Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

TENTING TOWARD SODOM
FOR MEDITATION AND SERMONIZING
Pitching One’s Tent Toward Sodom
Gen, 13:12
Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. His choice was
determined solely by contemplated personal advaiitage, by
the prospect of a “more abundant” earthiy life: his highest
values were those of this present evil world. Greed, with
the prospect of ease and luxury, proved to be too alluring
for him to resist it. Having pitched his tent toward
Sodom, he finally went all the way and became a resident
of that den of iniquity. No matter to what extent his
“righteous soul” was “sore distressed” (2 Pet. 2:7-8) by
the lust and violence which all but engulfed him, he lacked
the moral stamina to get himself and his family out of it.
Flabbiness of character showed itself in everything he did.
The root of his tragedy was that his values were all distorted:
he did not know how to put first things first.
His life story reminds us of a similar tragedy portrayed in
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesnzan. This tragic tale leaves
one emotionally depressed by its sordidness; nevertheless,
it does inculcate a tremendous moral lesson. The protagonist,
Willy Loman-a salesman whose escapist tendencies
blinded him to his real mediocrity-worshiped oiily one
god, the great god Success. In pursuing this false god, he
sacrificed his home and family, and he himself could find
ct
no exit” except by suicide. Such is always the tragic
end of one who pitches his tent toward Sodom, that is,
unless he “comes to himself” and resolutely comes back
to the Father’s house.
What happened to Lot happens to every man who
pitches his tent toward Sodom unless and until he heeds
the cry, “Come out of her, my people” (Rev. 18 :4). In
what ways, then, do men and women in our time pitch
their tents toward Sodom: They do it in various ways, as
follows: 1. By getting into the wrong crowd (Psa. 1:1;
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