FEB 17
Genesis 13:1-18
Memorise Hebrews 13:5
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan…”

Uncle Abram would have been like a father to Lot. Lot’s own father, Haran, had probably died when he was very young (Genesis 11:27-28). Since then, he had come under the charge of Abram and had followed him as he left Haran and came down to Canaan. After their detour down into Egypt, they were now back in Canaan, and had settled in the central region of Bethel. They were now both leaders of rich households, with many servants, livestock and possessions under their charge. However, despite all that Lot had, he was not satisfied. Perhaps they had become victims of their own success, in that their livestock and households were so large that they were fast running out of space. Furthermore, fights were beginning to break out between their herdsmen, and also with other locals of the land. When matters reached a breaking point, Abram proposed that they would go their separate ways, to split the land between them that they would be able to continue in a peaceful co-existence. Being the uncle, Abram had every right to have priority in choosing his land first, and assigning the remainder to Lot. Yet he graciously and generously allowed Lot to choose first, wanting nothing to get in the way of their relationship.

And so as Lot surveyed the land before him, he used very carnal and worldly criteria to make his choice. He gazed upon the plain of Jordan to the east, and saw a land that was well watered and suitable for his crops and livestock. Driven by greed and covetousness, Lot made his decision. To Lot, it did not matter that being in the plains of Jordan also meant it was in close proximity to Sodom, whose men were “wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13). In fact, he actually pitched his tents toward Sodom, probably intending to do business and have trade relationships with them (Genesis 13:12). Neither did he take into consideration the fact that it was Canaan, and not the plains of Jordan, that God had told Abram to stay in. And so he packed his bags, bid farewell to Uncle Abram, and in so doing turned his back on God and His blessings, enticed by the attractions of sin. In time to come, we would see the grave consequences of Lot’s mistake. He ignored God’s will, and chose instead to go the way of the world. He chose the attractions of sin and the temporal pleasures of the present. Dear teen, is this how we make decisions in our lives?

Thought: What should be the foremost criteria in our choices?

Prayer: Lord, may I never make the same mistake as Lot!