By Olubunmi Adebayo
*When his respected big uncle called him and asked him to look to the north, the south, the east and the west, and choose for himself the best place for the grazing and watering of his growing flock, Lot, the son of Haran (Haran is the junior brother of Abraham – Gen 11:26-27) would have thought within himself :*
*”what a great open door had been opened to him to prosper and do well”.*
*Please read the account in some details :*
*Gen 13: [7] And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.*
*[8]And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren.*
*[9]Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.*
*[10]And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.*
*[11]Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves, the one from the other.*
*[12]Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.*
*Please understand that there is a practice common to most men, in particular, people who are children of God, they assume that every opportunity, job, relationship, or promotion that looks open must be from God. But in reality, this is not true.*
*That singular decision of Lot to pick the plains of Sodom and Gomorrah as his place of settling down would later have very serious consequences on him and his entire family.*
*Several times in life, when such opportunities come, we base our judgements and quick actions on open doors. After all the word of God says :*
*Rev 3:[8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word….*
*The question we should rather ask is that – “is this opportunity before me one from God?”*
*In the case of Lot above, having chosen the obviously well watered plains of Sodom and Gomorrah, the events of great disaster and setbacks that be-fell him proved that his choice decisions were selfish, self-centered, with serious outcomes.*
*Lot lost his possessions in the destruction of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, his wife disobeyed God and looked backed at the burning city while being taken out of the city by the angels of God, and his two daughters later committed incest with him by getting pregnant for Lot their father, thereby giving birth to the nations of Moab and Ammon that troubled Israel greatly.*
*To be concluded tomorrow, God willing.*
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©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
