B'resheet 13:11-13 So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the L-RD.
Lot was looking out for himself and took the best land for himself even though that meant he would be living near (and later in) wicked Sodom.
We need to be careful we are not living or working in a sinful environment.
Elaine here: Just this week, a company who wanted to know if I would be interested in working for them contacted me. They are located in a very beautiful part of the country. I was very interested until I found out that they wanted me to write gaming software. I do not believe HaShem condones gambling. We are to rely on Him to supply our needs, not chance. I do not feel He would want me to be writing gaming (gambling) software. I turned them down. This is the kind of thing that we are to watch out for. Yes, we are to try to reach the people around us for Yeshua. But we will see in a few chapters how Lot's family was adversely affected by living in an extremely sinful environment.
Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the L-RD. -- Now many teachers or preachers may say this is no longer so. I guess Adonai better send His apologies to these people then. :) This is of course, not true. Adonai does not change in regards to what is right or wrong in His eyes even though everyone does what is right in their own eyes.
On the other hand, we are not to judge unbelievers in this regard because this is G-d's job.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, G-d judges.
Even Yeshua when He came the first time did not come to judge the world.
John 12:47-48 And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. NAS
This does not mean we do not tell the truth regarding the actions of sinners.
We will judge the world during the millennium. (1 Corinth. 6:1-11)
The thirteenth Hebrew letter corresponding to this chapter is Mem- revelation (open) and concealed (closed) at an end of a sentence.
B'resheet 13:14-18 And the L-RD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you." Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the L-RD.NAS
Glory to G-d. We also received spiritual blessings from Abram through Isaac.
When we come to Yeshua HaMashiach we are spiritual children of Abram through faith/trust. This applies to all people, both Jewish and non Jewish.
The oaks of Mamre - Mamre is the name of a person. In B'resheet 14:13 he is referred to as Mamre the Amorite.
Heb 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is G-d. NAS
Rom 9:6-13 But it is not as though the word of G-d has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants will be named." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of G-d, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. For this is a word of promise: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that G-d's purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." NAS