Abram's Choice
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
~ Genesis 13:8-12
We learned in the previous chapter 12 that Abram listened to the Lord’s command when God said to take his people and his entire household to the land which He will show him, and that is Canaan. Along with that, God declared a beautiful promise for Abram:
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
Abram had taken his nephew, Lot, with him in their journey which brought them to Canaan safely. However there came a famine and Abram proceeded to Egypt. But before getting there, Abram took matters into his own hands and he lied to Pharaoh, putting his life, and Sarai’s life and reputation in danger; as well, there was Lot and the entire household.
Abram must have realized then how much God loved him and was faithful to His promise to make him a great nation. Instead of receiving the worst consequence for his lie, God delivered him and everyone. Pharaoh bid them go their way along with all that they had.
So the whole tribe went on their way to Bethel and to the place where he first built an altar. They were about to settle there but both Abram and Lot were so blessed with gold, silver and livestock that the place became too crowded for them. It would have been natural being the Uncle to just demand for Lot and their household to leave the place but Abram’s choice was different.
There were a few reasons I could think of like Abram loving Lot so much that he gave him the opportunity to take the first choice. He could be demonstrating how fair and caring he is knowing that he, too has experienced how beautiful it is to be taken care of, not just by anyone but God, himself. Or maybe to him, their relationship was more important than his personal desires? There was no hint of jealousy and greed such as that of Cain against Abel, being like the favored one.
Yet, I keep thinking there must be more about Abram’s actions. I believe that Abram sensed God’s guidance in all the subsequent events after he failed in demonstrating his faithfulness and loyalty to God, the first time he was put in a compromising situation. This time, he must have thought he should listen to God’s promptings.
By allowing Lot to choose first did not make it look like Abram left his future to chance. It showed that Abram left it with God. God’s words later reflected God’s hands over this crucial separation from the nephew whom he loved. Assessing the benefits of possessing the well-watered plains and experiencing the wonders of the cities, Lot chose by sight. Abram saw the same things that Lot saw but instead, Abram chose by faith.
God saw Abram’s heart and not only rewarded him by bringing him back to where he should have settled in the first place, in Canaan, but he was reassured that all that his eyes can see are his. By his choice, of letting God take control and trusting Him with everything, he allowed God to prepare him for what lies ahead.
So in Genesis 13, we find faithful Abram returning to the land God gave him, humbling himself to give up what could be his, and finding the forthcoming fulfillment of God’s promise to be the only secure thing that matters in his life and of those he loved.
Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to learn about the wise and right choice.