Abraham and his nephew Lot separated when their flocks became too big for them to stay in the same land together. Lot chose to settle in the plain of the Jordan River, near Sodom.

Sodom was a wicked city; the people lived there did evil in the sight of God. Even so, Lot and his family moved inside the city walls.

When the Lord visited Abraham, he said, "I will go down to Sodom and to Gomorrah, and see if the people there are truly wicked. If so, I will destroy the two cities."

Now Abraham knew that Lot lived in Sodom. He pleaded with God, saying, "If there are fifty good people there, please don't destroy the city."

"For the sake of the fifty people, I will spare the city," said the Lord.

But Abraham was afraid that God would not find fifty good people. What if there were only forty-five? Or thirty? Or twenty? At last the Lord promised Abraham that he would spare the city for the sake of ten good people, but ten could not be found.

So the Lord sent angels to Sodom to warn Lot, his wife, and this daughters. Lot took the visitors into his home. The men of Sodom were so wicked that they were about to attack his guests but the angels struck the men blind.

"If you have anyone to take with you," one angel said, "gather them and run from this city." Lot went to tell some other men, but they laughed at his warnings. "Hurry!" the angels said. "Take your wife and daughters and get out of here!" Lot hesitated, so the angels grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and daughters and led them out of Sodom. "Run to the mountains!" one angel said. "Don't look back."

Lot's character is revealed by his choices. He took the best share of the land even though it meant living near Sodom, a city known for its sin. He was greedy, wanting the best for himself, without thinking about his uncle Abram's needs or what was fair.

Life is a series of choices. We too can choose the best while ignoring the need and feelings of others. But this kind of choice, as Lot's life shows, leads to problems. When we stop making choices in God's direction, all that is left is to make choices in the wrong direction.

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