Genesis Session 21

On the road again… that is where we find Abram and his traveling companions tonight… back on the road.

Recall that they had been in Egypt and their time there was cut short for a few good reasons.

One, Abram tried to find relief from the famine by relocating to Egypt - this was a decision he made on his own.

Two, Abram lied about the identity of his wife to try to save his own life. Abram was afraid of what might happen to him in Sarai was identified as his wife.

Three, Abram tried to gain favor through deception. And when the truth was discovered, he was sent out of the land disgraced by what he had done.

Abram had messed up… Abram was now back on the road relocating once again but this time... he was there for his failure.

The first time Abram moved about was in response to a circumstance he could not control. But in trying to control the outcome, he landed himself in a place of failure.

So what is a person to do in such situations? We can choose a variety of reactions that may be available.

For instance, one reaction might be to get angry at the situation, take no responsibility for what took place, and learn no lessons from what just happened.

Another reaction might be to give up, to allow your morale and self confidence to completely bottom out. Blame yourself and get stuck in the muck of pity and sorrow.

Another reaction might be to justify your actions with “what else was I to do,” and remain outside of repentance and remorse.

Tonight we are going to look at what Abram did in response to what took place in Egypt.

Abram does what Pharaoh asked him to do. He packs up all of his stuff and hits the road. he is no longer welcome in Egypt… so where will he choose to go?

Genesis 13:1–4 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.

Abram went back to where he had first set up camp… back to where he had built an altar. And when he arrived, what did he do?

HE CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

The season Abram just left had not gone the way he thought it would… largely because Abram had taken matters in to his own hands.

But instead of sinking deep into his emotions stirred up by his recent and catastrophic failure… Abram went back… to the altar. He called on God.

I can only imagine that several things took place at that altar.

I imagine Abram asked for God’s forgiveness. I believe he repented before the Lord.

The altar was a place of sacrifice - a place where blood was shed for the atonement of sin.

I can only imagine that Abram worshipped the Lord.

Instead of trying to find favor in the eyes of any man, Abram looked to worship and praise the Lord placing God back in the driver’s seat of his situation.

I can only imagine Abram asked for God’s direction.

Coming back to the altar was coming back to God’s way. Abram had taken a detour… a route with crazy consequence… but now he was back seeking God and His will.

Abram was no longer welcome in Egypt, and he returned to a land that was suffering - he left this place because of the severe famine in the land.

Abram could not control the famine or the circumstance, but he could turn to the One who is in control of all things. And what we are going to see throughout the rest of this chapter, I believe, is God’s response to Abram coming back to the altar.

As we study this, do not forget the importance of verse 4. Seasons begin to change when we call on His name.

Abram and Lot Go Separate Ways

Genesis 13:5–13 NIV

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.

Now that they were back home, some practical things would have to be addressed.

Abram and Lot had a lot of stuff… and a lot of livestock. The land they were in could not support both parties living in the same region at the same time.

This could have been the very thing that caused them to head to Egypt the first time. Because of the famine, the land simply could not produce enough food for everyone so they chose to look for greener grass somewhere else.

Now that they had even more… the provision of the land was strained worse then before.

Quarrels were breaking out between Abram’s and Lot’s care takers and evidently the arguments were threatening the unity of the family.

This was obviously not the desired result Abram and Lot were looking for. So in light of the situation, the decide to go their separate ways. Such would relieve the stress between the herdsmen, the family members, and the land’s ability to produce the needed food.

Abram… leads the conversation. Scripture tells us that Abram begins the dialog that leads to the solution both parties agree to.

I bring this up because this happens AFTER Abram had called out to God. Abram is now operating under the guidance of the Lord and a new solution is presented.

What would have happened if… this would have been the agreed upon solution BEFORE they did that whole thing in Egypt?

We will never know the answer to that what if question… but I have to believe that in this moment, Abram is hearing from God after calling on God.

Personal desires were set aside in order to make it through a difficult situation. It may not be what they wanted to do… but it was what was needed.

Now take notice of something that happens in this story. What does Scripture say Lot does as they are choosing which way to go?

Lot looks up and does what? He compares the Jordan plain is described as “the garden of the Lord” and compared to the land they lived in IN EGYPT.

Lot was playing a very dangerous comparison game. His eyes became fixated on the green grass and on the water supply and on the “potential” the land had to offer.

But what was Lot overlooking in his survey of the land? He ignored the fact that Sodom was nearby… a city that was known for its wickedness and sin!

The land looked great. In fact it looked as good as the land did in Egypt! However… it meant he would have to set up camp close to a city that was immersed in sin.

Compromise. Lot chose to compromise. Lot’s eyes became so fixated on the land that he missed seeing the potential dangers that came with it.

He was all about convenience and comfort… and his decision would later prove to be catastrophic to his family.

Once again I see this as a situation where Lot trusted in what was seen… instead of trusting in the One who is unseen. He compromised by camping near a city that was known for its wickedness.

Church… if we aim to please God, our desire should be to camp as far as we can from any and all wickedness. We should not entertain it, tolerate it, or walk as close to the edge as we can.

I’m sure Lot felt like he could handle the pressure. They would have all they needed and they could handle the close proximity with Sodom… until the couldn’t.

If we play with fire, we will get burned. Lot would learn this the hard way.

Abram stays in the territory - the land of Canaan. Abram, after having called on the name of the Lord, does what he told Lot he would do. Lot went this way, so Abram would go that way. Again, the idea was to put less strain on the land and the herds. Abram doesn’t go to the “greener” pastures, he stays in the land God had promised him.

And with that decision comes another result of Abram’s choice to come back to the altar. God reaffirms the promise.

Abram Hears Again from God

Genesis 13:14–18 NIV

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.

God speaks again to the impossible. “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth” is a pretty remarkable promise when your wife is unable to have children!

Yet God made the promise. He also reassured Abram regarding the land he was living in. God would give him this land.

Abram is no longer being controlled by his circumstance… Abram is HEARING from God. And I find it interesting that God did not reaffirm the promise until Abram had returned to the promise.

God’s promise remained despite the severe famine that hit the land. The problem was not the promise… the problem was Abram stepped outside of God’s promise.

Now that he had returned, God speaks to him again.

And what does Abram do in response to what the Lord says? HE BUILT AN ALTAR FOR TO THE LORD.

Abram was building altars again.

And there is something very interesting to me regarding Abram’s travels so far in Scripture. Abram built an altar in every place he landed - except in Egypt. When they left Egypt, he came back to the place where he had built an altar… and called on the name of the Lord.

Again at the end of this chapter, Abram is in a new place… and he builds an altar there.

Abram’s season changed when he called on God. Abram found himself in a season of trouble… a season that had no mention of altars or prayer.

Can we learn something from this tonight? When we leave God out of the picture, we might find ourselves in a bit of trouble!

And we see the stage being set up for this kind of trouble once again in Lot’s situation. He looked at the comfort instead of the potential dangers and that will come back to bite him.

The point is… it is essential that we choose to REMAIN in the promises God has for us.

It is essential that we remain focused in prayer and intentional in worship.

Closing

Abram came back to the altar. Abram called on the name of the Lord. Abram made a point to return to God’s promise instead of taking matters into his own hands again.

I’m sure the pressure Abram felt to escape the famine was intense. And I know that we sometimes find ourselves against a wall or facing a situation bigger than our resources. BUT THE KEY IS TO REMAIN IN THE PROMISE. The key is NOT to move away from what God has instructed you to do.

AND… should you find yourself on a detour of sorts… IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO RETURN TO WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU!

Even though Abram went the wrong direction, God’s promise was waiting for him when he returned.

HOWEVER, that promise wasn’t reaffirmed until Abram did what? CAME BACK TO THE ALTAR.

Maybe you’re struggling in a season and you recognize you went in some wrong directions. Maybe you realize that your self was in the lead and not God.

Then I would encourage you to make things right with God. Come back to the altar. REPENT. Give it all back to God and come into alignment with His promises once again.

And church… be in the habit of looking before you leap. Lot looked and saw a land that had great potential… but he overlooked the spiritual dangers he would have to contend with. NOTHING is worth compromising your walk with God.

Be aware of where you set up camp.

In all things… give God control and allow Him to guide you as only He can.

Prayer