Genesis 13:9
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: 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. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: 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.
The words were spoken to stop quarreling when the land could not sustain both households and strife had broken out between the herdsmen of the two camps, so a peaceful separation was proposed rather than continued contention. Abraham took the initiative to prevent further conflict by urging that there be no strife between them and their men. Separation was chosen as the remedy that would preserve peace where crowding had made friction inevitable.
Although Abraham was the elder and held the first right to choose, and although the whole land had been given to him by God, he deliberately set aside his claim. He did not assert seniority or divine grant as grounds for advantage. His refusal to stand on rightful priority opened the way for conciliation.
He courteously gave Lot, his younger nephew, the first choice of the country in either direction, left or right, and bound himself to take the opposite direction from whatever Lot selected. Lot was permitted to choose the portion that appeared most desirable, while Abraham agreed to accept what remained. The offer was made so openly and fairly that no suspicion of self-interest could attach to it.
The act revealed a humble, noble, and unselfish spirit that waived personal rights and preferences with courtesy, generosity, consideration, and fairness, free from selfishness. Even though parting from a kinsman was painful, Abraham preferred loss of companionship to continuance of discord. His openness and equity made the transaction an example of true regard for another person.
He was willing to yield and to make personal sacrifice in order to preserve peace, putting reconciliation ahead of his own advantage and seeking to glorify God. He preferred separation to strife, and his willingness to suffer loss for peace was pleasing to the Lord. Peacemaking of this kind calls for generosity that accepts the lesser portion rather than contending for the greater.
The plea of brotherhood meant more than natural kinship, pointing to fellowship as worshipers of the true God in one worldwide family governed by love, conciliation, uniform courtesy, kindly affection, and preferring one another. That spirit is to keep distrust and rivalry from growing into dissension, jealousy, and strife that dishonors God. Clinging to self at all hazards tears households asunder and divides churches into a reproach, while practicing the golden rule and the love of Christ looks to the good of others rather than to self-aggrandizement, which is the spirit of evil.
The same transaction frames the importance of choosing where to live, for Lot chose the land near Sodom for its apparent natural advantages without considering its morals, religion, and corrupting influences, while Abraham remained in Canaan. Lot's selection was guided by worldly gain and outward promise rather than by spiritual welfare. His later ruin warns that choices of residence made without regard to moral environment can endanger a family for eternity.