Although Lot owed his prosperity to his connection with Abraham, he manifested no gratitude to his benefactor. Courtesy would have dictated that he yield the choice to Abraham, but instead of this he selfishly endeavored to grasp all its advantages. He "lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, . . . even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar." The most fertile region in all Palestine was the Jordan Valley, reminding the beholders of the lost Paradise and equaling the beauty and productiveness of the Nile-enriched plains they had so lately left. There were cities also, wealthy and beautiful, inviting to profitable traffic in their crowded marts. Dazzled with visions of worldly gain, Lot overlooked the moral and spiritual evils that would be encountered there. The inhabitants of the plain were "sinners before the Lord exceedingly;" but of this he was ignorant, or, knowing, gave it but little weight. He "chose him all the plain of Jordan," and "pitched his tent toward Sodom." How little did he foresee the terrible results of that selfish choice!

Skønt Lots velstand skyldtes hans forbindelse med Abraham, viste han ingen taknemmelighed over for sin velgører. Høflighed ville have fået ham til at bøje sig for Abrahams valg; men i stedet søgte han egenkærligt at skaffe sig alle fordelene. "Da så Lot sig omkring, og da han så, at hele Jordanegnen ..... var vandrig som Herrens have, som Ægyptens land, hen ad Zoar til, valgte han sig hele Jordanegnen." Den mest frugtbare egn i Palæstina var Jordandalen, der mindede beskueren om det tabte paradis. Den var lige så smuk og frodig som de frugtbare sletter ved Nilens bredder, som de lige havde forladt. Der var også rige og smukke byer, hvis overfyldte markeder indbød til indbringende handel. Blændet af udsigten til verdslig vinding overså Lot de moralske og åndelige farer, som fandtes dér. Slettens indbyggere var "store syndere mod Herren", men enten var han uvidende herom, eller også lagde han ikke megen vægt på det. Han valgte "hele Jordanegnen" og "drog med sine telte fra sted til sted helt hen til Sodoma". Lidet anede han de frygtelige resultater af dette egenkærlige valg.