In Genesis 13:7-9, we see that because of strife among their herdsmen, Abraham wanted to separate himself from Lot:
“Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
His “Please separate from me” may have connotations. It seems that Lot had a lot of heavy baggage that came out later. This included a worldly wife. His wife was so worldly that Jesus told us not to forget her:
“Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32
And then there was the insanity of Lot offering his daughters to wicked men:
“Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” Genesis 19:7–8
More baggage included his initial love for Sodom. When he was offered the first choice of the land, he chose the land close to Sodom:
“Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan… well watered everywhere…” Genesis 13:10
That sounds like a sensible decision, but two verses later the Bible gives a warning:
“The men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” Genesis 13:13
He looked towards the city, settled there, and ended up sitting “in the gate” of Sodom (Genesis 19:1). That suggests he was in some leadership position.
So, Abraham was justified in his desire to separate from his nephew. Even though he had a lot of baggage, as time passed, we see that there’s a little more to Lot. He finally sorted out his priorities. The Scriptures tell us in the New Testament:
“…and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was tormented by the immoral conduct of unprincipled and ungodly men (for that just man, living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by what he saw and heard of their unlawful and wicked deeds)—” 2 Peter 2:6–8 (AMP)
“May God help us to separate ourselves from this evil world.”
It’s easy to be enamored with a modern-day Sodom. Hollywood is loved for its glitz and glamour. Who isn’t impressed by the flashing cameras taking pictures of beautiful people, the talented screenwriters crafting powerful stories, and the soul-stirring scores? But it’s a pit filled with filthy cockroaches, snakes, and dirty rats—men who so often prove to be sexual predators and women who prostitute themselves for money and fame. Since its inception, Hollywood’s stubborn demonic agenda has been to erode the foundations of morality—to promote homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery, profanity, abortion, promiscuity, the occult, pornography, and mockery of God—and especially mockery of Christianity. It has glorified violence, undermined the institution of marriage, normalized greed and materialism, and desensitized its audiences to sin through constant exposure. It has promoted physical beauty above godly character, turned wickedness into entertainment, and blurred the line between good and evil. It’s an industry built on rebellion, pride, envy, the love of money, and self-seeking. And that’s the doorway to demons:
“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” James 3:16
The Apostle may have had a vision of Hollywood when he penned:
“Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
And the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:13-18
May God help us to separate ourselves from this evil world.
