And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. (Gen 13,7-8)

When a crisis arose, Abram, as older and more mature, was ready to deal with it first. That is certainly because he felt a greater degree of responsibility. But his words "let there be no strife" also seem to contain a reflection of the previous sentence of Scripture: "the Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land." As if Abram saw that it was not just a matter of who of the two would get better pastures and do better. They both live their lives in front of the surrounding tribes and their dispute threatens to outgrow and become a public theater, a demonstration of their lives and their God for them. Let there be no strife... Abram wants at all costs to avoid fight in the family, which at the time was also the "family of faith", and does not exercise his supremacy, so as not to embarrass Lot, not to prevail over him. He could have done so - perhaps only by referring to the fact he was older, which put him in a much more important position in ancient societies than it is today.

For many people, disputes are a trap because they lose their minds, fall into anger and escalate the situation. The words and deeds are difficult to be taken back and the damage is long-lasting and far-reaching. For others, however, disputes are a trap because they always consider them a bad thing, run away from them, and believe that this is the only right (Christian) attitude. Isn't Abram's attitude a proof of that?

It's not. Abram showed a will to make peace where he eventually lost profits, property. It is obvious that at that moment there already existed something he valued more than material security and money. He was ready to bear the loss if it brought about good things. Something that can't be bought with money.

It is certain, however, that Abram would not have been prepared to retreat if the compromise with Lot included things rarer than gold: if he had have to sacrifice morality or even faith in his God. It had not always been the case to the same extent, but slowly and surely, it was these things that were becoming more and more important to him.

So even Christ was able to become a lamb where we are naturally wolves, and a lion where we tend to be sheep.