The Tent

In the Genesis 13, the story is told of Abram (Abraham) and his nephew Lot who had to separate because their herdsmen couldn't get along.  Abram gave Lot the choice of the land and he chose to take the fertile valley of  the Jordan River. 

Verse 12 records that Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.  Then verse thirteen says But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.   The extent of their wickedness is not fully explained until chapters eighteen and nineteen where the Lord told Abraham He was going to destroy the wicked cities including Sodom.   Even Abraham could not change the Lord's mind.

By the grace of God, Lot was given a chance to escape the destruction as the Lord sent two angels to rescue him and his family.  They were told to Escape for your life!  Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain.  Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed. Genesis 19:17.  However, Lot's wife ignored the warning and looked back at the cities as they were destroyed and was turned into a pillar of salt.  To make matters worse, Lot's two daughters contrived a plan to commit incest with their father and bore children by him.  Their names were Moab and Ben-Ammi who became nations of hostility toward the people of Israel.

How different this story may have ended if  Lot had just chosen to pitch his tent somewhere besides Sodom.  His choice for a place that was the most prosperous and productive caused him heartache and loss.  He lost his wife and lived with the shame his daughters brought on him for the rest of his life.  Your life can be ruined too if you choose worldly prosperity over God’s eternal blessings.

Watch where you pitch your tent.