Genesis 13:10-11 (NIV) 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 was Abraham's nephew, and he had set out from Ur of the Chaldeans with his uncle to go to where God was leading Abraham. After a number of years traveling through Canaan, both Abraham and Lot had acquired a good number of flocks and herds. These flocks and herds needed grass to feed on. Because of the great number of animals from both camps that needed to be fed, Abraham's and Lot's herders began to argue with each other over territory. In order to prevent strife between his people and Lot's people, Abraham offered Lot his choice of the land. If Lot chose the right side, then Abraham would take the left side, If Lot chose the left side, then Abraham would take the right side.

The Bible tells us that Lot saw the beautiful and fertile ground of the Jordan Valley, and "chose for himself" that land. First of all, that was a very selfish thing to do. He took what was in his eyes, the best of the land. Secondly, he never inquired of the Lord which way he should go. He just went with what his eyes saw and made his own decision, thinking it was the best one. As we find out in the story, that decision almost cost him and his family their lives twice. As a matter of fact, Lot's wife did eventually wind up losing her life. What Lot didn't know when he made his decision was that Sodom and Gomorrah, the area that he chose to move to, were cities where wicked men lived. It was a vile place. His bad decision continued to have bad consequences as we read his sad story.

It all started when Lot "chose for himself." After seeing God's faithfulness to Abraham and Abraham's trust in God, Lot should have learned that the best guarantee of success is to move in the will and plan of God. After all, he and his family were only there because they had followed Abraham, who was following God's lead. Have you ever chosen for yourself? Many Christians do and wind up regretting the bad decisions that they have made, along with having to pay the consequences of those decisions. Abraham, on the other hand, chose to trust God. What looked like beautiful or not so beautiful land was irrelevant to him because he had entrusted his life and everything he had to God. He was letting God choose for him and as we know, God never makes mistakes. Don't do what Lot did and make choices for yourself because that leads to heartache and trouble. Instead, let God choose for you. It is then that you will be able to move forward in confidence, and without any fear or any regrets.

Pastor Joey Vazquez