Abraham's statement to Lot in order to resolve the situation between them proves that the patriarch was a servant of the Lord committed to honoring Him. Abraham did not try to convince his nephew of the wickedness of his shepherds or the problem they had caused. He suggested that there should be no strife between them, for they were like brothers, people of the same blood, serving the same God. So, by ending the dispute on his terms, Abraham proved that he honored the Truth above all else.

Any conflict between brothers in the faith should not be debated and judged among unbelievers, as Paul advised in his first letter to the Corinthians: Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? (1 Corinthians 6:1). There is fault in seeking justice among the unjust. Would an unbelieving judge be converted if he saw a Christian doing what the wicked do?

Many do not have biblical faith, but rather an opportunistic faith. They want to go to Heaven, like most of the lost, but in order to gain something easily, they behave like those who have never heard the message of Jesus: Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? (1 Corinthians 6.7). Mercy! We live among beasts!

Christ exhorted us to seek the reward that comes from Him, and not from men who do not even call upon God: To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  (Luke 6.29). No matter how right you think you are, the Lord has the right way to resolve the issue and appease the spirits of the brothers. When we act according to the Scriptures, we glorify the Father.

Abraham could have acted angrily toward Lot, saying that he had fed him, clothed him, and spent money on him, but he preferred to propose a peaceful separation. Lot's greatest loss came later, when he was already living in Sodom, and the city was attacked by the army of the five kings of Canaan. Lot was taken captive, but his uncle, upon hearing what had happened, gathered 318 servants born in his house and went to fight to rescue him. Abraham was victorious because he walked with God (Genesis 14:1-17).

When the angels warned Abraham that Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar would be destroyed, the patriarch interceded for the righteous people who lived there (Genesis 18:17-33). In his cry, he asked if God would destroy those cities if there were ten righteous people in them. In Abraham's mind, Lot, his wife, his two daughters, their fiancés, and some of his nephew's servants were righteous, but when the cities were destroyed, he saw that there were not even ten righteous people there to prevent God's judgment.

Abraham's proposal was perhaps the fairest his nephew had ever received. Lot would keep his possessions and leave in peace. Certainly, the patriarch did not want the inhabitants of that land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, to think that he and his nephew were not truly God-fearing because they were quarreling. Lot liked his uncle's offer and separated from him. In the end, he saw that he had been unkind to Abraham. Learn to make the best decision in the Lord!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares