Abram and Lot Part Ways
“Genesis 13:1-18 So Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev—he and his wife and all his possessions—and Lot was with him. And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold. From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched, to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 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. And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.
So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
Lot Proceeds toward Sodom
And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
God Renews the Promise to Abram
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.”
Abram and Lot both have huge herds and flocks and grazing land and water for these animals is a problem. Now Abram’s workers and Lot’s workers are constantly fighting over grazing and water rights. Something must done, and Abram must take the lead. Why doesn’t Lot come to Abram and suggest a solution? Lot is not a believer and Lot is selfish, having a sense of entitlement.
Abram is Lot’s uncle. As the elder, Abram should have first choice in everything, enjoying the best and leaving the remainder for Lot. But Abram graciously allows Lot first choice. At this point, the Dead Sea might not exist; the Jordan River might flow through the Sea of Galilee and on down to the Gulf of Aqaba and the entire Jordan Valley is verdant, promising rich grazing for Lot’s large flocks and herds. True, the men of Sodom have a reputation for wickedness, but Lot figures he can avoid Sodom. So Lot chooses the whole plain of the Jordan for himself, leaving Abram with hill country, sparser grazing, and less water. There’s Lot’s sense of entitlement kicking in again. Lot lives in the cities of the plain but “pitches his tent toward Sodom.” This decision will prove to be the worst of Lot’s entire life.
“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.” Notice that God does not renew this promise to Abram until after Abram has given the Jordan Valley to Lot. Here God is assuring Abram that no matter what kind of arrangement Abram has made with Lot, Abram’s descendants will inherit all the land, including the Jordan Valley and that God will multiply Abram’s descendants ”like the dust of the earth.”
Being a good and generous person can be very trying, particularly when you are dealing with those with a strong sense of entitlement. Few things are more frustrating than seeing the solution for a problem and then having to navigate around someone else’s ego to reach that solution. Although the account in Genesis is descriptive, we wonder what has not been recorded. Given the fact that Abram takes the lead, it’s likely that Lot’s herdsmen have been causing most of the problems with Lot urging them on in the background. Perhaps Abram makes his suggestion out of a sense of frustration and disgust.
The important thing to notice about Abram is his regular worship of the Lord. Abram returns from the Negev in the south to the area between Ai and Bethel, rebuilds his altar, and worships the Lord. Once God gives Abram His promise, Abram moves south to the oaks of Mamre near Hebron and worships the Lord again. At no point is there any mention of Lot worshiping the Lord. Lot might be a good person, but he is trusting in his own goodness and not in God’s.
How is Abram able to give up the best grazing land to an ungrateful nephew? Abram is in regular communication with God and God is reassuring Abram of His watch care and His promises. Abram trusts that God is going to give him the necessary grazing and water for his herds and flocks. Abram is also trusting that God will keep His promises, and this faith gives Abram peace.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of people with well-developed senses of entitlement, and you never know when one of these people will appear to complicate things. But when you are trusting God as Abram has done, you can trust that God keeps the books and God can multiply resources and improved things for you. Even if you like Abram find yourself forced to retreat to a less than optimal location, God is still fully capable of blessing you and multiplying resources.
Our hospital cares for very poor people, many of whom cannot possibly settle even the smallest of medical bills. Through our hospital chaplain and some of our nurses, we settle medical bills and also provide money for feeding for patients and their families. We are not rich people nor do we have large numbers of wealthy donors supporting us; yet, God continues to provide so that we are able to help others. Through the years, we have seen God multiply our resources in many different ways, and we can state with Joshua that “And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.” (Joshua 23:14)
The law of the Kingdom of God is simple: the measure you give out is the measure you will receive. Abram graciously gave his nephew first choice and lived to rejoice that he had done so, gaining God’s peace in the process. Selfish Lot forfeited God’s peace by grabbing the best land, but a land inhabited by wicked men.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You and Your promises and to be willing to yield to gain peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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