In Genesis 13, Abram travels out of Egypt into the Negev. During this time, Abram and Lot both become very wealthy and because of this, it becomes very difficult for them both to live together. As a result, Abram and Lot decide to part ways and live separately. Lot chooses the valley of the Jordan while Abram settles in the land of Canaan.
As Abram came up out of his temptations (Egypt symbolizes temptations), Abram and Lot were both blessed with many Earthly riches. Abram continued to call on the name of the Lord, and Lot continued following Abram. But a problem arose. Their riches began to interfere with each other. They had so much that both of them couldn’t keep peace while remaining together. So Abram decides that they must separate and go different ways to keep peace between them. Abram allows Lot to choose which way he wants to go and Lot doesn’t think twice and goes after the land that is well-watered and looks good for settlement. Abram settles in to the land that isn’t so pleasant.
There are two people in this world, those who are selfless and are not controlled by Earthly riches, and there are those who are selfish and are controlled by Earthly riches, and this story of Abram and Lot is the perfect picture of these two kinds of people. Abram first wants peace kept between him and Lot and doesn’t want their riches to break the peace they have. He then allows Lot to choose the land first instead of himself taking first choice which was ideally who would have it. Lot hears Abram’s plea, sees what is good in his eyes (even though it is a land full of wicked sinners verse 13 points out), and takes it. Here are two drastically different attitudes yet in the same family.
At first glance, we might think that we are like Abram, but in second thought, we are like Lot. We go after what looks good in our eyes without even thinking about what is good for others. We pick what is good for us. How selfish and ignorant we are. But how do we become like Abram? How do we become selfless rather than selfish?
There is only one being that keeps Abram separate from Lot. His name is God. He is the only one who can change our nature from being selfish to selfless. You see, Abram did one thing that stood out from Lot. He called on the name of the Lord. He prayed to God and this is what we must do also. We must depend on and ask God to take us from who we are, broken and sinful, to the man he wants us to be, righteous and Christ-like. Prayer is what separates normal men from godly men.
Abram ends up in the land that God has promised to give to his descendants and Lot ends up in a land full of sinners. So what kind of person do you want to be? Like Abram or like Lot?
