To Egypt and Back

Proverbs 3:1–18 NIV

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Judges 6:33–40 NIV

33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. 36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

2 Peter 2:1–12 NIV

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

Introduction:

Hudson Taylor was a Methodist missionary to China. I read a magazine article about him once and learned a remarkable truth from his story. We often define God’s will by our circumstances instead of waiting to hear God’s voice.

In Hudson’s case, it came shortly after he was sanctified. Hudson was seeking what God would have him to do. A teacher and mentor offered him financial assistance in completing his education if he would be his apprentice. I fear many would have jumped on this offer believing it was God’s answer since it offered financial security to achieve his education in the field he felt God was calling him to. However, Hudson took time to pray and decided that it was not what God would have him to do since it tied him to this man as his apprentice. A few months later, Hudson heard God’s call and left to be a medical missionary in China.

This was the kind of devotion that Abram needed to learn. When we left off a couple weeks ago, we found Abram returning from Egypt. He had fled to Egypt due to a famine. He had not asked God what he should do, he just made the judgment call that there was food in Egypt, so that was where he should go without considering if it was where God would have him to go. Today, we will take off where we left off.

Stand with me as we read Genesis 13.

Genesis 13 NIV

1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. 3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. 14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” 18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.

The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Pray

I. To Egypt and Back

Egypt carries some significance symbolism in the Bible. It most often represented sin and enslavement to sin. There are only two positive stories about Egypt in the Bible. In Joseph’s day, his people came to be saved from a major famine. Joseph and Mary would called to take the toddler Jesus there for safekeeping. However, all the other times, Egypt represented spiritually difficult times.

When Abram and Lot left for Egypt to escape their famine, they had no idea what Egypt would cost them spiritually and in other ways.

By the time they return, Abram and his wife are dealing with a break in trust since Abram allowed Pharoah to take Sarai into his harem. That was bound to cause a relationship breach between Abram and Sarai for a time. Then, Abram and Lot both acquired so many material wealth, that it caused a breach in their relationship.

Then there is Hagar, the slave woman acquired in Egypt that would become the mother of Abram’s first son causing another breach between Abram and his wife as well as household problems.

But it was not only Abram that struggled under the curse of Egypt. Egypt will cause many heartaches along the way for Abram’s descendents all the way through King Solomon’s time. Egypt continually opened the door for idol worship among the Israelites.

But now, let us look at the damage that Egypt brought to Abram in this particular time.

Let us consider first, the material gain that has taken place for both Abram and Lot.

A. Material Gain (vv 1-5)

As the story resumes in Genesis 13, we find that both Abram and Lot have prospered while in Egypt.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to slip from God’s will when things seem to be going your way? Oh, Abram had his problems with Sarai being taken to Pharaoh's harem, but he also prospered from this difficulty. Personally, I think Abram should have apologized and offered the pharaoh back his bride price with interest. But we never see him do that. Perhaps he rationalized that God used this circumstance to prosper him. But God does not work that way. God does not need to use deception to prosper His people. He has His own resources to provide without using illegal methods.

You see, Abram was out of God’s will and his prosperity momentarily blinded him to the spiritual valley he was traveling. Now he has returned to the Negev and he once again, makes a sacrifice to God.

Here is where we see another problem with stepping outside of God’s will. The consequences often provide a means for Satan to assault us with spiritual warfare.

Lot has been like a son to Abram. In fact, Abram probably expected Lot to be his heir. In previous chapters, we see a close kinship between Abram and Lot based on the order of their address as they head out to Canaan. However, when they return from Egypt, the scriptures separate them. It is no longer Abram, Sarai and Lot. It is Abram and his possessions and Lot and his possessions. All these possessions are about to cause conflict and a loss of the close relationship that Abram and Lot had.

B. Relationship Lost (vv 5-9)

As the story continues, we find that Canaan can no longer support both Abram and Lot living close together. Discord is breaking out among their herders.

Now you can imagine that this would cause some tension between Abram and Lot as well. It is difficult to live with your herders complaining without you starting to feel out of sorts also.

So, Abram takes the initiative. After all, he is the master in this situation. This was Abram’s journey. Lot just came along as his son. However, Lot has really prospered beyond the point of needing Abram as a father. So, in order to keep peace and protect what relationship they have left, Abram proposes a separation.

And here is where we see that Abram is back on the right spiritual track. He no longer acts in self-preservation but instead magnanimously offers Lot the chose of where he wishes to go. Abram can do this because he trusts that God will provide for him wherever he ends up.

However, we find that Lot is spiritually not there. Instead of looking to God, Lot looks horizontally at the best means to sustain and grow his kingdom.

C. Lot Seeks a kingdom (vv 10-13)

Lot looks for the wealthiest and most comfortable spot to land in with no concern for Abram, who was been so generous in providing for him in the past.

Notice Lot’s focus.

Genesis 13:10 NIV

10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

like the garden...

like the land of Egypt...

Even more Lot looked for the best commerce advantage.

Genesis 13:12 NIV

12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.

Lot placed himself among the cities of the plain. Never once in all of this documentation do we see Lot consider Abram’s feelings, Abram’s advantage, or God’s will. Lot is focused on building himself a kingdom and acquire more wealth.

Proverbs 16:25 NIV

25 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Too bad Lot didn’t have this verse to consider. We see Moses dropping hints in this passage as to the imprudence of Lot choosing the location he did. In verse 10 a note is made, “This is before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.” and then Genesis 13:13.

Genesis 13:13 NIV

13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.

Lot did not take heed of this. His only focus was for convenience and prosperity. In fact, there is no reason why Lot couldn’t have moved away at another time. Scripture says he was distressed by the sin, yet he continued to live among it.

In the next chapter, Lot is taken prisoner due to disputes between the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and other kings. He was carried away to be a slave and would have lived out is life as such if it were not for Abram coming to his rescue, but even then, he chose to return to Sodom and there we find him when God decides to destroy that wicked city.

However, we find in Abram a different focus. Once again, Abram is bringing sacrifices to God’s altar. Both when he first arrives back to Canaan and again after Lot leaves because Abram’s focus was on God. It was God’s will that Abram was seeking.

D. Abram Seeks God (vv 4, 14-18)

Essentially, Abram gave to Lot land that God had already promised to him. He could have taken the best portion and left Lot to fend elsewhere. But unlike Lot who looked to establish his welfare, Abram trusted God would provide for him. He believed in God’s promise. True, he had become a bit side tracked and it had cost him, but now he is re-centered by focusing on God.

Proverbs 2:1–5 NIV

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Conclusion:

Lot made his choice from a worldly viewpoint. Aram chose from a spiritual stand point.

Lot looked around and trusted in what he saw and felt. Abram counted on God. He trusted that God had his best interest at heart and had the power to see it through.

People often feel like they cannot trust God unless they see him physically or hear him audibly, but I find evidence in the scriptures that this does not always lead people to obey.

Jesus stood before the Jews physically and spoke to them clearly. He performed many miracles before them, yet they still did not believe or obey.

In the beginning, I stated that people often use circumstances to determine God’s will. Lot may have done so. Perhaps he felt God was blessing him because we was so prosperous and he just expected God to take care of him wherever he chose to go. I talk to people all the time who do what they want to do and expect God to bless them because they believe in Him.

People tend to believe what they see more than what they hear from God. Gideon was such a one. Remember Gideon? God called him to go vanquish Israel’s enemy. But Gideon wanted proof, so he layed out a piece of fleece and asked God to give a visible sign by making the fleece wet and the ground around it dry. So God did that but it was not enough for Gideon. He wanted God to do it again, but this time to make the ground wet and the fleece dry. God answered again.

I often hear people talk about laying down fleeces like it is the proper procedure, but the reason Gideon asked for a fleece was because he doubted God. The fleece was not an act of obedience. It was an act of doubt. Fleeces can be misleading. It is far better we learn to seek and listen for God’s response instead of demanding proof. Fleeces are often a sign of an immature faith. As we mature in our faith, we should be better able to hear God without laying down fleeces.

Jeremiah 31:31–33 NIV

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

We no longer have to be lead by a pillar of cloud by day or a pillar of fire by night. Because God is in our heart. He speaks directly to our spirit.

Too often, our biggest problem isn’t that we don’t see and hear God; it’s that we struggle with doing what He has commanded! That was Gideon’s problem. It wasn’t that he didn’t hear God, he was just having a struggle obeying God and he was looking for circumstances that would justify his not obeying.

Lot trusted what he saw while Abram trusted what he knew about God. Lot was not interested in obeying, but Abram was learning to obey.

Swindoll, Charles R.. Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (pp. 36-37). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Chuck Swindoll wrote a book about Abraham called; Abraham: One Nomad’s Amazing Journey of Faith. In it, he gave four lessons we can learn from this event in history. I really like them and felt they could not be improved upon. Here they are;

1. Always look beyond the immediate positive benefits.

What appears to be beneficial can be deceptive. It appeared to Abram to be beneficial to go to Egypt during the famine. He appeared to Lot to be beneficial to live near Sodom. Only God knows what is really beneficial and it isn’t always what we see with our eyes.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

2. Never underestimate the impact of negative consequences.

Abram probably thanked God that he and Sarai came out of Egypt unscathed, however, he did not consider the far reaching impact on his family. Lot has grown to like wealth and wants more. Sarai probably lost some of the trust she had in Abram. Hagar becomes a detriment that he is not even seeing yet.

We often see some immediate consequence but often fail to understand the far reaching consequences of our actions.

When Lot moved to Sodom, he thought he would be safe and secure in the shadow of the city. However, in time he and his family were put in jeopardy. Eventually, Lot looses nearly everything. His wealth, his wife, even his daughters husbands because he failed to see the consequences of his actions.

3. Forget about pleasing yourself.

This is probably the hardest as it goes against our worldly culture. The culture we live in says to think of self first and put your pleasure above all else. In God’s kingdom, there is no room for selfish endeavor. When weighing a decision, we need to look to God and beyond our selfish pleasure. Selfish pleasure only leads to more consequences as we have seen with Lot. It will eventually cost you everything.

Abram could have chosen the best property. It was technically his, given by God. However, he generously allowed Lot the first choice trusting God to take care of his needs. I have just told you how that turned out. Lot chose for self and lost it all and even ended up disgraced when his daughters used him for their selfish gain. However, Abram may not have been perfect, but he definitely won the prize. He received his promised son by his loved wife. He lived to know his grandchildren. He became a father to many nations and his name is established for all eternity as the friend of God.

Proverbs 11:25 NIV

25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Philippians 2:3–4 NIV

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

4. Remember that with greater independence and freedom comes the need for stronger personal discipline.

It troubles my heart how many people make choices that they believe will enhance their lives only to find they have built a wall between themselves and God. Too many choose to marry non-believers for fear they will never marry if they don’t. Too many choose jobs based on financial gain or prestige rather than seek God’s direction. Too many never ask God what He would have them to do for fear they will be asked to do something they are unwilling to do.

The consequences are that they never fully know the blessings of God. They also set up those that live around them to follow their lead and suffer also.

Matthew 6:33 NIV

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Abram learned to trust God and Abram came out with everything he ever hoped for. Lot trusted himself and came out with nothing but disgrace.

But here is the real kicker. Lot was called a righteous man by Peter. Look at 2 Peter 2:7.

2 Peter 2:7 NIV

7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless

2 Peter 2:8 NIV

8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

Lot was not an unbeliever. He had seen God active in Abram’s life. He believed in God. He just didn’t trust God to give him what he wanted. So, he lived day in and day out among the wicked striving to achieve his hearts desire and it gained him nothing.

Folks, do not be like Lot. Be like Abram. Put your full trust in God and seek His will. It is the only way you can win in the end.

It takes time and it takes practice, but the more you try to listen for God’s inner direction, the more you will learn to recognize it.

Pray