Do you have enough faith to give others a choice? In this section we see Abraham making some tough choices in life. These choices don't come easy. When confronted with strife with his nephew Lot, Abraham had to make a decision on what to do to resolve the issue. Abraham could have used his power and position to demand Lot move left or right. After all, God had promised all the land to Abraham, not to Lot. After all, God had promised Abraham an heir and it was not Lot. After all, all the possessions Lot had was a result of Abraham and the blessings from God, not from Lot's own hand. But, Abraham was a man of faith. He didn't need to exact his power or position over Lot because he knew what God had promised. In Romans 4:20, 21 we read that Abraham believed the promises of God and acted upon them. When faced with a strife with his nephew note Abraham's approach:
Genesis 13:9
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.”
Only a man of faith can do this and live this way. Only a man who believes completely in the promises of God can allow himself to be defrauded or left with the "left-overs". In the subsequent verses we see Lot choose the riches and most watered land for his flocks, leaving the rest to Abraham. Yet, God still blesses Abraham over Lot. In Matthew 5 we read that Jesus told us to "seek first the kingdom of God" and then material things would be added unto us. Abraham is a perfect example of the Savior's later teaching. Abraham sought first God and then God brought blessings to him. Lot sought the world's goodness and was left with nothing in the end. Do you have enough faith in God to give others that kind of choice?
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