LOT'S CHOICE. -- Genesis 13:1-13. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness._ -- Matthew 6:33. TIME. --About B.&nbp;C. 1917. PLACE. --Southeastern Palestine. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 14:1-12; Genesis 19:12-28; Luke 17:28-32; 2 Peter 2:4-11. LESSON... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAM WAS VERY RICH. He was already. man of great substance before his sojourn in Egypt, but Genesis 12:16 seems to teach that Pharaoh had added to his wealth. The nature of his wealth is described; like that of all oriental chiefs it consisted, to. great extent, of flocks; but to these had been ad... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT ON HIS JOURNEY FROM THE SOUTH, EVEN TO BETHEL. Literally, "he went according to his removings," that is, by encampments, pausing at each until the pasturage grew scanty, and then moving on. Bethel seems to have been the goal towards which he was moving--a favorite spot, because of its relig... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE PLACE OF THE ALTAR. To the spot where he had reared an altar, and conducted solemn worship, years before (Genesis 12:8). His heart doubtless longed for his first love, in the land of promise, and to get back to the sweet memorial places where he had communed with God. He had been an exile,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LOT ALSO.. HAD FLOCKS, AND HERDS, AND TENTS. Separate possessions and great property.. part he might have inherited from his father, and these would increase rapidly during the years of his sojourn.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LAND WAS NOT ABLE TO BEAR THEM. Lot had shared Abraham's prosperity. They had come up out of Egypt with larger herds and flocks, and more "tents" for their numerous retainers. The land may not have fully recovered from the effects of the drought that had caused the famine; at any rate there... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS STRIFE BETWEEN THE HERDSMEN. The servants of each chieftain, zealous for their master's interest, would seek the supplies of water and the best pastures, for the cattle of which they had charge. Conflicting interests would produce collisions, and they came to blows. AND THE CANAANITE... [ Continue Reading ]
II.. PATRIARCH'S GREATNESS OF SOUL. 8. LET THERE BE NO STRIFE,. PRAY THEE, BETWEEN THEE AND ME. Had Abraham been less noble and magnanimous, there was an excellent opportunity for. bloody conflict and. permanent alienation between the two families; the strife had already begun; the rude herdsmen w... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THE WHOLE LAND BEFORE THEE? The land of Canaan had been given to Abraham and his seed; he had the divine charter for its possession. He was the patriarch of the tribe, and in every way the superior, yet he offers to yield his rights and give to Lot the first choice. It is the true Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
III.. SELFISH CHOICE. 10. AND LOT LIFTED UP HIS EYES. Instead of reciprocating the magnanimity of one to whom he was so much indebted, Lot determined to accept the offer and to make the most out of it possible. Therefore he "lifted up his eyes" to survey the country. From the mountain heights of Be... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN LOT CHOSE HIM ALL THE PLAIN OF JORDAN. In choosing this rich valley and excluding his uncle from it, Lot fancied that he had made. crafty choice. It was. selfish choice, an unwise choice, and the turning point of his own life downward. Henceforth misfortunes accumulate; he is made. captive by... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAM DWELLED IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. As distinguished from the valley of the Jordan, being the portion of Palestine between the valley and the Mediterranean Sea. At. later period the term had. wider signification and took in Gilead, east of the Jordan. LOT DWELLED IN THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN. The... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN OF SODOM WERE WICKED. "Lot had fallen into the very vortex of vice and blasphemy. The vices which prevailed have made 'Sodom' the synonym of the most degrading and brutal crimes in society. The after history of its destruction shows the vile and unblushing vices of the people, which, made t... [ Continue Reading ]