Moses
"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible." Hebrews 11:24-27
"Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds." Acts 7:22
Moses could have been one of the richest men in the world; he could have been ruler in Egypt; but he chose to join the slaves of Egypt instead. He must have studied all the religious customs and gods of Egypt, but he chose to serve the God of the Hebrew slaves instead of the many gods whom Egyptians believed gave them their great power.
At some point in his early life, Moses must have prayed to God and God had entered his life. Moses knew God, and once he got to know him nothing and no one else would take his place in Moses' heart. He was "looking forward to his reward," which was seeing God in heaven one day and living with him forever.
The Choice of Lot: The Nephew of Abraham
Abraham and Lot, his nephew, owned many herds of cattle. Their herdsmen began quarreling over sharing the land. Moses said, "Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere-- this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah-- like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.
Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.
Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom." Genesis 13:12
Lot chose the land near Sodom; it was the best land because of its water. He should have given that land to Abraham but he didn't. He not only took the best land but he pitched his tents near Sodom, one of the most wicked cities in the area. Later on, he actually moved inside the city itself.
Dwight L. Moody writes this: "Lot's covetous eye looked upon the well-watered plains of the valley of Jordan that reached out towards Sodom and chose them. He was influenced by sight instead of faith. I think that is where a great many Christian people make their mistake - walking by sight instead of faith.
If he had stopped to think, Lot might have known that it would be disastrous to him and his family to go anywhere near Sodom."
We know what happened to Sodom and Lot. God saved Lot's life but couldn't save the rest of his family. His daughters had learned the ways of Sodom too well and their children became the founders of two evil nations.
Lot himself, even though he made terrible mistakes, was still a righteous man.
Peter tells us, "But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. (For by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds). 2 Peter 2:7,8
Perhaps Lot knew he shouldn't move to Sodom. We are weak; we make wrong choices. It doesn't mean God leaves us. If we get into trouble because of our choices God will still help us if we ask him and stay with him. We aren't saved by our works but through faith in the God of the universe who loves us and gave himself for us. "Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live." Galatians 1:4
Our lives will be more beautiful and fruitful if we give our choices to God and ask for his guidance. Lot chose to live where he could thought he could gain more wealth. Moses chose to leave the prosperous country of Egypt. His choice was the beginning of a life God could use in a mighty way.
