By David ReayThursday 10 Sep 2020LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)
Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”
Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord. (NLT)
We make so many choices in our lives and some are based on choosing the apparently attractive option. No great problem with that except that sometimes what seems to be very alluring turns out to be a trap.
When Lot and Abram parted ways, Abram gave Lot the choice of land and Lot understandably chose the best looking territory. But the good land didn’t lead to a good outcome. Sodom and Gomorrah were part of that land and they were anything but good.
We don’t deliberately embrace the unattractive or unappealing option when we make choices. Nor do we succumb to the enticement of the superficially attractive and appealing. What looks good on the surface might not be so good further below. Perhaps Lot didn’t do much deep or prayerful thinking about his choice, but rather went for what looked immediately favourable.
He ended up ensnared in the strife of those wicked cities. The fertile land also held some dangerous people. The security of good land proved no shelter against the decisive judgement of God on the cities. The promise of affluence ended up with showers of fire and brimstone. Appearances can be deceiving.
Blessings
David