Bible Story Lessons

When Abraham travelled to the land of Canaan, he took with him everything he owned.  That was a whole lot of stuff, because he was very rich!   He had lots of tents, lots of silver, lots of gold, and herds and herds of sheep and cattle!

Abraham's nephew, Lot, lived with Abraham and the problem was that he also had lots and lots of servants and animals!  So between Abraham's and Lot's animals there was hardly enough grass and water to go around.  Everywhere you looked it was just sheep and cattle and shepherds and herders!

There was so much baa-ing and bleating, and mooing and lowing, that Abraham could hardly hear himself talking!  And before long there just wasn't enough room for everyone to stay in the same place.  Even worse, their shepherds and herdsmen began to quarrel and fight over the best pastures for their animals and herds.  It's not good for boys and girls to quarrel and fight, is it?

So they decided that someone would have to move and live in a different place.  Since Abraham was older, he could choose first where he wanted to stay.  But Abraham did not want to argue over land, so he said to Lot, "You choose first where you want to live with your sheep and cattle.

Lot looked around and saw the beautiful Jordan valley.  "Hah!" he thought greedily, "That's the best land and now I will get rich!"  He turned to Abraham and said very humbly, "I will take the low lands if that's alright with you, Abraham".  And so poor old Abraham was left with the rugged hills and not much water for his herds!

But, it was decided, so Abraham stayed in Canaan while Lot moved near to the city of Sodom.  Lot rubbed his hands in glee as he looked over his rich fertile fields!  But, he didn't realise that the men of Sodom were very wicked!  Do you think Lot made a good choice?

Soon a war broke out between the kings that lived in cities near Lot in the Jordan plains.  Lot and his family were taken prisoners and all of their possessions were stolen!  Abraham heard about the terrible news and knew he had to do something about it even though he lived far away.  After all, he was still Lot's uncle!

He then called together 318 of his servants and set out to rescue Lot.  With God's help, Abraham defeated those kings and rescued Lot, his family and all their possessions.  "Thanks Uncle!" cried Lot as he waved goodbye to Abraham and returned to his home again.

Abraham went sadly back to his home because he knew that Lot didn't realise that he had made a bad choice in choosing to live on the Jordan plains near Sodom.  In fact because of all the wicked people in Sodom, God was going to destroy the city with fire.  God told Lot to take his wife and two daughters and flee before all the bad people died.  But, Lot's wife looked back as they hurried away and she was turned into a pillar of salt by the fire and died, and poor Lot lost all his possessions!

Abraham had made a good choice and God said to him after Lot moved away, "Look to the north and south, east and west.  All the land that you see I will give to you and your families that come after you forever.  I will make your children as numerous as the dust of the earth, so go and walk throughout the land, for I am giving it to you today."

God also wants us to make good choices.  If you choose to disobey your parents, or be naughty and shout and scream, those are bad choices.  But, if you ask God, He will help you make good choices.

God can help you to decide to be good and listen to your Mommy and Daddy.  God can help you to choose to help your Mommy, be kind to your friend, and share your toys.  If you make good choices, that will please God.  Let's ask Jesus now to help you make some good choices today.

God bless!