01-46 Lift Up Your Eyes
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Genesis 13:1-18
Genesis 13:1-18
You’ve heard the expression “the eyes are the window to the soul.” No one really knows the origin of that phrase but its truth (the relationship b/t what you see, what you desire and the condition of the soul/heart is very tightly knit). While that phrase is not found in the Bible, there are complementary truths that point to that relationship:
Matt 6:19-24;
Jesus uses a very practical illustration of the eye. The eye is the only source of bringing illumination into the body—which enable us to see (physically). If the eye is good, your vision is clear. The spiritual connection would be a full-devotion of one’s life to JC. But if the eye is bad (damaged or diseased) there is blindness resulting in darkness. The darkness (in context) reveals itself by the preoccupation with material concerns. So, your perspective on money, material things becomes the test of the condition of your soul/heart.
John Stott “Worldly ambition has a strong fascination for us. The spell of materialism is very hard to break.”
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
The proper attitude would be:
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
So there’s a relationship b/t the eyes and the heart—biblically. Eyes are especially highly valuable today (they were also in biblical times).
26 “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.
Leviticus 24:20 (NASB95) OT law limited vengeance of personal loss
20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.
Defect of the eye disqualified a man from the priesthood (Lev 21:20). A punishment that was exceptionally cruel was to gouge the eyes of your enemy (Judg 16:21; 2 Ki 25:7).
Because of its importance, the eyes are spoken of in connection with the spiritual condition of a person. The eyes can be “full of adultery” (2 Pt 2:14); they can “desire” (good or evil), “lust”, “despise”, can be “dissatisfied”, they can scorn and mock, spare an enemy, wait for a time to sin.
Again, the eyes reveal the condition of the heart. That is certainly the case in our passage today with Abram and Lot. Moses tells us that both of their eyes were “lifted up.” One as a response to what his heart desired and the other in obedience to the command of the Lord. One of these men would turn on a path that would meet with disaster, the other would encounter divine blessing.
There is a practical application here at the outset that you make wise, godly choices that will honor the Lord instead of choices that we often make to satisfy the lust of the eyes. John says:
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
The choices you make reveal what is in the heart—be wise in those choices.
I want to walk thru our vv together looking at 5 details that should caution us against taking the downward steps that we will discover in Lot. Now, I want to be careful that our description of Lot takes into account that fact that he too is a man justified by God’s grace.
Peter describes the judgment of God on Sodom and Gomorrah:
6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; 7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
But God also rescued “righteous Lot.” It is possible for believers (frankly, it happens all too often) to make poor, unwise choices. While we do this, we could not surrender the justification made possible on account of the righteousness of LJC. Lot makes an unwise decision—but he remain “righteous.” But let’s consider how to avoid his error.
1. The Return to Bethel
1. The Return to Bethel
vv 1-4
The reference to the Negev is the Southern part of the land of Canaan and refers to the dry, arid, desert land. Moses explains that the group that headed into Egypt in 12:10 (as a result of the famine), they all came back with Abram, including Lot (his nephew). In fact, they came back to the Negev with more than when they left the first time. Later on, when Sarai attempts to take matters into her own hand, devised the plan for Abram to bear a child with her maidservant—Hagar who was an Egyptian (16:1). We are told that Pharaoh’s gift to Abram (on account of Sarai—whom Pharaoh took as his wife) gave male and female servants (plural).
Moses also indicates that Abram was “very rich in livestock” as they returned to the southern land. Part of this was also tied to the gift of Pharaoh. Rich is a translation of the word “heavy” (famine was “severe”/heavy). Abram was rich b/c of the ordeal in Egypt—when he acquired his wealth at the expense of everything that was precious to him. He also had a great deal of silver and gold.
This was definitely out of the ordinary for a wandering, nomadic shepherd. So he returns with great wealth (though he had many possessions even before going to Egypt). Now, it is not a sin to have wealth or possessions. A root of all sorts of evil is not money but the love of money. It’s when your possessions possess you. It’s when your pursuit is to gain wealth above and beyond the gain of godliness.
So Abram sets out toward the Negev and he continues north “as far as Bethel” (vs 3). This is the place where (as Moses reminds us) Abram had set his tent the first time and where he built an altar to worship the Lord. When he comes back, this is where Abram “called upon the name of the Lord.” His wealth did not distract him from worship. you’ve heard it said— “the main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing.” Abram didn’t have a problem with this. Though he told the lie upon entering Egypt, he wasn’t being deceptive in order to gain wealth. But upon receiving all that Pharaoh gave him, Abram was about worship—that was the main thing for him.
2. The Reason for Strife
2. The Reason for Strife
vv 5-7
Moses also tells us that Lot (who went with Abram) also had “flocks and herds and tents.” Remember, Lot is Abram’s nephew. He is the son of Abram’s brother Haran who remained behind in the land of Chaldeans. Why Lot went with Abram instead of remaining behind with his father is unclear, but God was drawing Lot into fellowship with Himself and it must have been in Lot’s heart to abandon the polytheistic moon-god worship of his family—being caught up in the current of Abram’s faith. Whatever the reason, Lot is here and God’s has been very gracious, blessing Lot with tremendous wealth as well.
This is the setup for strife, b/c the land could not sustain both since their possession were so great. I think we have a bit of an advantage over city-dwellers here. We understand that one grazing area can only support so many herds (our friends in the city don’t have that perspective—since they get their food from the store—broad generalization). But this hits home for you. Abram and Lot can’t stay together b/c their “herdsmen” (their servants charged with finding feed for the livestock) kept quarreling with one another. The language indicates it was continuous—on-going strife. I don’t know if there was any physical conflict (came to blows) but that may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
This is the same term that describes the water dispute between Isaac and King Abimelech in Gen 26. Disputes over water and grazing rights have been common in every generation. This is especially true when resources are limited.
Moses also makes the remark “Canaanite and Perizzite...” The land was stressed beyond Abram and Lot…but the mention of these 2 groups reminds us that world is watching how we handle conflicts.
You’re going to have conflicts with your neighbors & family. How you handle those conflicts has a bearing on your testimony of JC—your gospel witness is at stake, here. You can take a cue from how Abram responds to this present conflict.
3. The Response of Peacemaking
3. The Response of Peacemaking
vv 8-13
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
The sons of God, the citizens of the kingdom of heaven are unlike everyone else. We really do stand out from the rest of the world in that we are to pursue peace—even with our enemies.
12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
I want you to note that Abram is a peacemaker here. And this stems from the fact that he had been communing with God. This is a different man from the one we encountered on his way to Egypt. That’s what happens when you fellowship with the Lord, when you worship Him—your eyes are lifted upward, the heart’s desires are transformed and Abram comes to Lot with the fullness of generosity toward his young nephew.
Now, you should understand that Abram did not have to yield to Lot. Abram is the paterfamilias. He is the head of the household. He is the elder. Lot is the nephew. Abram had every right to choose for himself first. But his deference shows great humility and generosity—a magnanimous spirit toward Lot.
Abram is a peacemaker: “let there be no strife…please separate...” Abram understood they weren’t feuding with the Canaanites or Perizzites, those pagan idolaters. They were brothers, family.
So he offers to let Lot choose, go the left I will go right. Go to the right, I will go left. The perspective is facing east—left=north, right=south.
Xns should not seek after conflict, nor be the source of it.
11 “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it.
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Notice Lot’s response—He does’t return the generosity “no uncle, it is fully your right to choose...” Instead, he—vs 10-13.
Everything Lot looks for is from a worldly perspective. So he choose “for himself” (vs 11)—not for the Lord but himself. This would take Lot on a precarious journey that would end in disaster. And Moses is previewing this disaster—vs 10 “before the Lord destroyed S & G...”
13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.
"Exceedingly” is the same term “Abram is exceedingly rich” Sodom is weighted with wickedness. It is heavy in that city. There was corruption of the worst kinds. There was vileness, such wickedness that later on Sodom become synonymous with homosexuality. This is what Lot chooses for himself. But I want to point out to you that it wasn’t one giant leap that led Lot to Sodom. It was a gradual, step-by-step walk that began this downward spiral into disaster. In fact, there are 6 steps that we can glean from Scripture:
A. He lifted his eyes and beheld
A. He lifted his eyes and beheld
This is similar to what Eve encountered in the garden
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Lot lifted his eyes and he liked what he saw. He found satisfaction in what that land would offer him above and beyond the satisfaction that comes from walking with the Lord.
B. He choose all the valley of the Jordan
B. He choose all the valley of the Jordan
There is a hint of greediness in Lot’s choice. This area was “well watered” meaning there would be plenty of grass for the livestock. So his choice set him on a course that would bring to the evil city of Sodom—which would eventually see the area consumed by fire.
C. He separated himself from Abram
C. He separated himself from Abram
Lot would quickly learn the horrible things that happen when you venture away from the security and protection of the fellowship of believers. And it is why we are admonished:
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
There is a strengthening that happens b/t the saints that encourage us to remain faithful to the Lord. I’m sure you’ve at one time or another experienced the discouragement that happens when you’re isolated, lonely, by yourself. This is when temptation can come powerfully upon you.
16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.
Lot left this behind.
D. He moved his tents toward Sodom
D. He moved his tents toward Sodom
He saw prosperity, wealth, success in that region. This is what he is choosing. Someone once said “Lot was the kind of man who would certainly choose Heaven over Hell if given the choice, but not Heaven over earth.” Lot was caught up in material prosperity.
E. He was living in Sodom
E. He was living in Sodom
If we read ahead:
12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.
He doesn’t just live near the city—he’s right in the midst of the city that was filled with perversions of every kind. He moves his family into the fire (so to speak). Peter again reminds us:
7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
Nonetheless, he remained in Sodom. His family was heavily invested in Sodom: his daughters married men of Sodom and his wife was so attached to Sodom that she looks back—and we know “salty” aftermath of that.
F. He is sitting at the gate of Sodom
F. He is sitting at the gate of Sodom
Fast forward to Gen 19 and we see that Lot had become a political and business leader in the city. He had accepted Sodom and Sodom accepted Lot.
These are six, downward spiraling steps—descending into destruction and this is the direction Lot is going. And it even gets worse—b/c he is living in cave and his daughters who lost their husbands want children and they go into the cave and he gets them pregnant thru incest. Those children become the Moabites and Ammonites (You’ve heard the name Ruth—is part of the Messianic line pointing back to that incestuous relationship and ultimately chronicling the marvelous grace of God).
Now by God’s gracious intervention, Lot is rescued—but it will be a while before we get to that account.
Abram is the shining light here…b/c he is generous, humble—a peacemaker at heart.
4. The Restatement of Blessing
4. The Restatement of Blessing
14-17
This is a restatement/reaffirmation of God’s promised blessing upon Abram and to His chosen people, who will rise up thru Abram. Moses makes it clear that it was after Lot separated from Abram that the Lord waited to affirm His purpose with Abram.
God told him “lift up your eyes…place where you are...” According to Jewish tradition, Abram’s group was situated at Ramath Hazor (5 miles northeast of Bethel). This is the highest elevation in central Israel—over 3000’. From there Abram could see Mt Hermon to the north, the Dead Sea and the hills of Hebron to the south. The Jordan was to the east and the Med. Sea to the west. God’s command was to look in each of these directions b/c… vs 15 “for all the land...”
The Lord is the key actor—the one who is acting to fulfill this promise: 3x “I will give” “I will make” “I will give”
Now, 3 times the Lord uses the term “descendents” referring to Abram’s offspring or seed. There are a couple of added descriptions to God’s blessing that add weight to the promise He made to Abram:
The Land would be given in perpetuity— “to your descendants forever” The Heb “forever” is 2 words that lit “as far as(until)...forever/always.” God’s promise would never be rescinded (could not be) b/c it depended on nothing in Abram and its fulfillment rests only in the character of the unchanging God.
The Descendants would be innumerable (vs 16) as the dust of the earth—there’s a lot of dust in the earth. I don’t think this has to be lit—that every spec of dust represents a descendant of Abram…but we get the idea that the number cannot be counted. It too great: And you know “Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had father Abraham. I am one of the them and so are you…so let’s just praise the Lord!”
The Lord commands Abram to get up and begin the tour of walking the length and breadth of the land. BTW—this is understood to be the legal acquisition of the land, even though it would be centuries later before there was possession (at least in part). God restates His commitment to bless Abram and make him a great nation and to give him the land that would become the possession of God’s chosen people forever and always.
5. The Resolve to Worship
5. The Resolve to Worship
vs 18
Abram will do what we see him doing all the time: He moves to the next location—here it happens to be the “oaks of Mamre”. This is where he will settle. It was about 20 miles south of Jerusalem today. And what does he do? He built an altar to the Lord. This is the picture of the righteous man. He is not sinless obviously, but he does have the right perspective and that is—that the Lord God is truly worthy of all worship.
Let me close in application this morning: there are 2 kinds of looking.
Lot lifted his eyes...
Abram lifted his eyes...
Lot was not really committed at this point. He had a deep longing that grew out of a covetous heart. He saw only what would be advantageous for him in this world. This is not the looking that is recommended.
Abram’s looking was an act of obedience. He followed the Lord’s direction to life up his eyes—to see the richness of God’s blessing that was coming upon him.
God commands us to “lift our eyes...” to see what He would have us take thought of:
The Heavens:
26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
So many people ask the question “where is God when I am hurting?” Be encouraged when you think that God is not unaware, unconcerned, uncommitted to giving you the help you are longing for.
God the Father
Jesus serves as our example here: in the account of Lazarus
41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,
When you are weary, weak, need strength, wisdom, help, direction, guidance…look to your Father in heaven—for He is the giver of good gifts to His children.
Jesus
We are admonished to look to Jesus:
9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
At the transfiguration—P,J&J
Peter so moved:
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
They heard a voice from heaven:
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
They all fell on their faces:
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.
Look to Jesus. For believers: in the midst of temptations from the world, the devil and even your own flesh—look to Jesus for help.
For unbelievers—the HS is convicting you of your sin/waywardness—look to Jesus b/c
12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Lift up your eyes in obedience to the Lord!