The Art of Mentoring Part 1- Abraham and Lot

Sorry I didn't get this up yesterday. I didn't have wifi so it threw me off my schedule.

Today, we will be looking at the first of three sets of mentors and students.

    1.  Abraham and Lot

    2. Jethro and Moses

          3. Naomi and Ruth

      

     The story of Abraham and Lot is oftentimes looked at as a very sad story. Though they were family, they eventually had to split up after some fights. Lot chose to go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and was entrenched in that place of sin. But there are lessons that we can learn from the time that Abraham and Lot spent together, and even the time that they spent apart

  1.    A mentor can be trusted.

• Genesis 12:4a- “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:”

In this passage of scripture, it is important to understand the exact translation from the Hebrew text to English. This translation is- “Go Abram Yahweh Go Lot.” The importance of this is that it shows the dependence on God that Abram had. Abram first had to trust in Yahweh before he could go out and do what He had commanded. When Lot saw that Abram trusted God, he then could trust Abram with his life, and go wherever Abram went. Can those that you mentor trust you? Can they see a faith in God so strong that they will follow you as you follow God?

             2.    Mentoring isn’t forever.

• Genesis 13:11b-12- “and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

As I mentioned earlier, Abram and Lot had their differences and split up. But even in what seems to be a tragic time for a promising student, we can still learn a lesson. You will not be with your student(s) forever. It doesn’t matter how much you love them or want to stay with them forever, God has plans for each of us that take us down different roads. Don’t be afraid to let go of your student and let God have a chance to work specifically in their life.

             3.    Mentoring means rescuing.

• Genesis 14:16- “And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.”

Good old Abraham to the rescue! With just 318 trained servants (and God on His side), he took on the armies of four kings and won the victory! He brought back everything and everyone that had been taken. This also supplies a lesson for us. While Lot made a mistake in where he was living (Sodom), Abraham was there for his student. God wants us to be there for those that he entrusts in our care, even when they make mistakes. This means even when it comes at a cost to our time and/or resources.

            4.     Mentors intercede through prayer.

• Genesis 18:16-33, 19:27-29- (18:23-26) “And Abraham drew near, and said, ‘Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ And the Lord said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes’”

Abraham was told by God that the place where his nephew was living was going to be destroyed for its wickedness. Because of this, Abraham was concerned for his nephew whom he had brought from the east with him. He then demonstrated one of the most important qualities that any follower of God should have- a prayer life that was strong. He interceded on behalf of Lot and his family just like he did in the above verses, and went from 50 righteous people down to 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally asking God to spare the city if there were only 10 righteous people living there. It’s not that Abraham showed a lack of faith in God to spare the city, it’s that he knew how the people in the city lived. I believe that this holds true for us today. Each of us must find time for prayer, not just for ourselves or our family, but for those God has placed in our care, our students.