Genesis
chapter 13 begins with Lot still hanging around with Abram. We are
also told, “Abram
became very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold“.
Next, we read that he “traveled
from place to place until he came to Bethel…where he had first
built an alter“.
Isn’t it funny how we often wonder around in our lives and
frequently God brings us back to a point where we have to make a hard
decision? Here we read God forces Abram to make the decision he
should have made years earlier, “Lot,
who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
But the land could not support them while they stayed together…
And quarrelling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of
Lot“.
So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s
not have quarreling between you and me…Let’s part company. If you
go to the left, I will go to the right, if you go to the right, I
will go to the left“.
He gives Lot the choice, because he knows God will bless him
wherever he goes. There are times in our lives when we have to make
choices because God can not mature us where we are. There is a time
to move out from mom and dad, to make a job change, or to relocate,
but we need to be careful about our motives.
We
read “Lot
looked up and saw that the whole plain of Jordan was well watered…
The two men parted company. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while
Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward
Sodom.. the men of Sodom were wicked were sinning greatly against the
Lord“.
We don’t know if Lot’s decision was made because of the draw of the
excitement of living near these cities, but tragically, he first
“pitched his tent toward Sodom”, but later we will read he
is living IN Sodom. Here is a lesson for us, when making these life
changing decisions, we need to make sure it is for the right reasons.
Many men have uprooted their family in pursuit of a promotion
without considering the cost to the rest of the family. 2
Corinthians: 7 tells us, “We
live by faith, not by sight“.
Clearly Abram is now living by faith.
Now
that Abram is finally where God wants him to be, He makes a promise
to Abram. “Lift
up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and
west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your
offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the
earth…so it can not be counted“.
Interesting, but God also tells Abram, “Go,
walk through the length and breadth of the land for I am going to
give it to you“.
Colossians chapter 3 encourages us to live out our faith. Once we
have received Christ as our Lord we should possess the fact. “Clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience…Forgive as the Lord forgives you. And over all these
things put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity“.
Have you taken possession of all that God has given to you?