Decision making at Life’s Crossroads Made Easy!

Turn to Genesis 13:5-15 in your bible. It’s the story of a crossroad for 2 people. Let's read the verses now and seek the Holy spirit to reveal to us the secret of decision making.

'Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now 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. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, 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. And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “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. '

Here, the Bible says, there was strife between Lot and Abraham’s Herdsmen. And Abraham, the senior of the two gives the choice of direction of separation to Lot. Lot, does not seem to have the sense to look up to God. He had just been following Abraham, and he was also blessed.

In his crossroad, Lot uses his worldly wisdom and chooses the place that looked well-watered and fertile. Abraham goes the other way and just receives “Promise words” from God. For a while, the choice of Lot seemed good. From a worldly view, this seems right too.

But as time passes, we know how Abraham grew in wealth, stature, and blessings of the world and after, while Lot lost it all when God had to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah. And Lot also ends up fathering two peoples abhorrent to God.

In Ruth 1, we see a similar scene involving 3 people. Naomi, Ruth & Orpha. Naomi, the senior of the three, gives a choice to her now widowed daughters-in law. She wants them to start afresh, get married as per their choice and not stick to herself, who is widowed and aged. But Ruth makes a choice that makes a Moabite woman be mentioned in the lineage of “Jesus Christ” Himself.

The choice of Ruth or of Abraham looks very stupid from the worldly eyes. However, they looked up to the goodness of God, who has the power to turn barren lands into a land flowing with milk & honey.

This shows that as children of God, we should choose the place and direction of our life, education, work based on where God would be with us and not on where there is money, power or worldly blessings.

Because, the Bible says, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ' in Matthew 6:33

So when you are facing a crossroad in your life, “seek the Lord” and decide the direction where He will be.

Praise the Lord.

Glory to Jesus.