Devar/5771/Lech Lecha
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And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where (Gen 13:10)
Abram and his nephew Lot had to separate, and Abram told Lot that he should choose any place he preferred and go live there -- and Abram would go elsewhere. Logically, it was not surprising that Lot would choose the plain of the Jordan, which was well watered. After all, And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents (ibid 5), and in the Jordan valley he would be able to water and feed all his flocks.
However Abram also was very rich in cattle, and Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the Plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Abram therefore lived in a place which was a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water as the rain of heaven cometh down (Deut 11:11), while his nephew lived in a well watered place.
God commanded Abram to leave Haran, in the area of Babylonia -- a place not lacking in water, and a place filled with idolatry. Afterwards, he descended from Canaan to Egypt, likewise a place full of both water and idolatry. And in our verse, Lot chooses a place saturated with water -- and similarly with idolatry! What is the connection between well watered places and idolatry?
In a place where watering fields is a matter of course, where it is possible to attain everything without great effort, it is very easy to err and think My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. (Deut 8:17). Therefore the residents of those places made that mistake and imagined that they were the masters of everything and that the gods could be mollified. Therefore God told Abram, "go forth out of your country" -- so that you and your descendants will benefit; leave that place, and come to the land that I will show thee (Gen 12:1). So, too, all of us need to leave our comfort zone and our placidity, and strive to fulfill God's will, may He be blessed.
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