GENESIS
CHAPTER
13
1. So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 1)
After the great trauma in Egypt Abram and his family went on their way on their pilgrimage seeking the way of God. God challenged Abram's prophecy and showed him that when we trust in God we are always on the winning side although the world may count as as losers according to the ways of the world.
2. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 2)
In contrast to Abram's fears of losing everything most of all his wife as a consequence of the beauty of his wife, God compensated Abram with more riches than he already had. God asks us to leave everything in order to follow him but on a spiritual level and at times even on a material level as in the case of Abram God greatly compensates us with the needed resources at the right time meaning when needed.
3. He journeyed on by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
(Genesis chapter 13 verses 3 to 4)
At times God sends us back to our original plan or our origins in order to place us back on track. At first this may seem to be a bitter or nostalgic experience because we might ten to experience second thoughts about our calling to follow God. Moreover as Christians God asks us never to forget our initial calling as Christians and always to keep God's promise of our salvation in mind.
5. Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together, 7 and there was strife between the herders of Abram's livestock and the herders of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land.
(Genesis chapter 13 verses 5 to 7)
In order for God to be able to work more personally on Abram's spiritual growth he had to be separated from his brother Lot. God had strictly ordered Abram to leave his family, but for some reason Abram still had Lot with him.
On the other hand when considering that the land of Canaan was inhabited by other people, Lot's absence meant a lack of military backup in the face of his enemies. However God wants to be our security and not the worldly material security such as money and significant others.
8. Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 8)
As a person who wishes to follow God and his ways Abram wished to have no litigation with Lot or his labourers. Abram focused on finding a reasonable solution between them in order to bring the issue to a peaceful end as we should in also do.
9. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 9)
On the premise that God had given him, the whole land of Canaan, Abram gave Lot the first choice to choose the location to which one of them would go in order to have the issue settled. We can observe humility on Abram's part, who did not seek his veto or advantage as the elder in order to make the first choice. As in the New Testament we are to treat others better than ourselves. Verse nine of the thirteenth chapter of the book of Genesis is a typical example of this teaching.
10. Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 10)
Our values determines our actions and behaviours. When making his choice Lot only considered the fact that the land was in an ideal condition however he did not consider the fact that the land was close to the pagan lands of Sodom and Gomorrah, which would be of a negative influence on his soul and would harm his spiritual welfare.
11. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; thus they separated from each other.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 11)
Without considering the danger that he would place Abram in now that his military power had increased in a foreign land Lot went on his way to follow his personal agenda. When we consider only our plans and not the consequences that the decision would have on others and even ourselves the outcome may be not that positive.
For example at the time I am feeling that God is asking me to work as a social worker with people who have terminal cancer. If i insist on reaching this aim without consulting my wife, I may create unnecessary stress in my family. God has already given me a contact who is going to see if there is a vacancy on a part-time or volountary basis, however I still have to pray on the issue and discuss the issue and analyze the positive and negative consequences before deciding. Moreover in a spirit of prayer I have to discern whether the motivation is coming from myself, or actually from God.
12. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 12)
It seems that when faced with the opportunity both Abram and Lot made their choices. Moreover when we make a choice we will experience both the positive aspects of that choices and even the negative consequences.
13. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 13)
The consequences of Lot's choice have been made evident. Although the land of his choice was increasingly fertile, the negative aspect was that he was to inhabit in the land of Sodom or in its vicinity with the consequences of being exposed to the negative sinful values and practices held by these people thus putting his spiritual welfare in jeopardy. However it seems, that Lot considered his material welfare over that of his spiritual well being.
14. The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all that land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever, 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
(Genesis chapter 13 verses 14 to 16)
After Lot left Abram, Abram may have felt depressed and defenseless. During such moments God intervenes and gives us the much needed encouragement. God renews His promise to Abram. It was God's way of telling Abram do not worry if Lot has made a better choice than you, there will come a time when all the land of Canaan will be yours and of your descendants forever.
17. Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you," So Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the LORD.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 17)
God encourages Abram to claim the land by venturing in it from all directions and thus leaving his sign of ownership throughout all the land. Abram made the symbolic ritual of claiming the land by crossing over to the location where he had received his original call from God.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God my father thank you for your support, your love and your care. Thank you for being close to me especially when I feel abandoned by all. Thank you for renewing your promise to me that one day I will join you along with my family in my land of Canaan that is our heavenly home prefigured by the name of Canaan. Help me to feel your encouragement especially when I see how others are already reaping their material benefits in careers etc and I am walking in obedience to your Holy Will and waiting for your deliverance. If its your will that I work with children who have cancer please let your will be done. In the meantime please give me love for my colleagues, boss and supervisors and even my clients so that with the necessary skills I can continue being of service to them
13. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 13)
The consequences of Lot's choice have been made evident. Although the land of his choice was increasingly fertile, the negative aspect was that he was to inhabit in the land of Sodom or in its vicinity with the consequences of being exposed to the negative sinful values and practices held by these people thus putting his spiritual welfare in jeopardy. However it seems, that Lot considered his material welfare over that of his spiritual well being.
14. The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all that land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever, 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
(Genesis chapter 13 verses 14 to 16)
After Lot left Abram, Abram may have felt depressed and defenseless. During such moments God intervenes and gives us the much needed encouragement. God renews His promise to Abram. It was God's way of telling Abram do not worry if Lot has made a better choice than you, there will come a time when all the land of Canaan will be yours and of your descendants forever.
17. Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you," So Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the LORD.
(Genesis chapter 13 verse 17)
God encourages Abram to claim the land by venturing in it from all directions and thus leaving his sign of ownership throughout all the land. Abram made the symbolic ritual of claiming the land by crossing over to the location where he had received his original call from God.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God my father thank you for your support, your love and your care. Thank you for being close to me especially when I feel abandoned by all. Thank you for renewing your promise to me that one day I will join you along with my family in my land of Canaan that is our heavenly home prefigured by the name of Canaan. Help me to feel your encouragement especially when I see how others are already reaping their material benefits in careers etc and I am walking in obedience to your Holy Will and waiting for your deliverance. If its your will that I work with children who have cancer please let your will be done. In the meantime please give me love for my colleagues, boss and supervisors and even my clients so that with the necessary skills I can continue being of service to them
Thank You God.
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