READ Genesis 12:10-13:13

In our starting reading we read the account of how Abraham went down to Egypt, deceived people, was rebuked for it, came back, got into a situation with Lot, and had to separate.  Let's park right here for a minute.  If you were Lot, looking at this great patriarch of the faith and soon-to-be father of a great nation, you would tailor your life according to the actions and testimony from Abraham.  But, when we read that Lot was given the choice of what direction he would pursue in life, and also notice that this unfortunate turning point in his life occurred right after Egypt, it makes us wonder to what degree Abraham had offended Lot.  How much of a stumblingblock had Abraham placed in Lot's life, especially right before a major decision, just because Abraham tried to accomplish things in his own power outside of God, and deceive people in the process?

Undoubtedly, the lure of the city life and its riches were witnessed by Lot in Egypt.  Now he can see that same opportunity providing itself before him.  He knows that Abraham did wrong, but that the Lord spared him anyway.  Perhaps that was the justification he used.  It worked for him, it'll work for me.  He got away with it and God did nothing.  Just think of how things would have been different if Abraham had not gone down to Egypt!  His family would know that they did not go down there because God called him to be separate, to dwell in that land, and that there he would get the blessing!  Lot would know to ask the Lord in making decisions on where to dwell, instead of making them on the cuff, looking at the circumstances!