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Genesis 13 – The Choice of Lot
When Abraham (or Abram) first came to Canaan, he not only had his wife with him, but also his nephew Lot. Upon arrival in the land of Canaan, Yahweh promised to give the land to Abram's "seed" (Gen 12:7). There is a little potential ambiguity to this promise at this early point in the story. The narrator has already informed us that Abram's wife Sarai is barren and has no children (11:30). It is possible that Abram's "descendant" will simply be the one who inherits all of his stuff. At one point, Abram thought it would be Ishmael (17:18). Before Ishmael was born, Abram looked to Eliezer of Damascus, a servant born in his household (15:2-3). But before Eliezer, the most obvious candidate for this role was Abram's nephew, Lot.
Of course, if we know the end of the story, we know that Lot, Eliezer, and Ishmael were all not chosen. Abraham's son Isaac became the chosen heir of the Promised Land, and the one through whom his father's descendants were named. But what happened to Lot? And why was he ultimately passed over for the promise? Part of the answer is in Genesis 13.
Abram and company return to the "South" in Palestine, with Lot and his wife (13:1). Abram is very rich in silver, gold, and livestock (13:2). Lot is also very rich, with lots of flocks, herds, and tents (13:5). This inevitably creates a problem—Lot's herdsmen and Abram's herdsmen start to quarrel with one another (13:6-7)! The land is unable to sustain both sets of flocks, and it is difficult for the two men to share.
Abram doesn't want any strife with Lot, since they are "brothers" / "relatives" (13:8). The whole land is before them! They should part ways, one to the right, and one to the left (13:9). The fact that Abram gives Lot the first pick is interesting. Some propose that Lot is actually the same age as (or even older than) Abram—(something that is theoretically possible considering how many gaps are in our knowledge about the genealogical information). But it is much more likely that Abram is Lot's elder (and that Lot is Abram's heir). If this is true, then Abram giving Lot the first pick is a foregoing of normal custom. The elder, by patriarchal right, would have been expected to get first pick. Yet Abram opts for the selfless option.
The choice of the land in 13:9 is interesting too: "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left" (13:9). In the "east-oriented" culture of the ancient world, "left" and "right" likely referred respectively to "north" and "south" (and in fact, the words can sometimes be translated this way in Hebrew). Since Abram and Lot are somewhere between Bethel and Ai (13:3), they would have been at a central location in the promised land of Canaan. It is as if Abram is asking Lot if he wants the north half of the land or the south.
However, Lot choose s neither north nor south, but rather east (13:11)! Effectively, Lot rejects Abram’s offer of the Promised Land and goes to a land he thinks is "better" than the one God had given Abram. And why not? Lot sees that the valley of the Jordan of Sodom and Gommorah is like the land of Egypt (13:10). Egypt was one of the ancient world superpowers. Egypt was a thriving civilization, constantly well-watered by the Nile. Egypt's consistent agricultural prosperity would have stood in stark contrast to Lot's experiences in Mesopotamia, where weather and harvests were more erratic and inconsistent. The promise and allure of prosperity leads Lot away from the inheritance God chose for something that the world would have found alluring. It is no surprise that the allure of Egypt is a recurring problem for God's people throughout the Old Testament (Num 11:5-6, 18-20; 14:3; 20:5; Isa 30:1-3; 31:1-3; 36:6-9; Jer 42:13-22). While Sodom is not Egypt, it was much "like" Egypt in its appeal. But the irony of Lot's choice is that the land he thought was fertile wound up burned to a crisp with fire and brimstone in chapter 19. If the symbolism of Lot's choice was not clear enough for the reader, the narrator spells out that Sodom's inhabitants were "wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD" (13:13).
Lot's choice of Sodom over the promised land has several long-term repercussions. Lot was taken captive by an army of five kings immediately in the following chapter (14:12). When God rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah (19:24-25), Lot lost his home and all of his possessions—the very things that prompted his move to Sodom in the first place! Lot also lost his wife when she did not heed the angelic warning and became a pillar of salt (19:26). Further, the epilogue of the story sees Lot made drunk and committing unwilling incest with his daughters (19:31-38). While the Lord saved Lot for Abraham's sake (19:29), and while the New Testament goes so far as to call him a "righteous man" (2 Pet 2:7-8), it is clear that Lot has made several crucial mistakes and poor choices. His attempt to preserve his wealth doesn't preserve it at all—it destroyed it!
What can we learn from Lot's choice? Ultimately, even we who stand justified before God may sometimes still have to learn the harsh lesson that we cannot hold on to the treasures of this world. How often do Christians cling to what is passing away and destined for destruction? How often do we trade trust in the Lord for security in what this world falsely calls wealth? Remember that, "the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17).
Do you want to live forever? Remember Lot. Remember Lot's family. Perhaps they believed they could have the "best of both worlds"—all that this world can give, and all that the next can give. That is an impossibility. "Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it" (Luke 17:32-33).
