The story of Abraham and his nephew Lot in the book of Genesis holds the key to our spiritual condition today. Their decisions on where to pitch their tents 4,000 years ago mirror our choices on what we do and who we associate with today. Show someone your tent, and they’ll know exactly what you believe.

Two of the three cities are mentioned in Genesis 12. Here is the backstory.

The Patriarch Abraham spent years as a wanderer. God asked him to leave Ur in Babylon, where he was raised. It was an evil place. He grabbed an ancient U-Haul and headed north to Haran in Turkey, another horrible place. He eventually found the perfect spot to live in Canaan. But a famine interrupted his life and drove him temporarily down to Egypt, the mother ship of terrible places. Finally, he returned to Israel through the dreadful Negev desert.

Where should he live next? He had a choice to make, an opportunity to be the architect of the next chapter of his life. At 75 years old, he no longer wanted to live a nomadic lifestyle. It was time to put down some roots and settle.

“So Abram left Egypt and went back to the Negev, he and his wife and everything he owned, and Lot still with him. By now Abram was very rich, loaded with cattle and silver and gold. He moved on from the Negev, camping along the way, to Bethel, the place he had first set up his tent between Bethel and Ai and built his first altar. Abram prayed there to God.” Genesis 13:1–4

Spiritual Lesson: After the trial, the next level comes.

The Negev is a desert region in the southern part of Israel. It is significant in the Bible as a place of wandering and testing. Jesus was driven there to be tempted immediately after his baptism. This desolate region is also associated with the other patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob. Abraham’s journey through the brutal Negev showed his nomadic lifestyle and reliance on God’s guidance and provision through the dark spiritual tests. Abraham and his family were the poster children for faith and resilience.

I’ve been to the barren Negev. It’s an “acquired taste” physically, but it is the perfect environment for spiritual testing. It’s like being in “time out.” Have you been “Negev’d” lately?

Abraham’s test was over, and he passed. Now what?

Living Between Two Opposing Lifestyles.

Abraham pitched his tent on a mountain between two cities. On his left side was his spiritual life. Bethel, which means “House of God,” is a significant location in Biblical history. It is where he previously built an altar to the Lord, signifying worship and a covenant relationship with God. Remember the story of Jacob and the ladder to heaven? It happened at Bethel. It became a central worship site for the Israelites. The Ark of the Covenant was kept there for years.

The journey towards Bethel symbolizes our return to a place of spiritual closeness and renewal of our commitment to God. Christians and Jews love to “Bethel ourselves” in a church or synagogue. But the minute we put on the “I Heart Bethel” t-shirt, the city on the right lights up like the Las Vegas strip.

He pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai.

Ai means “ruin.” That tiny city was Joshua’s first major defeat immediately following the miraculous victory at the fortified stronghold of Jericho. They lost because of one man’s disobedience. The mention of both Bethel and Ai underscores the theme of faithfulness versus disobedience. It highlights the choices between following God and facing destruction.

Abraham positioned himself equidistant between worshiping God and indulging in the world. He could see them both from his tent, and every day, he had a choice to make. Today, will I head over to God’s house? Will I make a secret trip over to the glamorous world? Or hang here looking at them both.

Isn’t that us? Isn’t that our story? At any time, we could move our tent closer to God and farther away from the pull and pleasures of this present world. But we don’t.

We are called to be holy. That means separate or consecrated. We are far enough from Ai to keep the filth from getting on us. It’s at arm’s length. But it is still in view. The boats haven’t been burned. The ties haven’t been cut. We’ll never call that number again. But we keep that name in our contacts list … just in case.

And that leads us to the most dangerous city of all. And the place where I pitched my tent for years.

Call me Lot.

Lot was Abraham’s nephew, and his uncle greatly loved him. When Lot was kidnapped, Abraham armed his servants, turned them into an army, and went to fight for his return. Lot also had the choice of where to pitch his tent. Being so loved and cherished, one would think Lot would make the right choice and pitch his tent next to Bethel. But he didn’t.

“So Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley for himself, and as he started out toward the east, he and Abram separated. Abram stayed in the land of Canaan. But Lot settled near the cities of the valley and put up his tents not far from Sodom, where the people were evil and sinned terribly against the Lord.” Gen 13:11-13

Pitching your tent in a place of safety from evil is one thing. But pitching your tent right next to evil is another. It’s a dumb move.

I often wondered what Lot was thinking until I looked in the mirror. How often have I thought: “I’ll sit here next to evil, but it won’t affect me. I’m strong. I can resist temptation. God is with me. I won’t cross the line. I won’t let evil influence me. And on and on.” Ugh!

How did Lot think he could coexist with evil and not be influenced? He wasn’t there to bring them all to a place of repentance. God did not call him there. He didn’t spend a month there and then move because the stench of iniquity was as present as smoke from an Auschwitz oven.

The beauty of the lush green valley lured him. He deceived himself into thinking cohabiting with evil made business and financial sense. His animals needed the green grass and crystal-clear waters. I’ll ignore that small voice that says, “Don’t do it.”

We’ve all been guilty of this. October 7th happened because of the deception that we can sleep with the enemy and still be OK.

“Can you build a fire in your lap and not burn your pants? Can you walk barefoot on hot coals and not get blisters?” Prov 6:27–28

Paul knew this when he wrote: “Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].” 1 Thes 5:22

Three Cities, One Choice.

Where have you pitched your tent?

Near Bethel? The city where we feel the presence of God. Angels inhabit the ladder between Heaven and Earth. There, devoted spiritual servants focus only on service to God. It’s a place where residents can learn to obey, accomplish, and experience the miraculous. We can’t even see Ai because there is a mountain between the two cities.

Are you living next to Ai? It’s the worldly place of self-sufficiency. All the movers and shakers live there. They get things done to promote the “here and now.” Are there idols? You bet. But who cares? It’s the place of exaggerated confidence because of a history of victory. Nobody was able to stop the Hebrews on their 40-year victory tour. Ai did. Bam!

There is no presence of God there. They don’t need it. All they do is win. However, as with Joshua, they will identify and exploit weaknesses and open doors for personal gain. Little do they know that the day of their complete annihilation is quickly approaching.

Or have you pitched next to Sodom? Few realize that Lot went from a temporary tent dwelling outside the city walls to becoming a homeowner in the city’s heart. How was he softly and gently lured into the belly of the beast? Even though he wasn’t a rapist of travelers, he lived among them. And that was his downfall.

If this is you, I have great news. God’s moving company is on its way.

Lot had no plans to relocate, even after he offered his daughters for extreme abuse.

“Lot was dragging his feet. The men grabbed Lot’s arm, and the arms of his wife and daughters — God was so merciful to them! — and dragged them to safety outside the city. When they had them outside, Lot was told, “Now run for your life! Don’t look back! Don’t stop anywhere on the plain — run for the hills or you’ll be swept away.” Gen 19:16–17

They say we can tell our true friends when we ask them to help us move. Who came to help Lot move? Two residents of Beth El. Two angels. Anyone from Ai? Nope. And definitely not a neighbor from Sodom.

Where have you pitched your tent?

Take a minute to go to the door of your spiritual house and look around. What do you see? Where are you?

“So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” 2 Cor 6:17–18

Is it moving day? One prayer can dispatch the same moving company that helped Lot with his same-day move. There is a new chapter for you. A new level awaits.

“I go to prepare a place for you” –Jesus

If you don’t believe the Bible, consider the words of the Beverly Hillbillies: “So we loaded up the truck and we moved to Beverly. Hills, that is. Swimming pools. Movie stars.”

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Ruth 2:12 to you and your household. -Issachar