Choices and Consequences – Part 2

The Bible is filled with rich stories that teach eternal truths.

There is an Old Testament story, I call it a parable. It teaches that when we make choices, we should consider the outcome or possible consequences of the choices we are making.  See Genesis 19

Abraham is one of the best known and perhaps most influential prophets of the Old Testament. Even though he was a faithful servant, his choice to follow God did not make his life easy, but he was richly rewarded for his faithfulness. He became the father of the covenant people of God.

In the biblical narrative, Abraham travels with and takes care of his nephew whose name was Lot. They survive famine and war but eventually become so successful that they need to separate so they can find pasture for their large herds of animals.

Abraham gave Lot the choice of all the land around them and Lot thought he made a wise choice when he picked the green pastures along the Jordan River near two cities named Sodom and Gomorrah. It was Lot’s second choice that led to disastrous consequences. He chose to pitch his tent toward Sodom.

Abraham took his herds to the land of Canaan and built an altar and pitched his tent toward the altar.  In our day we might say that Abraham pitched his tent toward the temple.

Some time later three men of God came to Abraham and his wife Sarah. Two of them explained that God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the wickedness of the people in those two cities. After some careful negotiations with Abraham the two men went on to Sodom and stayed the night with Lot and his family. They explained that the next day the cities would be destroyed. Lot and his family were reluctant to leave. They had a nice home.  Lot’s daughters were engaged to be married and the two fiancés laughed at Lot for believing God’s emissaries. They did not want to make such a great sacrifice and they were uncertain that the prophesied destruction would actually happen. After some strong persuasion, the two men of God took Lot, his wife and their two daughters by the hand and lead them from the city.

Lot’s family was counselled not to look back toward the city. Perhaps that meant that they were to turn the face of their tent away from the evil they had left. Lot’s wife turned back and died.

The story ends with Lot having an incestuous relationship his daughters, and living homeless, in the mountains.

The principle of agency is the right to choose for ourselves.  We can choose a course of action, but we cannot choose the consequences of our action.

Lot chose to raise his herds in the green plain near the Jordan River. That seemed like a wise choice. He also chose to face his tent toward an evil place and as a result he ended up losing everything.

Abraham built an altar and faced his tent toward the altar. The altar is a symbol of sacrifice.

Acting on the choices we make often requires that we give up something that is important to us now. Progress usually requires sacrifice.

Lot and his family did not want to sacrifice their wealthy lifestyle and leave Sodom.  Abraham’s first action in his new home in Canaan was to build an altar where he could make sacrifices.

Since I began pondering the meaning of this story I have developed a formula for making decisions in my life.  I ask myself:

What am I willing to sacrifice in order for this choice to achieve a successful outcome?

And

As a result of this choice, which way will my tent be facing?