“The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I WILL GIVE TO YOU AND TO YOUR OFFSPRING FOREVER (ʿaḏ: as long as time exists, it will always belong to Israel). I will make YOUR OFFSPRING as THE DUST OF THE EARTH, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU.” So, Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there HE BUILT AN ALTAR TO THE LORD.” (Genesis 13:14-18)
Something has been going on between Abram and his nephew Lot. They’ve both got lots of land but apparently it’s not big enough for the both of them. Some kind of conflict has arisen in the mix of their parallel prosperity. But Abram seeks the better way; he’s realized what is happening. Their “stuff” is coming between them, and he does something remarkable:
Abram says to Lot: “Hey, take your pick. Whatever you want, you can have. Take whatever looks good to you, and I’ll take the rest, whatever’s leftover. If you want east, I’ll take west. If you want to go west, I’ll take east. No big deal.”
What’s Abram doing? He’s giving Lot first choice, but really, HE’S GIVING GOD FIRST CHOICE. He’s abandoning himself to God’s sovereignty. “God, take me wherever you want. I’ve tried doing this my own way; I’ve tried controlling things. I’ve tried manipulating the situation; I’ve tried getting everything. And I KNOW THIS IS AN OFFENSE AGAINST YOU.” So, he goes back to the first altar, reaffirms his commitment, cries out to God and says, “TAKE ME WHERE YOU WILL.”
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham