The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.
R' Frand began his vort by discussing Lot's separation from Avraham as mentioned in Bereishis 13:1-12. The Torah states in Bereishis 13:11 וַיִּסַּ֥ע ל֖וֹט מִקֶּ֑דֶם. Rashi explains that Lot did not travel in a direction, he wanted to separate from Hashem who was there from the beginning - מִקֶּ֑דֶם. Lot said that he did not want anything to do with Avraham and Hashem.
R' Frand asked - why did the Medrash interpret this pasuk is such a non-literal term? R' Frand quoted R' Matisyahu Solomon who in turn cited R' Shneur Kotler to explain the Medrash's view of the pasuk. He began by quoting a pasuk in Ekev (Devarim 11:10) which states כִּ֣י הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה בָא־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ לֹ֣א כְאֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ הִ֔וא אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְצָאתֶ֖ם מִשָּׁ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּזְרַע֙ אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֔ וְהִשְׁקִ֥יתָ בְרַגְלְךָ֖ כְּגַ֥ן הַיָּרָֽק. Moshe tells the Jews that the Land of Israel is not like Egypt which you left as in Egypt you don't need to worry about irrigation. In Egypt, the Nile overflows and waters the fields. Instead, וְהָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ אֶ֥רֶץ הָרִ֖ים וּבְקָעֹ֑ת לִמְטַ֥ר הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם תִּשְׁתֶּה־מָּֽיִם - the land depends on rain to irrigate the fields.
R' Kotler asks - how is this praiseworthy for the Land of Israel? If you are trying to sell the land, why say that watering was easy in Egypt and that now you need to depend on rain? He answers that the pitch was that the Jews will need to rely on Hashem for rain and will daven to Him and develop a relationship. In Egypt there was no dependence on Hashem or relationship with Him.
When Lot sees that the land of Sodom is כִּ֥י כֻלָּ֖הּ מַשְׁקֶ֑ה (Bereishis 13:10) he thinks that he will have it easy and he wont need to rely on Hashem for water - just like Egypt. He does not want a relationship with Hashem and this is his way out. After all, Lot was very much into his money and he wanted an easy luscious life.
R' Frand made reference to the pasuk in Bereishis 14:12 when Lot was captured. The Pasuk states - וַיִּקְח֨וּ אֶת־ל֧וֹט וְאֶת־רְכֻשׁ֛וֹ בֶּן־אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָ֖ם וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְה֥וּא יֹשֵׁ֖ב בִּסְדֹֽם. The structure of the Pasuk is odd, since it states Lot, his possessions and only afterwards his relation to Avraham. You would think that it would say that they took Lot the nephew of Avraham and his possessions, but here they come between Lot & Avraham. R' Schwalb explains that this is because Lot's possessions were central to him and defined him.
R' Frand tied this to the prohibition on interest. He asked - why is it that if someone needs money, you cannot lend it to him on interest, but lower than the bank rate? If someone needs a mortgage now, the rate is above 7%. He would be thrilled to borrow from his friend at half the rate, so why can't they enter the transaction? R' Frand quoted the Klei Yakar who explains that a farmer relies on Hashem as there are many challenges to growing produce. Businessmen have similar challenges as they may order stock based on a belief that something will be a hot selling item, but by the time that it arrives, there may be no consumer interest.
Lending with interest, provided the loan is secured, takes Hashem out of the equation. A person does not need Hashem or depend on him if the money is coming in through interest. Thus Hashem banned interest so that he can feel a connection with Hashem.
R' Frand said a second vort related to Avraham's request to Hashem in Bereishis 15:2 - מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י הוֹלֵ֣ךְ עֲרִירִ֑י וּבֶן־מֶ֣שֶׁק בֵּיתִ֔י ה֖וּא דַּמֶּ֥שֶׂק אֱלִיעֶֽזֶר. Avraham says he has no children - he has a trusted servant, but no one else. R' Frand noted that the Gemara in Yoma states that Eliezer was a Talmid Muvak of Avraham and he delivered Avraham's Torah to everyone. You could not want a better Talmid as he would perpetuate Avraham's Torah and ensure his legacy. But why should Avraham need anything else?
R' Frand answered by quoting the Rabbeinu Bchaye who cites to the pasuk in Bereishis 15:5 - וַיּוֹצֵ֨א אֹת֜וֹ הַח֗וּצָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַבֶּט־נָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה וּסְפֹר֙ הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים אִם־תּוּכַ֖ל לִסְפֹּ֣ר אֹתָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ כֹּ֥ה יִהְיֶ֖ה זַרְעֶֽךָ. Hashem was telling Avraham - the stars are multifaceted and no star is like another. Avraham wanted children, not clones. And Hashem told him - look at the stars - the are like the children you will have. Each one will be different with multiple strengths and diversity.
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