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Context No. 1730 of 4322 · Genesis

Context · Reflection

Genesis 13:10-18: in context

10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the 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 to Zoar. 11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one another. 12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against the LORD. 14The LORD said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever. 16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted. 17Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.” 18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.

Abram and Lot, whose herds have grown too large to share the land, must part, and Abram generously gives his nephew first choice. Lot lifts up his eyes and sees the well-watered plain of the Jordan, lush as the garden of the LORD, and chooses it all for himself, moving his tents toward Sodom, though its men were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. After Lot has gone, God speaks to Abram, who took what was left: lift up your eyes and look in every direction, for all the land you see I will give to you and your offspring forever, as countless as the dust.

The contrast between the two men's choosing is the point. Lot chose by sight: he looked, saw the land that appeared richer, the well-watered plain, and grasped it for himself, taking the apparent advantage without a thought for its nearness to wicked Sodom. Abram, who had let Lot choose first, was left with what remained; he yielded the choice, declined to fight for the better portion, and trusted God with the outcome. And it was to Abram, the one who had deferred, that God gave the whole land and the countless offspring. The one who grasped the richer-looking portion moved toward ruin; the one who let go received the promise. There is wisdom here for our own choosing and yielding. We are tempted, like Lot, to choose by appearances, to grasp for ourselves whatever looks better, to insist on the better portion and take the apparent advantage, without weighing where it leads or trusting God with what we give up. Abram shows another way: to hold our rights loosely, to let others have the choice, to yield the better-looking portion, trusting that God provides for those who do not grasp. Lot's choice by sight led him toward Sodom; Abram's willingness to yield left him with the promise of God. This does not mean every deferral is rewarded with visible gain; but it means that grasping for ourselves is not the way to blessing, and that the one who lets go, trusting God, is not the loser he seems. What we grasp by sight may carry us toward Sodom; what we yield in trust, God can more than replace.

When I must choose, am I like Lot, choosing by appearances and grasping the richer-looking portion for myself, or can I hold my rights loosely as Abram did, willing to yield the better portion and trust God with what I give up, knowing that the one who lets go in trust is not the loser he seems?

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