Abraham was Lot’s uncle. Lot was the son of Abraham’s brother, Haran. Following the death of Haran in Ur, Abraham took Lot with him when he obeyed God’s call to leave his father’s house and journey toward the land of Canaan.

Studying these two men is very profitable. We recommend listening to: 

Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1064: “Is He Who Hesitates Really Lost? The Story of Lot”
Learning the importance of having faith AND conviction
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes

Here are five of the many lessons we can learn from their relationship and contrasting lives:

1. Proximity to Evil is Dangerous
When Abraham and Lot needed to separate because their households had grown too large, Abraham selflessly gave Lot the first choice of land. Lot chose the lush, fertile valley of the Jordan and moved his tents as far as Sodom, despite the fact that the men there were “wicked exceedingly”. This choice to rationalize living close to evil for physical flourishing eventually led to his being surrounded by it. In contrast, Abraham stayed in the harder, mountainous country and remained safe from the eventual destruction of the valley.

2. Conviction Prevents Hesitation
Lot is an example of hesitation resulting from a lack of full conviction. Even when angels literally seized his hand to rescue him from Sodom’s destruction, Lot hesitated because he was still attached to his comfortable environment. Abraham, however, jumped to serve God and His messengers immediately. The lesson for Christians is to follow a “Thus saith the Lord” without negotiation or double mindedness.

3. Selflessness Promotes Unity
Abraham’s character is highlighted by his unattachment to earthly real estate. By allowing Lot to choose his direction first, Abraham demonstrated the quality of “in honor preferring one another.” He trusted that God would take care of him regardless of which land he received, prioritizing family unity over personal gain.

4. The Privilege of Divine Friendship
Abraham is famously called the “friend of God,” a relationship built on shared experiences and deep trust. This unique bond was so strong that God allowed Abraham to “bargain” or negotiate with Him regarding the destruction of Sodom, listening to Abraham’s plea to spare the city for the sake of the righteous. This teaches that focused obedience and loyalty allow for a profound “give-and-take” relationship with the Creator.

5. Choices Determine Your Legacy
The end of their stories provides a stark contrast in generational outcomes. Abraham’s unwavering faithfulness resulted in a legacy that produced Isaac and eventually Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. Lot’s compromises and the environment he raised his family in resulted in a “faithless legacy”; his daughters’ actions led to the birth of the Moabites and Ammonites, nations that were notoriously rebellious against God. This serves as a warning to consider the long-term impact of the “small” decisions we make today.