What's Your Choice? ...

Tuesday, Sept 16, 2013. Make your choice! Not only general elections give us a choice. We make choices every day. We choose how to start our day. We choose what to eat. We choose what to say. And sometimes, we also make larger choices, such as what job to take, where to settle, what education to start or to complete and much more …! Today, we hear about important choices which Abraham did - and the way he chooses is quite fascinating:

Choose Wisely! …

1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. 2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there

Abram called upon the name of the Lord

. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. 8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. (Genesis 13: 1-12) Choice of faith and peace …**

It is first Abraham's choice to believe the Lord. We hear that he called upon the name of the Lord. Abraham keeps going in faith. He believed in the first place. He came into this land with the Lord. He faced difficulties - we heard about the famine in Kanaan and his way into Egypt. But he kept faith and returned to faith! Now, he is living in faith, and that influences his choices.

Second, there are conflicts with Lot and his men. And Abraham chooses to resolve the conflicts, to separate and to give Lot the choice. He chooses peace!

Now, Lot is choosing as well. And his criteria are not coming from faith, but he is just looking into the attractive landscape and the fertile valeys. So Lot chooses by worldly criteria only. And Abraham accepts his choice and he takes what Lot leaves him. This is also a strong choice, to take what is left!

The eyes of faith see more than worldy eyes. The heart full of faith makes better choices than the heart longing for a good living only. Abraham has such a heart full of faith, and he believes that whatever is given to him, the Lord will be with him and will help him to get along. What more could you hope for? What a choice! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts