How to Hear From God

                         Abraham or Lot

Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

Commentary

Hebrews 11:9,10 By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Genesis 18 and 19 reveal truths from the Bible that have a direct application for us today. It shows how Abraham was in tune with God. Because of this, God revealed coming judgment to Abraham that was soon going to completely destroy Sodom and Gomorrha along with five other cities. These cities were completely given over to the sin of fornication.

Lot on the other hand was living in ground zero of this judgment, and he had no idea it was on the way. He was completely blinded to God’s judgment, which was about to be unleash where he was living.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Abraham knew it was on the way while Lot had no idea. There were reasons why God warned Abraham of the coming catastrophic judgment on sin and Lot was blind. The reasons are still valid today and can be applied to us.

In this is seen the stark difference between the two believers. Abraham heard from the Lord while Lot could not hear and was blinded to the imminent destruction. Even though Lot was living in Sodom, the Bible makes it very clear that he was just and righteous before God.

2 Peter 2:6-8 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Lot was upset with the sin of Sodom, but that was not enough to hear from God. Just like today, there are many, who are upset with the sin of America, but that is not enough to hear from God about judgment. The problem was Lot living in Sodom and unknowingly becoming part of it. He was drawn to Sodom because of its wealth and lifestyle. He made a conscious decision to be part of Sodom. By doing this, he blocked hearing God’s voice and warning, which led to disastrous consequences for him and his family.

The following verses from Genesis describes the separation of Abraham and Lot, and Lot choosing to live near Sodom:

Genesis 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
(7) And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
(8) And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
(9) Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

 (10) And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD … (11) Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Sodom was alluring to Lot and Ezekiel 16: 47-50 states what was so alluring. These people were haughty and full of pride and they were wealthy with “fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness”. The land was full of abomination, which means homosexuality. It appears that Lot overlooked the sin of Sodom to live the “good life”. He was drawn by the easy lifestyle, and did not fear God about judging this sin.

After they separated, Lot moved close to Sodom. The Bible makes it very clear that at this time the people of Sodom were exceedingly wicked before the Lord. Lot knew this, yet he moved with his family close to Sodom while Abrahan stayed away. Again, Lot choose the easy lifestyle knowing full well that the people were given over to sin. The use of the words “exceedingly wicked” means that they were consumed with sin. Their thoughts, deeds and actions were continually sinful.

Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. (13) But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Later, in Genesis 19:1, Lot is sitting at the “gate” of Sodom. At the “gate”, means that he was in a position of authority and commerce. Lot had become part of Sodom.

Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Notice the progression of Lot, as he first looked toward Sodom; then he moved near Sodom; and then he was sitting at the gate of Sodom. Once Lot separated from Abraham, he was drawn to Sodom, until it became part of him. This is the reason that Lot was unable to hear from the Lord of the imminent judgment. He was part of Sodom.

Abraham on the other hand would have nothing to do with Sodom. Genesis 14 records Abraham saving Lot and many people of Sodom from a unified attack. The King of Sodom approached Abraham and offered him all the goods, which Abraham had saved during the battle. Abraham refused to take anything from the King of Sodom! He wanted nothing to do with Sodom and lived separate from them.

Genesis 14:21-23 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Just before God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, He spoke with Abraham. He mentioned that Abraham was mighty in the sight of the Lord, and that all the nations of the earth where going to be blessed in him. God then went on to show why Abraham was so blessed, and why God was revealing to him the judgment on Sodom.

The outstanding characteristic that caught God’s attention was that Abraham was a family man and put God first in his life and in the life of his children. The ways of the Lord were most important to Abraham and to instill them in his children and everyone connected with Abraham. Abraham would not think of going to Sodom because of the sin, and this sin could get into his family. The things of God were of the utmost importance and not living a leisurely life in Sodom. Abraham is our example of what it means to be a family man. Notice how simple this is, yet it caught the heart of God and got His attention.

Because Abraham was so faithful in following the ways of God and instilling them in his family, God could trust Abraham with His plan for man’s redemption. God’s plan of salvation went right through Abraham to his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob right down to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Genesis 18:17,18 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

(19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 

When God revealed the coming judgment on Sodom, Abraham immediately cried out for his nephew Lot. He interceded before the Lord to spare the righteous from destruction. This shows the heart of Abraham as he immediately interceded before the Lord. I believe this is another reason why God revealed the judgment to Abraham. He wanted intercession, which is exactly what Abraham did. Based on Abraham’s intercession, God spared Lot and his family from the judgment.

Genesis 19:20,21 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. (23) And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Abraham showed the spiritual character of a man of God. He was a family man instilling the ways of the Lord in his family. He put God before pleasure and protected his family from sin. Immediately upon learning of the judgment, he interceded before God for mercy. This is a true man of God, whether it was 4000 years ago or today, as nothing has changed with God.

Although Lot was spared from being consumed with Sodom, he paid a terrible price. He lost his entire family. Lot tried to warn his daughters and their husbands of the coming judgment and to flee Sodom with him. His family mocked Lot. While living in Sodom, Lot had no power from God and the power of Sodom was so overwhelming, that his family would not leave.

They lived in Sodom and Sodom lived in them. Lot’s daughters and husbands had just watched the Sodomites attempt to break into Lot’s house and sexually assault the angels. Yet, they wanted to stay in Sodom! When the sin of Sodom gets into a person’s heart, it is extremely powerful and spiritually blinding,

Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

The angels grab Lot, his wife and two unmarried daughters and fled from the city. Lot and his family were warned not to look back or they would be consumed. Lot’s wife looked back and died along with the rest of the family that choose to stay in Sodom. Lot fled to the mountains with his two remaining daughters. The daughters got their father drunk. They then seduced him in an incestual relationship which produced two children.

Lot and daughters fleeing the destruction of Sodom

Lot and his daughters fled Sodom, but the spirit of Sodom was alive and well in them. In the end, Lot lost everything. He lost his wife and his daughters along with their families that stayed in Sodom. His two remaining daughters committed fornication with him, which produced sons named Moab and Ammon. Their descendants became pagans and bitter enemies of Israel.

What a legacy for Lot! His descendents became pagans much like the inhabitants of Sodom. His daughters raised their sons with the spirit of Sodom! And finally, Lot lost all his wealth which was the reason he went to Sodom!

While Lot was running for his life and everything he owned along with most of his family were destroyed, Abraham was safe and watched the entire event! What a vivid description of the two believers. One was told by the Lord of the judgment and was safe long with his family and everything he owned. The other was fleeing for his life and lost everything.

Genesis 19:27,28 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Abraham left an entirely different legacy. He followed God, and his descendants carried the everlasting covenant. Through Abraham’s seed came the prophets, the law, and the word of God. From Abraham came eternal salvation through his greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, to follow Abraham takes a great desire and effort. America has become like Sodom and Gomorrha. We need to put our family first and not wealth like Lot did.

This might mean moving away from “Sodom” to a place with a better environment.

It might mean taking a less paying job and living in a smaller house.

It might mean closely watching our children and who they associate with.

It might mean home schooling them to keep Sodom away from them.

It means spending time with them teaching them how to memorize the King James Bible and protecting them from the modern corrupted translations.

It means teaching them the truths of the Bible and protecting them from the heresies all around us.

It means keeping your children for getting tattoos as the pagans wear them.

It means that your daughters dress modest and not lewd like the pagans.

It means that your children do not have rings and piercings in the their bodies like the pagans do.

It means protecting them from the contemporary rock music and providing them with Godly music.

It means daily prayer and intercession for your family.

All of this is very serious because the consequences are enormous. Do you want to hear from God? Do you want to be consumed in judgment? Do you want your family protected? Do you want a godly seed and legacy?

Are you living in Sodom and like Lot turned your family over to spirit of Sodom, or are you like Abraham looking for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the New Jerusalem?

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.