Synopsis

TRAIL OF FAITH     

We are going to learn about some real people, real lives, real choices, real consequences, and above all a real God, the same God that these real people also worshipped.

Day 1         

Daily Theme - THE TRAIL OF HALF HEARTED FAITH- GOD RESCUES

• Biblical Text: Genesis  13:11-13,  19: 1-26  

Our first day’s lesson is about Terah who set out from Ur to go to the land of Canaan. On the way settled in Haran where Terah died. Now God told Terah’s son Abraham to depart and go to the land he would show and promised to make him into a great nation. So Abraham, his wife Sarah, nephew Lot set off again on another long journey. 

God had blessed Abraham abundantly. It was around this time that Lot had grown into a man and had servants and cattle of his own and it so happened that the servants of both Abraham and Lot started quarrelling among themselves.

Abraham then decided to part with Lot and let Lot choose the place that he wanted to settle in. 

Lot chose to go towards the east, the plains of Jordan valley that were green and fertile and looked prosperous. 

It wasn’t long before Lot became an important man in the city of Sodom as he was seated at the city gates.

The angels had warned Lot that they were going to destroy that place.  As dawn approached, the angels again reminded lot that he needed to take his wife and daughters out of the city.

Although Lot and his daughters could escape and were safe and alive, we see that his wife who disobeyed was turned into a pillar of salt instantaneously. 

WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT LOT

• Lot was selfish and self-centered in his choices

He walked by sight and not by faith. He saw that the land was good, governed by the world’s wisdom and standards. Being younger to Abraham, he could have asked him to decide.

• A righteous man’s gradual descent into sin

Lot’s descent into sin was gradual and step by step.

• Lot’s half-hearted obedience and Lot’s wife’s disobedience

The angels had warned Lot that they were going to destroy that place(Gen 19:13). They had no time to spare but Lot didn’t obey immediately. Action was the key but he delayed and hesitated. 

The choices made by Lot and his wife each had their own consequences. The result was tragic in the case of Lot’s wife. 

• WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT GOD?

God is Holy and doesn’t tolerate sin 

(Gen 18:16-33) God was angry with the wickedness and sin of the people of the two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. He decided to destroy them completely.

God Rescues

In his mercy, God offered Lot a way out and warned the family of the consequences. He sent angels to rescue Lot’s family.

• HOW DO WE APPLY WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT IN OUR LIVES?

1.We are (I am) responsible for our (my) choices

We should understand that we ourselves are responsible for the choices that we make.

In spite of this upbringing, he made his choices based on what he saw and what he thought was the best according to his limited knowledge, but not on the basis of God’s will and purpose.

Remember you will have to take several decisions during the course of your life that come along with the consequences.

In this context I want us to try personalizing this statement so every time we get to make a choice we are reminded of the consequence as well. 

“I am responsible for the choices I make.”

2. Beware of how sin entices you (Genesis Ch13, 19)

Lot’s descent into sin was gradual and step by step.

Can we take time to think if there is anything that is slowly pulling us away from God, or things that make him sad, such as our habits, friends, places, language, behavior, pride, idleness, rebellion etc.

If God would extend his helping hand to you, would you be willing to take help immediately or rather hesitant like Lot with half-hearted or wavering faith. 

• HOW DO WE CONNECT TO THE THEME?

Many a times we are certainly warned of the consequences, of the choices that we make, but we turn a deaf ear to that. So I want all of us to focus on being on the track and not to go off track; keep checking if you are on track or not. You might miss it at the last moment like Lot’s wife. Let’s not be like Lot either, hesitant and reluctant, but have complete faith in God.

• MEMORY VERSE: 

The Lord is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in love. PSALM 103:8