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One of my pleasant memories from my childhood, which over the years I have come to recognize as a rich blessing was my mother reading the bible stories to us on Sunday afternoons. She had such a wonderful way of reading, using expression that was unique only to her and it has helped me over the years to draw lessons from them that relate to my own circumstances.One of those stories was about Abraham and his nephew Lot, recorded in Genesis 13, and I learned a wonderful lesson about blessings.
I remember a number of years ago when when my career was at a crossroad.
Through circumstances I had lost my business and prayed for direction as to what I should do next. “Lord what is Your will for me?”
I was hoping for a clear answer that would get me started the next day. It wasn’t until four months later that I was reminded of a couple of verses. One was from Micah 6:8: which simply tells that the Lord has shown us what is good and what he requires from us; to do that which is right, to be kind and compassionate and to walk humbly befor Him. The other verse, a familiar one to many, “Love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength.”
I remembered the story my mother read to me about Abraham.
Abraham and Lot had a lot of sheep and cattle. Shepherds cared for their flocks, but Lot and Abraham’s shepheds were not getting along well. After a meeting of the minds they realized it was time to go separate ways and after climbing the hill for a better view, Abraham let Lot have first choice and he choose the lush green plains of Sodom and Gommorrah. I can only imagine what may have gone through his mind at that time. “If I can raise my sheep and cattle in these lush green pastures, there will be lots of water close by and I won’t need irrigation. I can pasture more animals per acre and the returns on my investments will be plenty!” Would he have calculated all the potential dollar bills?
Lot’s choice was acceptable to Abraham and he went the other way, which was the way of the desert. Abraham was the friend of God and he walked with God and knew God would provide and go with him.
“My will for you is to love me wholeheartedly, do what is right, show mercy and walk humbly before Me” was his answer and He continued, “Then it matters not what you do as a vocation, for my blessing will follow you wherever you go.”
I learned that day in answer to my request that the blessing of the Lord does not depend on lush green pastures, or what I choose as a vocation, but on simple obedience to what the Lord requires of me.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? “ Micah 6:8 KJV
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