When God’s People Live Like the World.

Genesis 19 is a hard chapter to understand. It is often misunderstood and misinterpreted as judgment on one particular sin, but it is not. Rather, it should be read as a sub-narrative in Abraham’s story about how God’s people can slip into living like the world.

Tender Compassion Ministers to Compromise in Peril.

Abram’s life is a study in perseverance by grace.

Lot had formerly walked with the Lord, and he knew enough to be convicted of his compromise. Yet he did not act on this conviction or repent in the face of Abram’s merciful ministry.

Tender compassion ministers to compromise in peril

Genesis 14 takes a “compare and contrast” method to present truth. Lot’s story continues as a subplot in the Abram narrative, showing the life of a righteous person who does not persevere well as Abram did. Lot’s life demonstrates that the way of the transgressor is hard, and it doesn’t get easier.

In contrast, Abram dwells in stability, prosperity, hope, and peace. As we walk with the Lord, darkness around us will naturally be exposed.

The genuine walk of faith always includes more spiritual success than failure.

When studying narrative or story portions of the Bible, we will not find as many direct commands from God. We draw out spiritual principles from stories, and these are just as authoritative as direct commands.

We have observed several virtues in Abram so far, his spiritual discipline and patient obedience. The next section of narrative show Abram succumbing to temptation. Genesis records God speaking to Abram 7 times, and 3 times of Abram being tempted away from God’s truth. Here is our first principle: A saved person will never be sinless, but in the process of progressive sanctification, they will succeed more than they fail.