Questions of Why – Why… Do Not Quarrel (2)

The sermon opens with a meeting between Abraham and Lot in Haran. Lot is surprised to see his uncle preparing to depart but not knowing where, because Abraham only hears the call of Jehovah God. Abraham explains that God has called him to leave his homeland and go to a land that God will show him. Although Lot has never trusted in Jehovah God, Abraham's faith and the difference between worshiping God (with no carved idols) and worshiping idols has made Lot curious. Finally, Lot decides to go with his uncle because he wants to experience new land, even though he knows he will live in tents rather than in fixed houses.

After returning from Egypt, both Abraham and Lot become wealthy with many flocks, herds, and possessions. However, this leads to conflict between the herdsmen of the two men. Rather than quarreling or using his power, Abraham takes the initiative to reconcile with Lot. He emphasizes that they are kindred and brothers, so they should not dispute. Abraham yields his rights by letting Lot choose freely: if Lot chooses the left, Abraham will take the right, and vice versa. This action shows that Abraham values family relationships more than possessions and land.

Lot, on the other hand, looks only through the eyes of the flesh and chooses the plains beside the Jordan River, a place that is open, lush, and like the garden of Jehovah God. But Lot's story is a tragic one: from merely looking toward Sodom, to living near it, to living in the city, to finally holding a position of honor in the city. When God destroys Sodom because of its sin, Lot loses everything: honor, possessions, and even his wife (who looks back and becomes a pillar of salt). The sermon illustrates this with the Russian writer Tolstoy's story about a peasant named Pahom, who spent his whole life desiring land but in the end needs only six feet of earth for burial. This is a clear lesson that choosing the material leads to destruction, while choosing the spiritual brings eternal blessing.

Isaac, Abraham's son, learns the lesson of yielding from his father. Although the Philistines dispute his wells many times (five times of conflict), Isaac does not quarrel but continuously seeks other wells. Not until the sixth well, which is not disputed, does Jehovah God bless Isaac with spacious living and prosperity. Isaac believes that the matter lies in God's hands, and if something is pleasing to God and at the right time, God will grant it. The sermon emphasizes that the yielding of Abraham and Isaac is not weakness but spiritual wisdom.

The final part of the sermon presents Scripture's teachings on quarreling. Jehovah God hates those who cause strife, and Scripture lists many evil consequences of quarreling: it produces chaos, evil, and separation of brothers. Apostle James teaches that wisdom from heaven is pure, peaceable, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, while wisdom of the flesh produces jealousy and selfish ambition. Scripture warns of the consequences of quarreling with the person God has chosen, such as the cases of Miriam and Aaron quarreling with Moses, and Korah rebelling against Moses—all were severely punished by God. Apostle Paul teaches that God's servants must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone and able to teach. The conclusion of the sermon is: choose harmony, yielding, and spirituality instead of quarreling, strife, and materialism; trust in Jehovah God as Abraham and Isaac did.