Abraham and his nephew, Lot, had come to Canaan with all they owned, looking for the inheritance that the Lord God had promised them. But “the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.” (Genesis 13:6) So, Abraham, in an effort to make peace, gave Lot the first choice of where he wanted to settle. Abraham would take whatever was left, whatever Lot did not choose.
Lot took the lush, well-watered plain of the Jordan River Valley and left Abraham with the dry, barren, rocky hills of the wilderness that surrounds the valley. But, “All that glitters is not gold” is an old saying that sums up Lot’s choice in Genesis 13:10-11.
“And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere…like the garden of the LORD…Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan…and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.”
My grandmother had a cow named Brownie who would stand at the gate and bellow and moo for the lush, thick, green grass that grew over the septic tank just outside her pasture fence. One day my Dad let her out and she immediately started nibbling on those juicy tufts of grass. But after a few mouthfuls, and the scent that wafted up from under the ground, she realized that the grass inside the fence tasted much better and was happy to return to her enclosure.
Sometimes what looks like the most obvious choice is not what is best for us. But if we trust God, even if the way seems hilly and stony like the land Abram received, He will not only lead us to the good pastures, but He will also give us a great inheritance that exceeds all we could ask or think. The Lord told Abraham, “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are–northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:14-15) Do you understand that Lot’s “choice” land was included in that promise? Abraham could see all the good that Lot chose when he looked around himself. This meant that God was going to give Abraham all he could see, what he couldn’t see beyond the hills in front of him and even what he thought he had given away.
God has great promises to all those who are content to dwell with Him in the inheritance He delights to give them. He is telling you, too, to look wide and long and deep and high at what He has awaiting you, for He has the ability to grant you what you can see, what you can’t even dream of, and even what you thought you lost.
“…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
And indeed, He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...” (Ephesians 3:20) Claim His promises today! Stand confidently in your faith with a smile on your face because you know that He has a good inheritance in store for you and nothing the devil can do will snatch that away from you.