Abram and Lot were very rich men. Both of them had very large flocks, herds, servants and tents. So much so, that the land where they lived did not have enough green grass and water to support both households.
This started to cause division between the servants of Abram and the servants of Lot. They began to quarrel and argue as to who had the right to feed their master's flocks and herds where, and whose flocks and herds should be watered first. As there was not enough food and water for both, the ones who won the argument had their master's flocks and herds fed and watered, while the other were not so well off.
These quarrels and arguments became more common, and before long turned into fights. Abram found out about this, and made up a plan that would put an end to it all.
Although God had given all of this land to Abram, he now called his nephew Lot to him. He told Lot that he did not want the divisions to continue and that they should split up. If Lot wanted the valley, Abram would stay in the hills. If Lot wanted the hills, Abram would move to the valley.
The hill country was not the best land. The grass was short, and there was not very much water. The valley on the other hand was very good land. It had very lush green grass, and an endless supply of good water from the river that flowed through it.
What a generous choice. What a generous offer Abram made to Lot. Lot should have shown his appreciation to his uncle for all the care and nurturing he had given him. Lot should have told Abram to choose what he wanted as he was his elder, and that he would take the rest. But Lot was selfish. Not only did he choose what land he wanted, he chose the best looking land for himself. Lot chose the plain of Jordan.
Abram remained in the hill country of Canaan, while Lot packed up all that he owned, his servants, and flocks and herds and moved to the valley near the city of Sodom.
The people of Sodom were very wicked. So for a while Lot lived outside the city as he did not want his family to associate with such wicked people. But his daughters grew up and married men from Sodom, and Lot moved within the city walls.
After Lot left Abram, the Lord told Abram to look all around him. To look to the north, south, east and west. All, not just part, but all of this land God was giving to Abram and to his descendants forever. He also again promised that Abram's descendants would be so many that they would be like the dust of the earth.
The last part of the promise was very comforting to Abram. Although he and Sarai did not have any children yet, they believed God would keep His promise.
Abram moved from Bethel and came to live in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron. As was his custom, he built an altar unto the Lord there.
Choosing what seems to be the best, may not always turn out to be the best, as we will see about Lot's choice in the stories that follow.
This story is based on Genesis 13:1-18.
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