Choose or Submit

DEVOTION

GENESIS

CHOOSE OR SUBMIT

Gen 13:10-13

10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

NIV

Having been given the choice, lot looked up and saw the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered. How did he see the whole plain? Were they on a mountain top? We will never know how he knew what he knew, unless they had already traveled through this plain of the Jordan when they were coming from Haran on their way to the Negev or Egypt. Yet the reason for going to Egypt was a great famine in the land. Now it is well watered like the garden of the Lord. Was it well watered back when they left for Egypt? It is interesting that Lot choose this land because of its advantages rather than considering its inhabitants. It is also interesting that he did not refuse to make the choice, but rather allow the family patriarch to have the choice. Yet Abram allowed Lot the choice. What does this say about the character of each man? In reality, Lot did not choose wisely. He was guided by his eyes rather than his heart. He could see a land of opportunity for material gain rather than being concerned about his uncle’s well-being. Abram, on the other hand, was concern for peace in the family and was willing to take whatever Lot did not. Abram was concerned for the well-being of Lot. We already have seen Abram being the peacemaker, but now we see the character of Lot. How could he have been to self-absorbed living in the family of Abram for so long? He really should have refused to make that choice, yielding to his elder uncle, the head of the family. But no, he looked up and saw with his eyes a beautiful place and went for it. Do we make wise choices or are our choices based on what we see. Are we enticed by our eyes to choose poorly? Having pitched his tent near Sodom we know, having read that story many times, Lot got himself into much trouble. Ultimately it cost him his wife, and an immoral situation involving his daughters. When we make choices based on the material aspects of life, rather than the spiritual, it could cost us something. We should be able to discern the will of God, having the Spirit within and choose wisely our path, our direction for life. As with Lot, we should not be making the choice at all, but rather submitting to our family patriarch, God. Does God say to us, “You choose, I will let you go wherever you want”? Well actually he does. And that is the point. Once we have decided to follow Jesus, we need to follow Jesus. If we choose to go it on our own, we lose. If we insist on making our own choice, we lose. We cannot be influenced by what appears to be the best looking. We need to be influenced by the Spirit. God knows what is best for our lives and we need to allow him to make those decisions. The ways of the world spend billions of dollars to entice us through our eyes. We are consistently bombarded with visual temptations. The beautiful lifestyle, new homes, new cars, fine clothes, great dining and vacation experiences, beautiful looks, being thin, having it all, grasping for all the gusto we can, having great friends, laughing through life, no cares, no worries, just a great time. This is the vision Lot saw before him and was enticed by his eyes. We cannot close our eyes to all that we see, but we can decline its enticement, knowing we need to submit to our patriarch and allow him to choose for us.