Genesis 13:9

Is not the whole land before thee?

The land of Canaan had been given to Abraham and his seed; he had the divine charter for its possession. He was the patriarch of the tribe, and in every way the superior, yet he offers to yield his rights and give to Lot the first choice. It is the true Christian spirit to "prefer one another," to "seek not our own." He could have said: "The land is mine by divine right. If it is not large enough for you and me, you must seek another country." That would have been the spirit of the world. But, instead, he proposes for Lot to choose what he wants, and he will take what is left.

Separate thyself.

The time had come for separation. Lot and his descendants were to form no part of the chosen nation. He was to become the ancestor of the two tribes of the Moabites and Ammonites, who settled in later times east of the Jordan. It was the policy of Jehovah to separate those not of Israel, until the time came for the expansion of the nation. Thus Lot, Ishmael and Esau were all separated.