“Of Choices And Consequences!”

“Of Choices And Consequences!”(Gen.13:8-18).
Due to the quarreling between their herdsmen, Abram suggested to Lot that it was time they parted company. He behaved maturedly by asking Lot to make the first choice. He told Lot,“If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” And that is how Lot admired the plain of Jordan which was well watered like the garden of the LORD. And so “Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and …lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.” We know what eventually happened to Sodom and how Lot barely saved his life and that of his daughters (Gen.19:1-29).
When Lot made his choice, Abram continued to live in Canaan.
We are not going to commend Abram for suggesting separation with his nephew because of property. But we commend him for asking his nephew to make the first choice.
Our forefathers often choose their successors through this means. Each time the children were eating, the father will ask one son to share the meat to siblings. (It is considered that whoever shares and takes first choice is a greedy person and wouldn’t want to share – even family inheritance – with the siblings).
We cannot also say that Abram’s approach to resolve the conflict is a model par-excellence for conflict resolution. The two had the choice of free land which is not the case with many land disputes today. While some conflicts can be resolved through seperation, there are some conflicts that should be resolved so that people remain together. It’s also a matter of choice. But it must be noted that choices have consequences!
Another lesson we learn is from Lot’s choice. First choice does not necessarily mean best choice. See how a wealthy man like Lot ended up barely surviving with his daughters as his only possession! He lost his materialistic wife in the process as she was transformed into a pillar of salt because she looked back with nostalgia for the things she was leaving behind. Again, “choices have consequences!”
Those whom the LORD blesses will forever remain in his favour. As soon as they parted company, the LORD said to Abram “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give you and your offspring forever…”
The story ends with Abram moving to live “near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron,where he built an altar to the LORD. The great lesson here:Always remember the LORD who is the source of your blessings and future promises!
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to make right choices and to worship the LORD from whom all blessings flow. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.