p. 364 | GENESIS THIRTEENTH CHAPTER

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1880

GENESIS THIRTEENTH CHAPTER.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THIS chapter can be studied with much interest and profit. It reveals to us the real characters of Abraham and Lot. The wealth of Abraham at this time must have been immense. His household was large. His encampment could not have held less than a thousand to fifteen hundred persons, of whom three hundred and eighteen (besides those of Lot), were home born, and fit for war; besides this he had vast herds and flocks. It is not therefore to be wondered at that difficulties should arise in reference to water and pasturage. Hence the wisdom of a separation. Abram's conduct in this is worthy of imitation. It reveals his character, and the true way of avoiding difficulties. Being the eldest and the uncle of Lot, he might have dictated to him: but he kindly defers even to his inferior. "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee." "Is not the whole land before thee?" "If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." This was a commendable spirit of conciliation, a grand exemplification of Christian meekness. How many bitter feelings, heart-burnings, expensive litigations, and domestic miseries would be avoided if all took this course.

How consistent it would have been for Lot to have given his uncle his choice; but a different motive actuated him. "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east; and they separated themselves the one from the other."

Thus Lot chose the fairest portion, but it proved his ruin. But was it not his privilege? Did not Abraham give him his choice? Abraham accepted what was left, and found in it the blessing of God. It was just then the Lord said to Abraham, "Lift 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." "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." This Abraham found to be true.

Lot's experience teaches that nothing is gained by selfishness, and Abraham's, that nothing is lost by generous self-sacrifice. It shows that a mere worldly consideration is a very untrustworthy guide to success in life. The plain of Jordan "was well watered everywhere," "even as the garden of the Lord," but it was a failure, financially, to Lot and his family. There are more important considerations than mere worldly prosperity, and without these our riches will avail nothing in the day of God. Educational opportunities, social culture, moral and religious influences, should have the most weight in the choice of a place for a home. Lot left them out in the account, and the day came when, for the want of them, the value of real estate fell in Sodom, till a money panic would have been a trifling disaster beside it. The school and the church are needed to throw their shadow

over the home. Intelligent piety is a richer investment for the wants of a household than well watered acres or ten per cent stocks.

The experience of Lot also proves that the first step in the wrong direction is the real crisis in our lives. That taken, the rest soon follow. Lot chose the plain where Sodom was, and though their iniquities "vexed his righteous soul from day to day," he soon ventured into their city and took up his abode there. His children are subjected to all their evil influences, find there their society, become deaf to the voice of danger, and perish in their destruction. The first step was the mistake that led to the final doom.

"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen. But seen too oft, familiar to the face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace."

The only safe course in life is to consider the future, not the present, welfare of ourselves. God has a cause on the earth and its interests should be ours instead of those which yield us the pleasures of selfish gratification. Purely personal interests and worldly considerations will always prove a snare.

We are in the world to live for others, to develop a character of disinterested benevolence. It is only such a character that God accepts, and that will stand the test of the Judgment. This cannot be formed by now and then doing a great act of generosity, but by continually practicing such acts so that the nature itself becomes transformed. A tender conscience, a heart which is susceptible of divine impressions, one which will ever feel for others, is to be highly prized in a world like this. It connects us with God, and brings him near until his Spirit fills the heart with peace and joy. S. N. HASKELL.