Lot, a man in need of a Saviour
This is the fourth study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit … He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. Genesis 14:14-16 (NIV)
Abraham’s story spans 15 chapters of Genesis: his birth is recorded in Genesis 11:26, and his death, at the age of 175 years, in Genesis 25:8. The detailed genealogies from the aftermath of the flood to Abraham present a bewildering list of people, but it is Abraham and his family whose life is picked out at this time as a shadow of things to come: the framework in which the story of Israel and the promised Saviour can be understood, with the coming of the Christ uniting Abraham’s story to God’s own story.
Abraham led a nomadic life, much of it directed by God, moving first with his father and his nephew Lot from Ur to Haran (Genesis 11:31). Later moves took him to a number of locations in Canaan, then Egypt and back to Canaan. It meant leaving family and familiar surroundings, putting himself completely in God’s hands. But he followed God’s directions when he said, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1). Maybe Abraham, as he was packing up his belongings, uttered similar words to Christ’s prayer prior to his death: “…nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42 ESV).
Every move was accompanied by promises fulfilling the meaning of his later God-given name, ‘father of multitudes’. God did not leave him without hope, and we are not left without hope. Abraham was comforted with the words, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1 NIV). We have the similar ‘exceeding great and precious promises’ (2 Peter 1:4 KJV), referenced by Peter, when we turn our back on our previous lives and embrace this new life in Christ.
Within the account of Abraham, there is the story of Lot. He might be seen as a shadow of ourselves in his relationship with Abraham, as a story that is continually played out in our own lives. Lot’s father had died early in his life, and it would appear that Abraham had taken him under his wing. Lot ‘followed’ Abraham when he moved from place to place, as directed by God. Lot was a nephew whom Abraham was always intervening for. Nothing seemed to go right for him. He chose the best land, but then chose to live within the bounds of a sinful city (Genesis 13:10-13). He offered his daughters, essentially to be raped, to protect visiting angels. He resisted instructions to flee to the mountains, instead, going to Zoar – and ended up in the mountains anyway. He fathered two children by his two daughters, while in a drunken stupor – two nights in a row. (Genesis 19).
When Lot was captured, Abraham gathered his men together and rescued him. (Genesis 14:12-16). When God made it clear that he would destroy Sodom – where Lot had ill-advisedly set up home – it was Abraham who was his advocate. (Genesis 18:22-33). He didn’t give up on him, despite his poor life choices. We have a Father in heaven who does not turn his back on us, regardless of our sins, or our poor choices when we live too close to sin. The Apostle John tells us, ‘…But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.’ (1 John 2:1 NIV).
Prayer
Thank you Father, that despite our imperfections and the sin that so easily ensnares us, you have provided hope through the promises we have in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Study by Maggie Mitchell
Maggie Mitchell attends the Market Harborough congregation of Grace Communion International
Local congregation:
GCI Market Harborough
9 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
LE16 7QU
Meeting time:
Sunday 4.00 pm
Local congregational contact:
Sinead Henderson
Email: sinead.henderson@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church