After being made to leave Egypt, Abram took his family (including Lot) and all they had to the South. He was very rich in livestock, silver and gold. Abram’s journey took him from the South back as far as Bethel to the place where he built the altar between Bethel and Ai (Genesis 12:8). It was there that Abram called on the name of the Lord again. Would you ever backtrack? Have you ever backtracked? I know we like to keep it moving forward, but backtracking spiritually to that place where you called on the name of the Lord could be what is needed to propel you forward successfully. “Take me back, take me back Dear Lord, to the place where I first received you…..”
Lot is still journeying with his uncle, Abram. Lot also has flocks, herds and tents. Their combined possessions were so great that the land could not support them both. The Canaanites and the Perizzites also lived in the land.
The Hindrance – There’s strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and Lot’s livestock. Can’t we all just get along? Obviously not! Abram suggested that for the sake of being family, they separate so that there is no strife between him and Lot and all of their herdsmen. So, they separated. Abram gave Lot the first choice of the land. Whichever direction Lot chose to go, Abram would go in the opposite direction. Lot, of course, chose the land that looked the best in his eyes. Who wouldn’t do that? He saw that all the plain of Jordan was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you head towards Zoar. The land looked so appealing because this is before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah [hint, hint]. Remember, everything that looks good, “ain’t” good! Abram and Lot separated and Lot journeyed east.
Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, pitching his tent as far as Sodom. The men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. So, Lot’s plot begins to thicken further along on this Biblical journey. Again, I don’t see where God told Lot to leave Haran.
After Lot left, God told Abram to look all around him in every direction. All the land that he saw – north, south, east and west – was the land God was giving to Abram and his descendants forever. Because Abram packed up and left (obedience), God also promised to make his descendants as the dust of the earth. If the dust of the earth can be numbered, then Abram’s descendants can be numbered. I am sure the feat of numbering the dust of the earth has yet to be accomplished.
God told Abram to arise and walk the length and the width of the land, because it belongs to him. Here is another “get up and go” command from the Lord to Abram. Yes, of course, Abram got up and went. He moved his tent by the terebinth trees of Mamre which are in Hebron. Abram built an altar to the Lord there also. Abram was truly a man of great faith as so acknowledged throughout the Bible. How great is your faith?
See you at the next stop – Genesis 14
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
My comments on the points made.in this blog are:
First Point – Going back to the point where we started in Christ will remind you of the true dependence on Him and how you felt when you first accepted Christ and your zeal to walk with Him. So, yes, sometimes going back will propel you to move forward with tenacity.
Second Point – Disagreements have been going on since the beginning of time.
Third Point – Be careful of what appears to be “green grass”.
Point Four – “Get Up and Go” moments that are directed by God are always the best move and right move.
Point Five – My faith is growing constantly. I used to be afraid to pray that my faith be increased because in order to grow your faith, you have to go through some things that are uncomfortable or that you just don’t want to experience. So as my faith grows, I lean more and more on God to get me through.
Amen.
Amen, Pennee!