This is a rather odd choice of topic for this time of year, most people are focused on holidays, Thanksgiving and now on to Christmas and The New Year. The Zoom Group I work with are into the book of Genesis, where, how and when and where it all began. We have just gone through chapters 13-14 and here and I admit it has kinda caught my eye… What has got my attention is as the title of this blog says…the Eyes of Lot. When I combine the eyes of Lot with the eyes of Abram and how they each see things a bit differently, then add the importance of God’s Will in our lives and the difference it makes in people and in this world, that to me requires a bit of insight. Websters defines that as: the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing. In simple speak, we are going to “take a deep dive into this.”

At the beginning of chapter 13, Abram has returned from Egypt to Canaan. You know what they say “you can’t go home again.” That may apply in some ways here but the current state of this region at this point is at best a mixed bag. Canaan no doubt had a historic place in this time and story. Theologically there was a lot going on. The region was in a period of abundance that oddly was causing tensions among the people…mostly social change and political agendas. The land was crowded causing conflicts between different groups of herders and other conflicts that caused Abram and Lot to decide to part ways. Both of these men had prospered here, having large herds of live stock and had accumulated much personal wealth and position. One big factor was the inability of the land to actually produce enough to meet the need of the people there, and then causing some territorial disputes. As Lot and Abram part we are shown an insight into the character of each man. Abram allows Lot to chose the land he wishes although as the elder he had that right. Abram’s humility and faith in God’s Will, verses Lot’s vision of wealth that could be had in such a fertile Land as the Jordan Valley, not including the larger cities there…Sodom…Gomorrah…were what his eyes, and thus his mind and heart saw. There are many things we can take from this but it does reinforce the fact that there are repercussions for choices made. Lot’s choice lead him closer to the sin-laden cities Sodom and Gomorrah and Abram’s faith ensuring his alignment with the divine plan God had for him. There is the eternal truth that choices outside of God’s Will for us will lead to bad things. Lot saw wealth, Abram’s eyes were on God’s vision and promise to him.

Where are your eyes in this Advent Season? Are they on the lights, tree, presents and all the distractions of this most wonderful season? Or do they see the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ… The son of God…God incarnate among us? 

Life is Good

jk