Lot’s choice vs Abram's walk

Read Genesis 13:1-18

I want you to look and think why did Lot choose the land he did? We can plainly tell because in verse 10 we are told that he saw the fertileness of the land and chose it over the less fertile land that was left to Abram.

Abram did not operate by what he could see, he was operating by faith. All the land was not promised to Lot, but rather to Abram, the Jordan Valley was Abram’s by divine promise, but he did not quarrel. He was not in competition with Lot, better yet the motivation to split up was due to the strife that was caused by their extensive wealth and livestock, they needed more space.

Abram was pursuing peace, he did not enter the land declaring all was his, he trusted that God would make it his possession in his timing. Better yet he did not squabble over which part of the land he would possess, because his conception of what made the land blessed was not that it was fertile,but that God had promised it to him.

In many ways the land of Canaan is likened to a new eden, a land of paradise, it is flowing with milk and honey, it is a fertile land. But why is that? Was Eden a paradise because of its geographical location, not it was paradise because that is where God is.

Abraham did not care for ambition, power or riches, because he knew those things would come as God had promised him. When begin to step into God’s promises and we begin to see the fruit of them, we can start to think we need to keep it up in our strength.

You struggle to get your business of the ground, God blesses you, you in a really good position but then some years later, business has dried up, your haemorrhaging money and your working 80-hour work weeks, spending little if anytime praying to God, reading his word or going to church.

We believe God has blessed us in one season, but then when things get hard we revert back to trusting in our strength. Lot believed in the promises given to Abram, but when they entered the land, he took what was best for himself, thinking that was the wise decision. But he was not concerned about his faith. Because he failed to notice in the fertile land were the great sinners of the city of Sodom. His sight led him into sin not away from it.
My friends, we are called to operate by faith always, in the good times and the bad times. When you put your faith in God, he is there with you, and wherever he is, is blessed. Lean on the promises, not your wisdom and strength and you will be glad everyday that you did.

Prayer:

“Father, help us to walk by faith and not by sight. We know our eyes can deceive us, that there is more than meets the eye. So let not our eyes dictate every decision in our lives, rather let your word and your promises being the guiding light of our lives. Grant that we might walk always in your will, even if that leads us into the desert or the valley of death. Father, we put our trust in you wherever you may lead. In Jesus name, Amen.