Genesis 13:1 – 6 “So Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev—he and his wife and all his possessions—and Lot was with him. 2 And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and golden…. Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist.”
No matter what time of the year it is, the Negev Desert in southern Israel is a barren place. Modern methods of drip irrigation and highly sophisticated methods of agriculture have caused the desert to bloom in places; however, in Abraham’s day, it would have taken a lot of territory to support all those animals. No wonder that Lot and Abraham’s herdsmen began having fights! Realizing that something must be done, Abraham graciously allows Lot, his nephew and therefore a junior person in rank, to have first choice. Lot chooses the well – watered plain of the Jordan and settles in Sodom. v. 13 “But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.”
What was Lot thinking? Given the rich nature of the land with abundant water, there must have been other cities apart from Sodom and Gomorrah! Anyway, Lot makes his home in Sodom; meanwhile, God comes to Abraham.
v. 14 – 18 “After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, for 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 that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width—for I will give it to you. So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.”
What an incredible promise! God doesn’t set any conditions; He simply makes these promises then and there. Now, God is all – knowing and exists outside time. This means that God knows that sooner or later, Abraham is going to make mistakes. God knows all the ways that Abraham is going to fail, and yet, God is still making these promises. This means that even before Abraham messes up, God has already chosen to forgive him!
APPLICATION: Many times, friends and family members fail us repeatedly. They may beg for forgiveness but then turn right around and repeat the same mistakes. When this happens, how do you feel? Do you make the same choice God did with Abraham and choose ahead of time to forgive, or do you sit waiting for them to goof up so that you can attack them?
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for knowing us better than we know ourselves. Thank you that you know ahead of time when we are going to make mistakes and that you choose to forgive us, even when we repeat the same mistakes over and over. Help us to have the grace to forgive others in this same way. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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