v.1-5 Abram returned an extremely wealthy
man to the place where he had been before the place where he first built an altar to the LORD (13:3 cf. 8).There is a return to the land of promise and a return to worship.With the failure behind him, Abram was making a new beginning.
v.6-7 Gods people may enjoy prosperity
for there is nothing inherently evil in wealth.It is the love of money, not money itself, that is
the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10).However, we must note that it is God who
blessed Abram with wealth, not Abram who sought wealth on his own purpose.The situation that developed with the
increase in wealth is not bliss but strife which signifies claim and counterclaim.Unlike the popular but one-sided picture
today of the blessings of prosperity, the Bible shows that an increase in wealth brings along its own share of
difficulties.
There was tension between the two wealthy men becausethe land was not able to bear them.The reason why the land was unable to bear them is because the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.These original inhabitants probably occupied the better parts, so that
Abram and Lot had to scrap for their water and food in the remaining sections.The presence of the Canaanite and Perizzite
also posed a threat to their security as a continual strife would make them vulnerable to these warlike tribes.
v. 8-9 There appears to be a restoration
to faith with the return to worship (13:4) in Abram.When one could reasonable expect Abram
to cling to the land as his rightful possession since God promised it to him, he performed a generous act he
offered Lot the first, the best, and all that Lot chose between them.This was a remarkable demonstration of
faith because a person who believed that God had promised to give him the land did not have to fight to reserve
it for himself.He can afford to be magnanimous.This time Abram has a truly noble and selfless motive Let there be no strife between us.Abram thus offered Lot the choice of all the land that rightfully belongs
to him.
v.10 The response of Lot, Lot lifted up his eyes, reflects his intense survey
of the region of Jordan.What he saw was the well-watered plain of Jordan, whose beauty was compared to the
garden of Eden!The tragedy of Lots choice was, once
again, the tragedy of a walk by sight because Lot only saw the physical attraction of the land but failed to notice
the spiritual danger in it (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah).Like Lot, every believer would encounter the danger of forgetting other
important considerations when he gives himself over to a powerful appeal to the senses in making choices.A choice based on sight only yields temporary benefit (cf. 2 Co. 4:18).
v.11 Clearly, Lot made his choice without
any concern for Abram (Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan).One who walks by sight betrays selfish motivations self-seeking and
self-gratifying.And it was dangerous and short-lived.Lots choice would eventually prove to be the greatest mistake of his
life.Walking by sight provides no cautious
perception of evil nor an awareness of Gods plan.
v.12-13 It was not for Lot to pitched his tent toward Sodom because the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners a statement
which describes these sinners as a step in depravity below normal sinners!All sin is against the LORD but the phrase
before the LORD goes out of the way to say
that God was offended.Finally, the word exceedingly is added as if the previous
descriptions were not sufficient.Few passages in Genesis describe the wickedness
of a people so strongly, and it bears an ominous resemblance to the description of the people who lived before
the Flood (cf. 6:5; 11-13).
v.14-17 After Lot departed, the LORD
gave solace and a re-affirmation of His promises to Abram because he acted in faith in response to the tension
and strife.Through the eyes of faith, Abram could
see that in God he had abundant possessions so he can afford to be generous with others.Abram knew that God meant what He said,
so it mattered little what Lot chose for now.Abram has learned that it was not by his
own plan or power that he would come into his possession.Therefore, there is no need to jealously
guard what he thought was his.God would give it to him, even if he gave
it away a hundred times!
As if to offset what Lot had done, God told Abram, Lift up now thine eyes (cf. 13:10)!God told Abram, Look whereas Lot beheld (past tense, indicating completed action); God told Abram all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it
whereas Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan.The contrast in the account is obvious on careful study God told Abram
to do it but Lot simply did it; Abram waited for God to give it but Lot simply took it.The man who walks by faith is marked by
submission to the LORD and patience before Him.He has the freedom to act generously,
righteously, and mercifully in resolving disputes.The man who walks by sight feels compelled
to grab for himself without waiting.He feels bound to act on his own anxiety
and greed because he does not understand the ways of God.
v.17 Once more, here is another beautiful
picture of the thought of a walk with God (cf. Enoch, 5:22; Noah, 6:9).The LORD uses the same thought to instruct Abram to walk about in his
land.We are now introduced to the walk with God that inherits the promises of God (cf.
Heb. 10:35-36).
v.18 The story closes the way it began,
with Abram building an altar to the LORD.Throughout the difficult period of tension,
Abram was a man of devotion to the LORD.As one who worships regularly, he could
respond correctly to the strife and he would wait patiently for the LORD to fulfill His promise.Real worship lifts a believer above and
beyond his present difficulties to catch a glimpse of the Almighty, who is more than able to deal with every problem
in life.The strength of ones faith is no greater
than his vision of the Object of his faith.When was the last time you worshipped
God in the midst of the trials of life?