walk the land.

God commanded him to do so in order that he might have a true perspective of the scope of God’s promises to him.  What He showed Abram enabled him to accept the covenant as a real possibility of having many descendents which at this point had to be accepted by faith alone since he had no children at that time.  After Abram had done all God instructed him to do he then settled by the oaks of Mamre and built an altar.               (Gen. 13:14-18)

RT-If we think that we can get up close to sinful activities and think that we will not be sullied by that association we underestimate the power they have on our lives.  This leads to the question, what was Lot’s first mistake? (Gen. 13:12-13)

RT-It is interesting that the place Lot claimed as his own because it seemed to be the best land.  That parcel of land would one day be inherited by Abram’s descendents.              (Gen. 13:14-17)

M-The care that a man has for his family is motivation enough for him to protect them against the enemies that they face.  He becomes disturbed when situations or people try to hold his family captive.  He will go to any lengths to free them. (Gen. 14:14-16)

GC-Faithfulness leads to a blessing from God. (Gen.13:14-17)