No one takes the path of faith without being tested. The test is allowed to discover, on the one hand, our weakness, and, on the other, the grace and faithfulness of God. In Abraham’s history, the test came in the form of a famine. Under the pressure of his need, he followed the dictates of mere common sense and, for a time, “went down into Egypt.” Instead of counting upon God to sustain him, he goes down to the world for help. Having taken this false step, he finds that, though his immediate needs are met, he fears that he will be killed in order to satisfy the lusts of Egypt. Left to his own devices, he sinks below the level of the world and acts a lie. Abraham even acquires riches, but at what a cost! In Egypt he can pitch no tent and raise no altar, nor call upon the name of the Lord. Yet, in spite of all failure, God is faithful to His own and acted on behalf of his failing servant. In result, when the deceit is discovered, Abraham is dismissed by the world, for Pharaoh says, “Behold ... thy wife: take her, and go away.”
Recovery From Failure
Abraham has been dismissed from Egypt. Where he goes is a matter of indifference to the world. Abraham, however, was a true man of faith, though, like ourselves, he at times breaks down in the path of faith. Having tasted the blessedness of the outside place, nothing will satisfy his soul but getting back into the place of blessing from which his feet had strayed. So we read, “Abram went up out of Egypt ... into the south ... and he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been ... unto the place of the altar” (Gen. 13:2-42And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai; 4Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 13:2‑4)). As with every truly restored soul, he retraces his path step by step until, once again, he is found in his stranger and pilgrim character with his tent, as a worshipper with his altar, and as a dependent man calling upon the name of the Lord.
Result of Failure
The restoration of Abraham is complete, but the effect of his failure upon Lot at once comes to light. In Lot we see the man of nature who can make a fair profession, but cannot take the path of faith that leads outside the world. In Abraham, we have seen the man of faith who, acting according to the word of the Lord, takes the outside place, though at times he may fail in this path. In Lot we see a true believer who takes the outside place, not in faith in God, but under the influence of man. Already we have read that when Abraham departed from Haran, “Lot [went] with him” (Gen. 12:44So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:4)). Again, when Abraham went up out of Egypt, we read, “Lot went with him” (Gen. 13:11And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. (Genesis 13:1)). Now, for the third time (Gen. 13:55And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. (Genesis 13:5)) Lot is described as the man “which went with Abram.”
Lot represents a large class who take up a right position outside the world, but do so under the influence of a friend or relative rather than from personal exercise and faith in God. From the beginning of his path, Lot was characterized by walking in the light of another. When the test comes, believers who walk in the light of another will break down and give up a path about which they never had any exercise and for which they have no personal faith.
The Snare of Riches
How often, too, the test today takes the form that it did in the story of Abraham and Lot. As we read, “There was a strife.” We learn further that the immediate cause of the strife was their possessions. We do well to notice the twice-repeated statement that they were not able to dwell together, and the deeply significant cause of the division, “for their substance was great.” How often, since then, believers have been divided by jealousy of one another’s spiritual gifts or temporal riches. The abuse of spiritual gifts was a source of division in the assembly at Corinth. Poverty might have led them to cling to one another; their riches became a cause of division.
In the case of Abraham and Lot, their temporal riches became the occasion of division. When Abraham started upon the path of faith, Lot went with him, and they took “all their substance,” but it was no cause of strife (Gen. 12:55And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12:5)). In Egypt, however, Abraham acquires great wealth so that after his restoration we read that he “was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” The wealth that he acquires through turning aside from the path of faith becomes a cause of strife and division between brethren. Striving together, these brothers cease to be a witness to God before the Canaanites and the Perizzites that dwelt in the land.
The Position of Faith
Nevertheless, Abraham is a restored man in a true position with a right motive, whereas Lot, though in a right position, is only a follower of others. Therefore, while strife becomes the sad occasion of revealing the worldly-mindedness of Lot, it also brings to light the heavenly-mindedness of Abraham, who can renounce things seen. Abraham says, “Let there be no strife, I pray ... between me and thee ... for we be brethren.” The man who is in a position for which he has not faith will, in the end, become a source of strife among brethren and had better separate from the man whose faith he cannot follow.
Abraham, with the heavenly country before him, can afford to renounce the present world with its prospect of ease and plenty. Lot can choose, and if he takes the best according to nature and sight, Abraham will be content to take the path that God chooses for him, knowing that it will end in the land of promise with all its blessedness.
The Choice of the Flesh
Without seeking direction from God, Lot chooses his path according to sight. It was an alluring sight and had promise of present ease and plenty. Everywhere there was water for his flocks, without the labor of digging wells. So fruitful was the plain that it was “even as the garden of the Lord.” Most significant of all, it was “like the land of Egypt.” Having followed Abraham into Egypt, Lot had acquired a taste for Egypt’s pleasures and had strengthened his desire for ease and plenty.
So Lot chooses all the plain of Jordan and gives up the separate path. There was nothing gross or wrong in choosing a well-watered plain, but it proves that the heart is not set on the unseen land of God’s promise. Moreover, the real danger of the well-watered plains is that Satan had reared Sodom in their midst.
Abraham remains in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwells in the cities of the plain. Having left the path of faith, his way is ever downward, for we next read that he “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” We learn that for Lot there is no recovery. Lower and lower he sinks, until at last he passes from the scene under a cloud of shame and dishonor.
The Confession of Faith
Abraham, freed from the encumbrance of his worldly-minded nephew, receives fresh communications from the Lord. Lot had allowed himself to be guided by the sight of his eyes apart from the direction of the Lord. Now Abraham uses his eyes, but at the direction of the Lord, for, when Lot was separated from him, the Lord said, “Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art” (Gen. 13:1414And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: (Genesis 13:14)). He is to look in every direction at the land which the Lord has given him. It is well for us if we too set our minds on things above and seek to enjoy every part of the revelation that God has given to us of the world to come — the heavenly country with its city which has foundations.
In this sense, we can still answer to the Lord’s direction to Abraham when He said, “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it unto thee” (Gen. 13:1717Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:17)). Set free from mere followers, rising above all petty strife and allowing the Lord to choose his path, Abraham enjoys a rich unfolding of the world to come, for which, in patience, he waits.
H. Smith, adapted