“So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of
Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord” (Genesis 3:18).
One day Abraham and his nephew Lot woke up and found that the land
they were living on could no longer support both their families and
their flocks. It was decision time. They were going to have to split
up. This meant someone had to go a different direction. But who should
get first choice of the land? Obviously, Abraham is Lot’s senior and
by all rights should have that choice. Abraham could have pulled rank
on Lot since he was the elder. This story is the model for splitting a
business partnership. However, few business people are willing to
follow Abraham’s example.
Abram takes a totally different approach to solving this problem. He
tells Lot to choose which land he wants. Imagine–Abraham could be
committing suicide and murdering his family if he cannot find adequate
land and water for them. He gave up his rights in the matter. Lot took
full advantage too. “Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the
Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of
Egypt, toward Zoar.” So, Lot leaves and takes up residence in the
valley later to be known as “Sodom and Gomorrah.” It is funny how what
seems good on the front end often turns out to be disastrous. Such
will be the case for Lot and his family.
As for Abram, he made a choice. He decided to take the high road of
life that didn’t necessarily mean his life circumstances would benefit
him. He was willing to leave that outcome to God. He made the decision
based upon an eternal measuring stick. Interestingly, the place where
Abram moved was called “Mamre.” In Hebrew, the name “Mamre” means
“strength.” How can choosing the weakest position become “strength?”
Jesus must have asked the same question of His Father when faced with
the proposition of going to the cross. How can the cross be a place of
strength? The devil thought he had won, but the cross is what freed
the captives for eternity. The Bible tells us that when we are weak,
then we are really strong. To willingly choose the way of the cross
becomes our strength.
Daily Bible Meditations