Genesis 12-14
As I read this again, the word that kept coming to me was “choices,” especially the choices Abram made.
Abram chose to go. The LORD had told Abram to go, “so Abram went,” it says. Don’t you wonder how he decided to obey the Voice?
Abram chose to “sojourn in Egypt” during a famine. Do you realize how many of God’s people “sojourned” there? Let’s see, after Abram, we have Joseph, then his entire family. Later, Jeremiah went there, against his will. And, most importantly, Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled there to escape King Herod. Egypt is an important nation in the history of God’s people.
Abram chose to pass Sarah off as his sister; after all, she was his half-sister (Genesis 20:12). But still, even the partial deception is troubling.
Abram chose to rescue Lot. Noble was Abram’s family loyalty! And his victorious rescue opened the door for him to meet the mysterious priest/king Melchizedek, who we’ll hear about as we preach through Hebrews!
Abram chose NOT to accept gifts from the King of Sodom. He didn’t want to be “beholden’” to him.
Abram’s choices were, overall, pretty good, with the exception of Sister Act 1 (Genesis 12:10-20). But the choice that stands at the center of these three chapters is not Abram’s, but Lot’s. I remember the Bible Story book from which I was read to as a child. It was entitled “Lot’s Choice.” And so, “Lot chose for himself all the Jordan valley…and pitched his tent near Sodom.” It might as well say, “He chose to pitch his tent near sin,” for the next we read of Lot, he is in Sodom.
How much turns on the choices we make!
Until tomorrow,
Pastor Gary
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