Genesis 13:5-18

March 8, 2013
Abraham returns from Egypt to the place he had settled earlier between Bethel
and Ai. Hes fairly wealthy and has lots of livestock, but hes not alone:
And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for
their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7And there
was a strife between the herdmen of Abrams cattle and the herdmen of Lots
cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
So, both of them have these huge flocks which require plenty of pasture and water.
I imagine that one day Abrahams men saw a nice spot off in the distance and
started off in that direction while Lots men were doing just the same. Well, theyre
not going to walk all that way for nothing, so each side tells the other to get lost
because we saw it first.
Well, the other side didnt walk all that way for nothing either, so one thing leads
to another and then the staffs and slings come out. Theyve literally found a hill
worth dying on.
And this brings the possession of the land into question. Who will get it? Will
Abraham take it by force? Will he use his right as an elder or as Gods called one?
Or will he prefer Lots desires over his own and watch God take care of it?
8

And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me
and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
9
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if
thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the
right hand, then I will go to the left.
He says, Were brothers. We dont need problems between us. You tell me which
direction you want to go, and well do it. If you go this way, Ill go that. Just pick
what you want, so theres no more fighting. (Heb. 12:11)
10

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was
well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and
Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou
comest unto Zoar. 11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot
journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the

plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13But the men of Sodom were
wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
The plain of Jordan is the area of land all along the Jordan River. Lot sees hell
prosper most there because the area is well-watered and fertile. The only set-back
is that hell have to live close to the men of Sodom who were exceedingly wicked,
but its a small price to pay to enjoy benefits of good land.
But we know that he ultimately pays a much higher price: first, his conscience was
tormented by all the wickedness around him (II Pt. 2:8) and then he had to flee
from Gods wrath and lost everything. He ends up living in a cave with only his
two daughters (19:30) after his wife was turned into a pillar of salt.
On the other hand, Abram might have seemed to get the short end of the stick, but
that wont be the case:
14

And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift
up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and
southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest,
to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed as
the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then
shall thy seed also be numbered. 17Arise, walk through the land in the length
of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
The only thing that really matters in this whole episode is that the Lord said. Its
interesting that Lot lifted up his eyes in deciding what land to take, but God
commands Abraham him to lift up his. This isnt the logic of man; this is the
promise of God. The land goes as far as he can see and it goes to all his
descendants forever.
Now, we cant forget whats being shown here: By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in
the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:8-10).
In Acts 7 Stephen rebukes the Jews by going through their history. Its interesting
that he begins with this promise to Abraham. He shows how God led Abraham to
the Promised Land and then how He led the people into Egypt and then into the
desert where He commanded Moses to build a tabernacle according to a specific
pattern (:44). Then he mentions the temple built by Solomon (:47), and then he
says, Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith

the prophet, 49Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye
build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50Hath not my hand made
all these things? 51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do
always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52Which of the prophets
have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before
of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and
murderers: 53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not
kept it (Acts 7:48-53).
Hes saying, You never did get the point. It was never about a patch of earth. It
was never about a house made out of stone. These promises are and always have
been spiritual! Yes; they were fulfilled in a physical way, but the New Testament
clearly shows that the greater hope was for something more. Its not a city we can
build or a temple we can fashion. God has called a people out for Himself and for
His own glory. He has prepared a place for us; it has a foundation, a real
foundation. This is the place where He will dwell with us and be our God and
well be His people. Its not a place where the circumcision of the flesh makes a
differencethis is the place where those whose hearts are circumcised by God will
dwell.
18

Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre,
which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Here again, after Gods provision through Egypt, the tension with Lot, and hearing
Gods promise reaffirmed, Abraham proves his faith by worshiping the Lord.
Lets close with a few thoughts:
#1- We seek to prevent dissension among the brethren even at the risk of being
wronged. Abram wasnt worried about demanding his rights. When there were
problems in the Corinthian church, Paul asks, Why not rather be wronged? Why
not rather be defrauded? (I Cor. 6:7).
Theres to be order and we dont expect people to allow abuse, but the examples
from Scripture show saints preferring to avoid strife even at personal cost. Has
someone offended you? Has someone wronged you? What are you doing about it?
Will you get revenge? Will you pout and refuse to fellowship with them anymore?
Are you not brothers? Are you not part of the same body? Are you not together a
temple being built for God? Repent of your sin and drop your pride! Choose to be
wronged and trust that God is the rewarder of deeds and that He is the Judge of all
the earth.

#2- We walk by faith and not by sight. Lots biggest mistake was trusting in his own
logic. The things which seemed desirable to him were the basis of his decisions.
#3- Gods blessings and work in our lives include hardship and lead to worship.
Despite all the trouble of leaving home, we see that God is faithful and it leads
Abraham to worship.
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