After his excursion of faithlessness into Egypt, Abram heads back to Canaan with Sarai and his nephew Lot in tow. Both he and Lot have considerable wealth, an unfortunate point of contention that will cause unnecessary disruptions in the family. We get a bit of a reset point, here, as Abram makes his way up through the Negev north to Bethel, the place he originally landed in Canaan and the location of the altar he built for the Lord. (Bethel is just north of modern-day Jerusalem). It failed when Abram tried to rely on his own cunning and wisdom to navigate the situation in Egypt, his return to Bethel and call upon the name of the Lord appears to be a good sign.
Yet, the bounty that both Lot and Abram possess has caused a problem. When Abram left Canaan the first time it was in the midst of a great famine. God’s promises were difficult to understand. Now that they’ve returned, there is concern whether the land that God has given Abram is yet still insufficient in that it is not big enough for the herds of both men. Remember, one of the things we are to look for in Genesis is comparison, the putting of two folks side by side to see and learn from the differences. We see it here with Abram and Lot.
Abram attempts to resolve the conflict by pointing out that there is plenty of land, let’s not all try to grow radishes in the same spot. He offers for Lot to choose where he wants to go and Abram will take the other direction. This is an unnecessarily conciliatory act, Abram has Lot beat in age, this is the land God promised him, and it seems that Lot’s good fortune can be tied to Abram’s good fortune. Abram’s gesture for peace is admirable. This reset seems to be good. (It’s worth noting that the Canaanites and Perizzites still inhabit the general area.)
In antiquity, folk generally faced east to orient directions (towards the morning sun). Thus, to the right and left here would indicate moving north or south. However, Lot looks around and picks neither, looking east, attracted to the apparently well-watered fields of the Jordan Valley (an understandable choice with the knowledge of the recent famine in the area). This area was not likely part of God’s promise to Abram and was not an area he had walked through during his previous time in the area. Also note that, so far, “east” hasn’t necessarily been a good direction, often indicating movement away from God. The gate out of Eden heads east, the direction Cain heads after killing Abel is east, and it from the “east” where the Babel conspirators had come from.
For contrasts, note that we are told “lifted up his eyes” and chooses his own land based upon its physical appearance (a deceit in retrospect, given the subsequent judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.) Abram, however, is instructed by the Lord to “lift up your eyes” and see in all directions the land which God will give him. Lot chooses his land, God chooses Abram’s. Lot will head east to the soon nefarious lands of Sodom. Abram will remain with the Canaanites, who at this point are not under God’s judgment.
God’s previous promise (main Genesis focus items of land and descendants) is reiterated here, making it clear that this promise is not just for Abram but for his family and future generations as well. Abram moves slightly north and pitches his tent again. And as before, he does so in the presence of another altar he constructs to acknowledge the faithfulness and dominion of the Lord God in this area.
Perhaps one thing to take away from all of this is that, when we find that God’s promises don’t always work out as we expected, the best course of action seems to be to keep walking faithfully within them until we get our bearings. Yes, you can try to take things into your own hands (ahem, sell your wife in Egypt), but you’re not going to be able to keep God’s promises your way, has to be his. That’s not easy, and even though we see Abram with a nice reset, the unknown’s in his life are far from over. Time and time again both he and his descendants will be faced with trying to understand God’s big promises in light of their faithful/faithless steps within them.