Starting over is never easy. Sometimes in life we realize we have made serious mistakes and there is nothing to do but return to the last point where we were on the right track and attempt to figure out another way to go. This is where we find Abram at the beginning of Genesis 13. In chapter 12, he had left Bethel in Canaan to go to Egypt, and now, in verse 1, he is leaving Egypt, albeit at Pharoah’s command, and returning to Bethel. He has taken everything he had, and Lot goes with him.
We see in verse 2 that Abram has become very wealthy. At that time, having many sheep and other livestock could make a man very wealthy. The animals could be traded for food, clothing, or other goods, or sold for gold or silver. The livestock themselves could be used as legal tender for payments.
Verses 3-4 show Abram arriving back in Bethel, where he had previously built an altar to the Lord. What does he do in Bethel on his return? Abram is anxious to restore his relationship with the Lord. When we mess up, we should always search our own hearts and, of course, speak with God about how we can restore our relationship with Him. As New Testament believers, we do not offer animal sacrifices on altars anymore. But Romans 12:1 tells us what our spiritual act of worship should be. Are we willing to do whatever it takes to be back in obedience to God? And, of course, God always wants us to confess our sins and gain His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Verse 5 tells us that Lot, also, had wealth and multiple tents for his household. Between Abram and Lot, it probably required quite a bit of space to support the needs of both people and livestock. Verses 6-7 tell us of the problem that arose for Abram and Lot. This overcrowding problem was compounded because the original Canaanites and Perizzites were also living at this location, in addition to Abram and Lot. Let’s face it, only so many sheep and camels can graze in one place, and arguments had broken out between Abram’s and Lot’s men.
Moving on to verse 8, we can see that the arguments had become a problem within the families of Abram and Lot, as well. Because of the closeness of their relationship, Abram desires to resolve the problem and makes the first move to achieve peace. We can see that peace within his family is more important to him than who gets first shot at the best grazing land. Let’s look and see what wisdom the Bible gives to us about getting along (Psalm 133:1, Prov 15:18, 20:3, Phil 2:3, James 3:16). Getting along with our family members or with our brothers and sisters in Christ should always be of high importance to us. Disagreements and arguments can get out of hand and grow which can lead to broken relationships and hamper our ability to accomplish goals. They are definitely one of Satan’s favorite tools.
What plan does Abram propose in verse 9? He does not try to ensure he gets the best for himself, does he? He offers Lot the first choice. He is truly trying to make peace. Greed is not his motivation. And what about Lot? Let’s look in verses 10-11 and see what Lot does. He looks out and sees that the land to the east is well-watered and he chooses that land for himself. He puts himself first. Lot chooses to head east. What famous cities lie in the direction Lot was headed? Though the land in that direction appears to be much better land for grazing, is Lot making a good choice, spiritually, to go and live near Sodom and Gomorrah which are known for their evil ways?
Verses 12-13 tell us that Abram then lived in Canaan and Lot pitched his tent near the city of Sodom. We can also see here that the city of Sodom was very wicked and the people who lived there sinned greatly (Ezek 16:49-50, Jude 1:7). It is certain that Lot knew where he was headed. However, we know that Lot was a righteous man (2 Pet 2:7-8). Why would he choose to live near such a place as the city of Sodom? The Bible does not tell us his thinking. Perhaps he believed the well-watered ground was worth it. Maybe he thought he had a faith strong enough to withstand the influence of the ungodly. But what wisdom does the Bible give us for these types of decisions (2 Cor 6:17)? This was a decision that Lot made not only for himself but for his family as well. We will see some consequences of his choice in later lessons. Ask yourself now whether you have made choices in your life as to your friends, workplace, leisure activities, etc., that have left you living under the influence of the ungodly? Have you exposed your family members, or others under your care, to ungodly influences? Lot did not seek discernment from God when he made his choice. Do you seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance when making important decisions?
In verses 14-17, God tells Abram to look around in every direction, and He shows him the land. Once again, God repeats His promises of making Him a great nation and giving to him all this land of Canaan. It is God’s to give (Psalm 24:1). Compare the promises given to Abram here in Gen 13 with those given in Gen 12. God also tells Abram to walk through the land. He wants him to see how good a gift it is and to feel the joy of ownership. Then, in verse 18, we see Abram return to Hebron and pitch his tents to live there. What does the Bible tell us he did in Hebron?
Responding to God: Reflect on any recent sins which may have disrupted your relationship with God. Confess these to God and seek His forgiveness. Ask Him if there are any steps which need taken to restore your relationship. Identify any relationships with family or Christian brothers and sisters that are broken. Ask God for wisdom on how to make the peace and heal those relationships. Pray that He will reveal to you any areas in your life where you need to separate yourself from an ungodly influence.
Further Research: To learn more about God’s covenant with His people, use a concordance or an online Bible to search the word ‘covenant’.
Add comment
Comments