Bible Story Lessons

When Abraham traveled 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 and had lots of tents, lots of silver, lots of gold, and herds and herds of sheep and cattle!

Abraham's nephew, Lot had traveled 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 baaing and bleating, and mooing and lowing, that Abraham could hardly hear himself talking!  And before long there just wasn't enough for everyone to stay in the same place.  Even worse, their shepherds and herdsmen began to quarrel and fight over the best pastures.  It's not good for boys and girls to quarrel and fight, is it?

So they decided that they would have to separate and stay in different places.  Since Abraham was older, he could choose first where he wanted to stay.  But he did not want to argue over land, so Abraham said to Lot, "You choose first where you want to keep 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!

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

****** Before too long 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 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!

So he called together 318 of his trained servants and set out to rescue Lot and his family.  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 and returned to his home.

Abraham went thoughtfully back to his home because he knew that Lot did not realise that he had made a bad choice in choosing the Jordan plains near Sodom.  It was a short time later that God, because of all the wicked people there, destroyed the city with fire and all the bad people died.  Even Lot's wife 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 Abraham after Lot had departed from him, "Look to the north and south, east and west.   All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.  I will make your offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth.  Go and walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."

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

God can help you to decide to be good and listen to your Mommy and Daddy.  You can 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 us make some good choices today.

God bless!