CHOOSE WELL

DAY 173 OF 365 IN 2021

Genesis 13:10-11 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord,like the land of Egypt (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah). So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:

Lot cast his eyes upon the Jordan Valley, had one long good look at its watered lands, comparable to the lush and greenery of Egypt and made up his mind ‘I choose this side’.

For choosing the portion he did, based on the landscape and the resources therein, we cannot fault Lot. He had chosen a turf that had enough to sustain his livestock and his entire company. However, we realise that not many other things influenced this choice. In fact, it appears the only factor that played any part was this: ‘it looked well watered everywhere’

What determined Lot’s choice was the physical appearance of the crops on the land, its artistic landscape and the resources therein, things that were required to sustain his livestock and entire company. We therefore cannot actually find fault with his pick because on paper, he had made a good one.

However, with that decision, his dwellings became a lot closer to a Sodom and Gomorrah, a city described as full of men who were wicked and great sinners against the Lord. The accounts of how God destroyed this city appears later in scripture, although Lot and his house were saved because of Abraham.

Beloved, there is often a lot more to take into account other than what we see. In the heat of making big decisions, we can get carried away and lose sight of some things that really do matter, things that can affect ‘life after the choice’. It is important to therefore consider the fuller picture, for that will be a guide when you make some big choices.

#sly