In my own words - Abram and Lot separate. They were traveling together and both had become very wealthy with many flocks and many tents. Seeing this, Abram mentions they should separate. Abram gives Lot first choice as to where to settle. Lot went to east, possibly because of the fertile, well-watered land, but he also ended up close to Sodom - a very evil place; the land was attractive, the people were evil. Abram went to the west, to Canaan. Following their separation, the Lord speaks to Abram, giving him a blessing of this land to Abram as far as his eye can see. His descendants, God says, will be numerous, as far as the eye can see. Abram followed this up by building an altar to the Lord.
Wealth tests our decisions
The text says "and the land could not sustain them while dwelling together." Lot and Abram were between Bethel and Ai and as they grew in property something caused them to struggle being together. In our world, our borders are clearly defined - property lines do this to denote the separation of property and land. Where I grew up was at first an open area (Sandia Heights at the base of the Sandia Mountains) but as people came more in abundance, settled property lines were present but not clearly marked and I saw some people feeling a need to build walls while others left the open space as long as there was a clear distance between their area and others.
Consequences follow our decisions
The text states that Abram stopped to spend time at the altar of the Lord (13:4). At times Abram has not made wise decisions but here the text brings attention to the fact that Abram goes to the altar of the Lord. He stops and spends time with God. Following this and the anxiety that he sees tells Lot he can choose the land he desires. And even after Lot chooses his land (looks good, but is near Sodom which will be an evil city), Abram then goes the other way and settles there and once again builds an altar to the Lord (13:18). Application - I am encouraged to go to God when I am a crossroads and after sensing God's provision. Start with Him. End with Him.
The title of this lesson is 'a decision that led to disaster' which speaks of the decision that Lot made in choosing the abundant that looked good to the eye. The decision he made on his own led to disaster. But Abram sough the Lord several times, before decisions and after decisions and God blessed him. In this text, both parties were already wealth with possessions. But what Abram received from God was a blessing of descendants and that the land that he would dwell would be fruitful. Abram received something that went beyond wealth. And again, what is most important to me in this passage is he went to God.
Start with Him. End with Him.
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