Seldom has a leader made a more ill advised alliance than Lot. Initially, the union appeared as harmless as choosing a Coke instead of a Pepsi.

I Might Have Made The Same Decision

I’m sympathetic to Lot because in his situation I might have made the same decision. Abram, whom God would later name Abraham, approached his nephew with a reasonable solution to a pressing problem: Too many livestock and too little land.  And so Abram told Lot, “Let’s not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we’re family. Look around. Isn’t there plenty of land out there? Let’s separate. If you go left, I’ll go right; if you go right, I’ll go left.” (Gen 13:8-9).

Because he was older, Abram could have assigned Lot a parcel of land or taken the best land for himself. Lot should have refused the first option. But what’s a selfish and shortsighted man to do?

Instead of allying himself with Abram and God, Lot chose a different alliance. As Lot gazed at the lush Jordan plain he made a tragic decision. In Genesis 13:12 we find that Lot “pitched his tents near Sodom.” Years later, before God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, we’re told the angel found Lot “sitting in the gateway of the city” (Genesis 19:1).

Aligning With The Enemy

In the ancient world the leaders of a city met at the gate to make important decisions. Lot was probably there because he had become a leader of Sodom. What had started as a campsite “near” Sodom resulted in an alliance with the city. Lot had become one of them. 

That terrible alliance explains why he resisted leaving. And why his wife looked back and lost her life (Genesis 19:26). And why his daughters got him drunk and seduced him (Genesis 19:33).

A single choice led to a single alliance that led to numerous tragedies.

Do This Before Aligning

Remember this: When considering aligning yourself with a person or cause be sure you do the one thing Lot didn’t do . . . PRAY. And as you pray ask for the wisdom to choose the course of action that will align you with God and His purpose.  That alliance will lead to countless blessings.