Abraham: Choice's Consequence

There is such a wealth of lessons to be learned in our chapter today and so little time to express it all. I feel like God was trying to help teach me something this week as I strived to put this message together. Our dishwasher died this week… due to this failure through a series of events our downstairs flooded, we had to rip up our flooring, and put down new flooring. This lead to numerous trips to Grand Junction. As I drove I listened to podcast. each speaker was speaking on Ecclesiastes “vanities of vanities… all is meaningless” . Through the course of the week’s events, listening to podcast, and preparing for my message I learned some things and solidified others in my heart and mind...

Don't hold too tight to things

Family is valuable (church family and my direct family)

God’s word is so valuable to teach us in all things

I began today’s message with our remembrance of Jesus and what He did for a reason… It is vital for our Christian walk.

Joshua would challenged the Israelites as they entered the land… “Choose this day WHO you will serve...”

When we forget who God is and what He has done we find it very easy to choose poorly

It was the summer of 1961 and Vince Lombardi started the camp holding something that needed no explanation and said… “Gentlemen, this is a football.” In five words, he communicated his point: if you want to be successful, we're going to remember the basics and make sure we're executing the fundamentals.

As we start in chapter 13… Abram is seen going back… to the basics. John would challenge the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:4

Revelation 2:4 NASB95

‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Abram had lost his first love, his first priority. He leaves Egypt learning a valuable lesson pertaining to the importance of his faith and worship in God. There was a fellowship needing restored… follow along as we read Genesis 13:1-4

Genesis 13:1–4 NASB95

So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

Fellowship Restored

We will find chapter 13 encouraging in the sense of Abram’s faith and it stems from his worship…

Beginning and Formerly draw our attention that Abram is intentionally going back to God

Abram is now in fellowship once again with the Lord

Did you also notice… Abram is loaded!!!

VERY= this has the implication of heaviness

Being Rich is not a sin… it is however a greater burden to carry and harder to walk in faith and can lead to GREED

The greatest remedy for greed is generosity…

A person who has the promises of God… really has no need to cling to “things”

Abram’s faith is strengthening… as it does there arises a family conflict! Genesis 13:5-7 …

Genesis 13:5–7 NASB95

Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land.

Family Conflict

Remember… God told Abram to leave behind family. Our disobedience even though forgiven still holds consequences.

Here we see the conflict… STRIFE sharp arguments

Lot is a wealthy man as well

There is soooo much, there is not enough room

(the writer Moses in this chapter interjects his commentary as he writes… Verse 7b )

Canaanites and Perezites… they were not alone

This was not Abram’s land yet… but Israel is heading to take possession of this land as they read it!!!

There was also a testimony here at stake… how often has the church family conflicts through history been a poor testimony by the watching world

Difficulties, trying times, create opportunities for conflict

They also create opportunities for God to be glorified, for testimony!

Example of this last week… strife or strength

Some have stated that what Abram does in this portion of the narrative demonstrates his faith to the greatest degree! Genesis 13:8-13 …

Genesis 13:8–13 NASB95

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. “Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.

Faith in Action

In this situation of conflict there is a greater opportunity to TRUST God!

Abram’s reasoning here was because they were BROTHERS (family) this would be vital for the people of Israel to remember but sadly we see them forget this principle over time

Sometimes in order to keep peace and relationships strong and healthy we must set aside RIGHTS and approach in a humble attitude

Abram responds righteously and generously, unselfishly toward Lot

No need to try and protect what was his… God could do that (Sarai was a great example of this)

You Choose… Abram had the promise from God yet he was willing to offer to Lot first choice

NOTICE… verse 10 the NLT puts it “Lot took a long look”

We like Lot can have the temptation to look long at the world around us can’t we!?

Like in the garden there is an appeal to the eye

A desire for the here and now

There was a comparison to the lushness of Egypt

(Once again twice in this section the writer interjects his commentary… Concerning Sodom and Gomorrah)

There is a warning here for Israel and for us… we need to shift our thinking from the PHYSICAL things of this world to SPIRITUAL things!

The things of this world that Lot craved would be short lived!!!

We see such a contrast here between Abram and Lot (a contrast that should be evident in Christians as well in contrast to the world)

ABRAM= walking by faith

LOT=walking by sight

ABRAM= declared a friend of God

LOT= sadly pursues a friendship with the world

Both men’s choices would carry with them consequences… Lot trying to posses even more would loose everything eventually. Abram willing to trust God would find that God would bless Him beyond measure… Genesis 13:14-18

Genesis 13:14–18 NASB95

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. “I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. “Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

Focus on God!

In verse 14 we see GOD TELL ABRAM where to look! as apposed to Lot’s choosing where to look.

Are you and I looking where God wants us to, where He is directing our focus?

The land he sees in ALL DIRECTIONS will be given to his descendants FOREVER!

What a blessing for Israel to be reminded of this

The promise is reassured to Abram too! Many descendants… too many to count

NOW ABRAM… walk in my promises

Focus on what I will do, what I am promising

When we adjust our FOCUS onto our Lord… it draws us to worship Him all the more!!!

I love how this chapter begins with Abram remembering to worship… and as we close we see yet another alter built for worship!

Amazing how the basics play into our daily lives… and when they are applied we see God do amazing things as He strengthens our FAITH!