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Set Apart Lives

As I mentioned yesterday, the first thing Sarah and Abraham did upon arriving in Canaan's lavish land was to set up an altar and worship God. Abraham did not worship God secretly or privately but “called upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 12:8). Calling upon the Lord indicates less than subtle worship and might have even called attention to his reverence of a singular God. When everyone around them worshiped pagan gods in elaborate temple ceremonies, Abraham and Sarah chose to honor God and live differently.

As described in Genesis 13, Abraham and his nephew Lot had so many livestock that the land they had been residing in could no longer support them. So, Abraham humbly offered Lot the first opportunity to choose the territory where he would settle. Lot chose the fertile and well-watered land in the plain of the Jordan, which was near Sodom. Lot may have made this decision due to the prosperity he envisioned by planting crops on better land. Humbly, Abraham allowed his nephew to choose the preferred territory. Lot may have thought he had won a prize.

Later in Genesis 18—19, we see that God decreed the destruction of Lot’s land and wealth because of their sin (Gen. 18:20, 19:13). God saved Lot and his immediate family, but only because God “remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the middle of the upheaval” before God poured out judgment on the wickedness of the inhabitants of this city (Gen 19:29).

Since Scripture mentions Lot sitting in the gateway of the city in Genesis 19:1, we know that Lot likely served as part of the city's ruling council. If he was indeed serving in leadership, this means the townspeople likely accepted him. He would not have been considered an outsider to the citizens but an active participant. While it’s certainly not wrong for one of God’s followers to have leadership roles in their local community and the Bible does tell us to live among outsiders in a way that amasses a good reputation (1 Timothy 3:7; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1; 1 Peter 2:12), we have to wonder why, after so many years there, Lot’s influence did not yield even ten converts to the faith (Genesis 18:22-33)? If it had, God would have spared the whole city, but he didn’t!

Did Lot so want to be accepted by the townsfolk that he compromised to go along with their wicked ways? Did he overlook some of the immoral and evil activities? Regardless of the details, this much is clear: every bit of wealth and comfort Lot had in this world was destroyed when God executed judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. The evil of the city around him may not have cost him his life, but it caused Lot to lose all his livestock, crops, home, and even his wife (see Gen 19).

God blessed and provided for Abraham because he had chosen to live a life not necessarily separated from a certain city (for all cities have sin in them!) but certainly, a life separated from evil in terms of his heart and behavior. Even while dwelling in a pagan city, he chose the ways of Yahweh instead of the ways of the world.

Living in a military culture, you will likely be surrounded by unwholesome influences. You will be challenged to live in the world but not be of the world (John 17:14). While living a life set apart for the Lord can be difficult, it is always worthwhile, and its distinctiveness may draw others to faith in Christ.

Thank you for reading!

This plan was adapted from Another Move, God? by author Beth Runkle. Click here to learn more or purchase your copy today.