You will recall that Abram had been to Egypt with his family (his wife and his nephew, Lot). After the incident, as recorded in Genesis chapter 12 involving the Pharaoh, he left with all he had southward.

At this time he'd become very rich in Cattle, in Silver, and in Gold which were the currency of the time, though they remain to some extent the currency of our days as well, especially Gold.

Lot also had become very wealthy, probably by association with his uncle. Their wealth and size had become so much that there was bound to arise some form of conflict or the other over even the most trivial of issues, and several instances did arise especially amongst their lackeys, thus it became increasingly difficult for both of them to continue to co-habit.

Abram, being the more mature of the two suggested that they go their separate ways rather than destroy a lifelong relationship over the misdemeanors of their lackeys. Furthermore, in a move reminiscent of his peaceful nature as well as a seeker of peace, he allowed Lot to make a choice first, though he was much older.

Lot did not slack in taking full advantage of this opportunity, for he immediately went for the choicest part of the land, as far as his eyes could see, "....and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before YAHWEH destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of YAHWEH, like the land of Egypt as thou comest to Zoar."

Lot made his decision based on what he considered lush at the present. To him, all that glittered was Gold. The pasture was definitely greener on the other side. It truly was, but he will later come to find out that in making such life-altering decisions, more than just what the mere eyes could see should be taken into consideration.

Many of us find ourselves in the situation Lot found himself in this story. Not necessarily following a falling out with our benefactors but in our day to day decisions bordering on the path to career to better our lives. The options for many in developing countries include to migrate to developed countries, make money and probably send some back home, others include to leave our jobs (that may be struggling at the moment) for another that's better paying though with greater risk, or quitting our marriages (to try with some other person) because after years of tying the knot the union is yet to be blessed with offsprings etc.

Our society easily associates material wealth and success to easily mean that one is right with his Creator, or that one has arrived and that poverty is a disease, a sin, a falling-out with one's maker and many preachers preach it so, inadvertently encouraging the people under their control to do whatever they have to do regardless of the legality of such to 'make' it. Success and wealth is now the NEW RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Unfortunately, life is such that you can not declare for tomorrow by what you see today. Not even diviners can accurately predict the outcome of tomorrow based merely on what he can see today. It is not true, that a strong chick is known from the day it's hatched. That assertion falls flat in the face of the laws of nature.

I'm not saying we shouldn't attempt adventures, or refuse to better ourselves or our chances. I'm only saying that such decisions to so do shouldn't be based solely on the pedestrian, peripheral, material or physical. We should engage a wholistic view in making such decisions, weighing the pros against the cons before finally arriving at a decision, for it's better to gradually grow than to speedily progress, only to have all dashed also in quick succession, or even have an end filled only with regrets.

If you follow this story to its end you'll find that Lot, and the people with whom he sojourned would be attacked and carried away prisoners by a marauding army. They will be freed later by Abram's army, only to later have the city of Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire because "...the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before YAHWEH exceedingly." Lot would lose his wife, his daughter's will have kids by him and everything will just go down for him, just because of the choice he made many years back for the greener pasture.

Lemme tell you about Abram, for sooner had he remained with the land that Lot hadn't even considered as worth it, than YAHWEH said unto him;
"... Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee."

Interestingly, after this promise, the next and last verse of Genesis Chapter 13 tells us that Abram moved his tent to dwell yet in another place called Mamre, as his days as a camp-dweller wasn't over yet, despite the promises, but he did laugh last, didn't he?

So it is for those who put their trust in YAHWEH, believing him to come through in all things.

'kovich

Reference:
Genesis Chapter 13 verse 1-18 (The Word Of Yahweh)



BIBLE STORIES VI: NOT ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD | madukovich's cogitations - http://madukovich./2013/10/26/bible-stories-vi-not-all-that-glitters-is-gold/