LOT: The Spirit Of Entitlement

LOT: THE SPIRIT OF ENTITLEMENT

So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife

and Lot and all that they owned. 2 (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver,

and gold.) 3 From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward

Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had

camped before. 4 This was the same place where Abram had built the altar,

and there he worshiped the Lord again. 5 Lot, who was traveling with Abram,

had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of

cattle, and many tents. 6 But the land could not support both Abram and Lot

with all their flocks and herds living so close together. 7 So disputes broke out

between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and

Perizzites were also living in the land.) 8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not

allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are

close relatives!9 The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of

any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land

to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the

right, then I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the

Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered

everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This

was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot chose for

himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his

flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. 12 So Abram

settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near

Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain