Thursday Night Bible Study

Genesis 13

"Steppin Out, pt. 2" • 2.4.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro

- Abram has gone out in faith, following the Lord to the land of Canaan, which was promised to he and his descendants after him.

- He comes into Canaan, a 1,000 mile journey from his homeland, only to find that the land is occupied by the wicked Canaanites.

- Their presence was problematic, being that they were enemies of God through their wickedness, first seen in their progenitor, Ham.

- Even more difficult is the prospect of the severe famine that had struck the land of Canaan at the time of Abram's arrival.

- In this crisis moment of faith, which we will all have at one time or another, Abram falters and goes down to Egypt. He was supposed to learn to trust the Lord to provide for him there.

- Instead, without God's approval, his trek into Egypt became the scene for a humiliating defeat and the stage where he learns a deep lesson about God's faithfulness.

- This passage continues from where we left off last week, in that Abram again faces a difficult crisis that will test his faith.

Text

• Genesis 13:1-4 : "Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord." : One can only imagine this ride home! Sarai must not have been very happy with her husband! "These goats!? That's the going price for your wife!"

- Note again that the spirit reminds us that Lot was still with him. Abram would not leave Lot behind. He bound himself to him and would not be parted from him.

- He came back to the south, which to the reader is Southern Israel.

- Moses lets us know that Abram was now very rich, in every way imaginable. You'll recall that the Pharoah had treated him well for Sarai's sake.

- He was the channel that God chose to bless him through God still in spite of his failings.

- There is sense in which the reader is to understand that Abram had no need to do anything at this point. He was wealthy and had everything. He could have gone anywhere and done anything.

- Where does he go? Back to a famine stricken land, back to Bethel!

- To the first readers, this is important. Remember that a remnant still thought often about returning to Egypt. Moses is showing them that their Father knew that God was not in Egypt, but was instead in Canaan.

- Abram turns right back to where he had last encountered God! Notice the words: To the place where his tent had been at the beginning, to the place of the altar.

- It was back to where he had worshipped. Back to where he connected with the Lord. We might even say, "Back to the old drawing board!

- There is an excellent principle here. We will fail and we often face the choice of wallowing in our self-pity and fear, or returning to seek the favor of God again.

- Abram dusted himself off and walked resolutely back into the presence of the Lord.

- For you and I, it might not be a physical place. Perhaps it's a spiritual activity. I last felt close to the Lord when I was doing this. Go back to it!

- Turn with me to Revelation 2. Jesus has told the Ephesian church what He loves about them. We would do well to take note of verses 1-3. But then, He lets them know of what they lack.

• Revelation 2:4,5 : "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent."

- Feel spiritually dry? Go back to Bethel. Been defeated this week by temptation? Remember, repent and repeat!

- Bethel was valued because of God's presence and was to Abram a place of renewal. He called on the name of the Lord.

- The word means "to summon" or "Invite." This is really a beautiful idea. Abram is saying, "God, I want to meet with you."

- It shows us a new level of dependence that Abram is exhibiting. It comes at a good time, as he is about to confront another fearful situation.

• Genesis 13:5-7 : "Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 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." : This second crisis situation involves Abram's nephew Lot. Recall to mind that God never wanted this alliance.

- Some believe that Abram held to a familial responsibility for Lot. Others believe that he believed that Lot could be a potential heir.

- His hesitation to cut off this relationship proved to be increasingly problematic and though God does not prohibit this choice, here we'll see that He orchestrates a situation where separation will be necessary.

- Both men had grown to be incredibly rich in livestock. There was not enough feeding ground for the both of them. The issue here is that the Canaanites and the Perizzites are watching.

- There is a chink in the armor, a potential weakness to exploit. Additionally, Moses writes this little fact, to clue the readers into the tenuous position that Abram was in.

- His opposition was growing. The Canaanites were in the land back in chapter 12. Now, we see the Perizzites had come and seemingly joined them.

- Abram is put into a difficult position. If Lot stays, both herds will suffer loss for lack of food.

- Alternately, if Lot leaves, Abram will be left alone, without an ally against the Canaanites and the Perizzites, who would make formidable enemies for Abram if he were alone.

- Lot might not have been much help, but Lot was a lot better than nothing!

- This was an untenable situation. The two needed to separate.

- God masterfully weaves the tapestry that will accomplish His goals, and test the faith of His man. Don't think that God is not capable of changing the situations that we face!

- God will get His way in our lives, always for the sake of our benefit.

• Genesis 13:8-13 : "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. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.' And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord." : There are some powerful principles here when it comes to resolving conflict.

- First, someone must decide to make the first move toward resolution. Notice that Abram comes to Lot. He initiates the discussion. He makes the first move.

- He is the elder. He is the one living in covenant with God. Abram is the receiver of the promises of God. Yet, he is the one who comes to Lot.

- Certainly, he could have invoked his rights and bullied Lot into a unilateral position. He does not. He says, "Let there be no strife."

- Are you willing to say the same thing? Let there be no strife between us.

- Take a look with me at Romans 12. Note Paul's words here.

• Romans 12:16-18 : "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."

- Notice especially the words: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you." Paul makes it plain that sometimes it's not possible, but if it is, let it depend upon you.

- It's sad but true: The one who seeks to be the most mature, the most righteous, will be the first to eat humble pie first if resolution is to happen.

- Think of this theologically: Is that not what Jesus does on our behalf? He is the one who is offended. He is the one that has been sinned against. He is the one who preemptively acts for the redemption of His people!

- Second, someone must recognize the basis for resolution. Note Abram's words when he says, "We are brethren." This is often forgotten in the mundane and in the midst of battle.

- Often, it must be remembered that there are stronger ties that bind us than there are bonds that pull us! The mature believer will gladly sacrifice his own gain for the gain of brotherly unity!

- Finally, someone must be willing to lose in order to gain. Abram offers Lot any direction that his heart would desire. He offers Lot the pick of the litter. His proposal is incredibly gracious.

- Abram did not need to do this, being that he was the elder and the one to whom God promised the land. Nevertheless, Abram is willing to give Lot all for the sake of peace.

- This last point is the most difficult to swallow isn't it? We cling to being right and having our rights, whether that is right or not!

- Turn with me over to I Corinthians 6. The Corinthian books provide an excellent study in how to be carnal!

- In chapter 6, Paul talks about a situation that had come to his attention. Some within the fellowship sought to sue their brothers before the wordly courts.

- Paul does not applaud them. In fact, he says something quite difficult to hear:

• I Corinthians 6:7,8 : "Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!"

- Only a man or woman walking with God, devoted to Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, could ever hope to live out these words.

- From the heights of Abram to the depths of Lot! Here is a man dominated by his own desires. Lot's choice is predicated on one condition: What can he see?

- Forget the blatant rudeness that Lot displays even allowing this scenario to take place! Those who first read this gasped at the social faux pas of Lot.

- A younger man would never think to allow such a thing. Lot however, was not even a decent man, even after all of his uncle's kindness.

- He looked around and saw the beauty and the abundance. He is unconcerned about what God thinks and he does not mind that his neighbors, even at this time, are excessively wicked.

- You'd imagine that Lot might have known better. He might have been more wise because of Abram's influence.

- Instead, when given the opportunity, he makes a choice that enforces what his life is all about: Self-fulfillment!

• Genesis 13:14-18 : "And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: 'Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.' Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord." : The deed is done. Lot takes his caravan and heads toward Sodom and Abram is left wondering, "What do I get out of this?" Before he can even utter the words, God speaks to him.

- The timing of this is interesting to me. "After Lot had separated from him." Does the Spirit of God leave this detail for no reason? No way!

- We wonder why it is that we do not hear clearly from the Lord. Often times, the answer is that we have failed to do that which we have been clearly told!

- I imagine that Abram was wondering what he would have. He was in a famine stricken land. He was there with his enemies. What would God do for him?

- God tells him to lift his eyes. Do you notice that? Lot had lifted his eyes and saw a vision of what life could be like. God wants Abram to see something much greater than that.

- He tells him, everything that you see will belong to your descendants forever. Every place that you put your feet is the new ground of your possession.

- Think of the power of these words. Almost the same exact words are repeated to Joshua when they return to Canaan. It will be theirs, as a possession, by eternal promise of the Lord.

- Additionally, this is the first mention of how many descendants Abram would have. They would be as the dust of the earth. Uncountable. A number without limits!

- He would not need Lot for descendancy. God would increase Abram to innumerable seed.

- He tells Abram to walk where he wants, because it was all his! So what does Abram do? He builds an altar! He worships again!

Conclusion

- Faith only grows in crisis moments. We can give into our fears or we can believe God in faith. We need faith to stay, faith to go it alone and faith to give up our rights and positions.

- Tonight, we have an opportunity to at least shoot for that fence. Don't make Him take you the long way around!