Today we have the story of Abram and Lot separating and a strong picture of salvation from Genesis 13. Firstly we have Lot and the people he joined demonstrating the 3 faces of temptation. Firstly Lot lusts with his eyes when he looks to what seems to be the best land to take. Secondly, we presume that by continuing to live there, he lusted in his flesh - something that Sodom and Gomorrah were famous for, and then, as a group of kings, they lusted after pride, believing that they would defeat the foreign kings. Since this was all done in their own strength, we are shown that temptation leads to sin which leads to defeat. It is always interesting that God doesn't choose sides in the OT per se, but instead seems to work through those who trust in him, whether at home or from abroad (remember that phrase "my servant Cyrus" - a foreign king!).
We are then told about God's wonderful redemptive plan through Abram who saves Lot and the rest of the captives graciously and not for any earned reason.
Matthew 5:27 reflects on some of these temptations when he records Jesus talking about adultery, vows, divorce, revenge and loving your enemies. The hint here is that it is the inside that is defective in humans and therefore the inside that needs saving, something we are unable to do ourselves. It also alludes to our total dependence on God for life and direction.
We then read in Psalm 6 about the correct posture of a human which as yesterday involves genuine humility before God, referring our need onto God who can and will provide.
Proverbs 1:29 then warns people who chose to control their own destiny what will happen to them.
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