Reserved For You (Gen 13:7)
Gen 13:10,
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere …
So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself …
Abraham obeyed God and left his home town to the place God said He will show, Lot, who was his nephew followed him.
Years later when both were blessed by God, the land was too small for both of them. So Abraham told Lot to choose which land he would take. In spite of offering better land to Abraham through whom became rich and blessed, Lot looked around and chose the better one that was well watered everywhere…
At times, it seem it is unfair. “How can he do this? I raised him up! He is rich because of me!”, “Why did God just let him chose that land? I thought God Who knows all things will give me a better land!”
These might have been words burning inside me if I was Abraham.
Many times in our lives we face such or even worse seemingly unfair circumstances. But … is that so?
God Knows …
- Soon after Lot and Abraham separated, and Lot went to Sodom, it was conquered by kings of neighbouring countries. His possessions were taken and himself was taken captive. In fact, it was Abraham who came and rescued him from the kings.
Furthermore, Gen 13:13, the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners.
Years later, because of wickedness or Sodom and Gomorrah, God destroyed Sodom once and for all by raining brimstones and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:24). Only Lot and his 2 daughters managed to escape by the mercy of God.
We know what we have seen yesterday, and what we see today. But not what will come tomorrow. But God sees and knows what’s coming in future and let Abraham have the better land.
Abraham was blessed even more later years. It was Abraham God chose and purposed to use him for greater plans that God has for him, because Abraham believed and obeyed God.
By letting this situation, God indeed separated Lot from Abraham so that Lot will not be hindrance to Abraham’s blessing and God’s destiny for him. It was not Abraham chased Lot out, nor was it him who chose the land for Lot. Lot chose “for himself” (Gen 13:11).
So what Lot should have done? I think it would have been more honourable for Lot to stick to Abraham faithfully and being submissive to him (e.g. like Ruth was to Naomi, Ruth 1:~ and not letting him go like Elisha did on Elijah), instead of letting his workers fight with Abraham’s, since all blessing he received was basically through Abraham.
- It was only after Lot was separated that God told Abraham
“Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your seed may also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth; for I will give it to you.” Gen 13:14~17
God Reserved the better… or rather Best for the ones who trust Him. Let’s not be too quick to judge God. Let go (of our thinking, our way) and Let God.
Rom 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
