Just now they had got to a bare stony place, where the sun shone hotly,
and there was not much green; but Abram had built up an altar with the
great stones, and prayed there. Abram and Lot loved one another, and
were at peace; but when their servants drove out their flocks to get
food and water there were apt to be quarrels. If Abram's men found a
green grassy valley, they would not let Lot's cattle into it; and if
Lot's came to a well, they would not let Abram's flocks drink; and so
on. They were always quarrelling and making complaints to their masters.
At last Abram saw that they would make Lot quarrel with him. So he said
it would be wiser to part; Lot should go one way and he another--any
way there should be no strife. And he even told Lot to choose which
way he would go. So Lot looked, and saw to the East a pleasant green
valley, with fields of corn and meadows, and a fine river running into
a clear lake, and five fine towns on the bank. He liked it better than
the bare stony hills where Abram was; and he never thought whether the
people were good or not, but he took the first choice, and went to live
there. So Abram gave up. He had the right to choose first, but he would
not use it. He let his nephew choose. For he hated quarrels, and knew
they were wicked; and he knew how to stop them, because he would yield
up the best. That is the way to make peace and please God.
[Illustration: ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE ANGELS.--Gen. 18:10.]