The Test of Humility
Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. (Genesis 13:9-11) The conflict over Abram's interests versus Lot's was a controversy engineered by God, because He was determined to separate Abram and Sarai to Himself. Abram, to his credit, chose not to take preeminence, stake a claim, pull rank, negotiate, or even flip a coin. He simply humbled himself before Lot (who, as the younger, should have humbled himself before Abram), and his gracious behavior resolved the conflict before it could do more damage. The Spirit led Abram to humb...