11 So Lot CHOSE FOR HIMSELF the whole plain of the Jordan and set out towards the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Genesis 13
Abram offered his younger nephew the choice of where he would go after they separated. Abram was the senior man, but he was prepared to forego that right and give Lot his choice. Lot chose the well watered plain of the Jordan river. How many times do people choose based on the promise of a better income, or a promotion to a better position or a chance for a business of their own, yet all these things may come at a high price!
13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. Genesis 13
Rarely does anyone facing a decision which may determine their whole future and that of their spouse and family think to ask what is the spiritual atmosphere of the place where we would be living. (I read somewhere that cities are places where good and evil are both magnified – Good can be very Good and Evil can be very Evil.) In the end it proved to be a bad choice for Lot and his family, but Lot never left Sodom until the Lord destroyed it. He remained in the place he’d chosen until disaster was staring him in the face.
14 The Lord said to Abram AFTER LOT HAD PARTED FROM HIM, ‘Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 ALL THIS LAND I WILL GIVE TO YOU AND YOUR OFFSPRING FOR EVER.
There may be things that God will only reveal to us after we have separated ourselves, even from family and close friends. The weight of blessing on Abram and Lot necessitated their parting. Sometimes it may be good things that cause people to move on, but it still may be every bit as needful to make the break.
Abram didn’t CHOOSE, but God met him and blessed him soon after the separation. The blessing was an eternal blessing to him and the offspring coming after him. Prophet Kim Clement, while leading tours of the Holy Land, had the believers chant, ‘ISRAEL IS FOREVER!’ God promised Abram that He had given it to him and his seed and nothing can change His Word.
24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’”
27 ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6
May we all know and walk in the fullest blessings of God for our lives, now and forever. Amen