The Importance of Tent-pitching

“...and Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan [that was well watered everywhere]...and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.” - Genesis13v10-13

What an opportunity Lot had!He and Abram had come the conclusion that the land there were sharing could not provide for both of them. Abram took Lot and told him that he could pick out whichever land he wanted and Abram would take what was left.

Lot jumped at the opportunity! He looked out and saw the then beautiful plain of Jordan, which was “well watered everywhere. The choice was clear - “Why, I'll take the plane of Jordan!” Abram agreed and received God's promise that God would give him all the land and make a great nation.

Notice though where Lot sets up house. “Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Lot first of all chose the plain that he saw looked the best. There is nothing wrong with that as Abram gave him the choice. We see that there is a problem though. Sodom was well known for its wickedness, the men there we “exceeding sinful before the Lord.” Yet, Sodom decides to set up his tent in close proximity to the city. He lays the trap for future problems by his fleshly decision. We will see more about this later.

In Christ we have the freedom to make our own decisions. Numerous times today we will be able to decide what we are going to do in various settings. The question we must ask ourselves is this - “Where are we going to pitch our tents?” Most of us our surrounded by “Sodoms” today. May none of us make the foolish decision today to pitch our own tents towards Sodom. No matter how tempting the land around may appear may we run from our own “Sodoms” instead of pitching our tent toward them.