Surveying the Promised Land

Introduction

Good evening and welcome back!

Tonight we are going to be looking at a passage found in the earlier parts of Genesis.

Specifically we will be looking at Genesis 13, focusing on verses 14-18.

And our scripture focus picks up after Abram and Lot had separated and went their own ways.

And just as a recap, until this point Abram and his nephew Lot were travelling together on this great journey to the promised land.

Abram had become very wealthy and accumulated a great number of livestock.

Lot also had seen success and had gained a great number of livestock.

So many that . . .

Genesis 13:6 NIV84

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.

And, this was beginning to cause trouble between the herdsmen of Lot and the herdsmen of Abram.

They were essentially fighting over resources.

Seeing this go on, Abram comes to a decision that it would be best for he and Lot to separate their herds and go their own way, so that no family drama was caused.

Starting in verse 8, we find . . .

Genesis 13:8–9 NIV84

So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 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.”

So Abram gives Lot the choice of which way to go and then he, Abram would go the opposite.

And we know that Lot chose wrong.

In fact, Lot chooses to go down to Sodom that was "well watered," or appealing to the eye.

So, Lot goes East toward Sodom and Abram goes West.

And, it is here where our message tonight will pick up.

So, Genesis 13, starting in verse 14, the Bible records . . .

Scripture Focus

Genesis 13:14–18 NIV84

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 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. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord.

The Promise Renewed

So, we find here God and Abram having a conversation after Abram and Lot go separate ways.

And I had never thought out this before, but I really think God is offering Abram some encouragement because Abram and Lot were close.

They were family and they had also travelled together and worked together for years.

And Abram was sad to see his nephew go and I would imagine he was both a little disappointed in Lot’s choice and also concerned about Lot.

And also, their journey had not been easy.

There had been issues left and right and Abram was likely getting a little bit discouraged about the journey being so long and difficult.

So, God pays him a visit and offers Lot this . . .

Genesis 13:14–16 NIV84

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 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.

Now, God isn’t telling Abram anything new here—only reiterating the point that He had already made to Abram.

And we find Abram is standing on top of the hillside and the Lord speaks to him and tells him to "look north, and south, and east, and west."

Look all the way around you Abram and all that your eyes can see will be yours.

It is MY PROMISE to you.

And the point here is that even thought we get down and discouraged.

Even though we may forget God’s promises—God never forgets.

And when God has made a promise, God will carry through and keep His promises.

And thinking about that—Let’s think just for a minute some of the promises that God has made us that we sometimes forget when things get rough and rocky.

One of the first things God promises all of us is eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8 NIV84

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

And we hear that verse and our promise of eternal life registers with us, but we forget that we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to start living our eternal life.

NO, the fact is our eternal life begins the moment we are saved.

The moment we accept Jesus Christ, our entire life’s trajectory will be changed.

Now does that change happen overnight?

Sometimes yes, most of the time no.

It takes time for God to do the work in us that God desires.

Not because God can’t do it in an instance, but many times we can’t handle it.

We have to learn to give control over to God and learn to trust God.

That is why Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:16 . . .

2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV84

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

We are constantly being renewed every day.

We are constantly being molded and changed by God—day by day.

And this is a slow process sometimes.

And sometimes it is a painful process.

And for many of us, our journey to the Promised Land is rife with trials, tribulations, trouble, and turmoil.

And sometimes we may be like Abram and get a little down and discouraged.

Sometimes we may even contemplate giving up.

But God shows up and reminds us that we ARE HIS.

Ephesians 1:13–14 NIV84

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

So, we need to walk in victory.

Walk with your head held high—even when your spirit is low.

Walk in the power and the authority of the Christ who bought you and the Holy Spirit who has sealed you.

Enjoy your eternal life—NOW, not later—NOW!

I am going to read you something else that drives home this point.

Malachi wrote this . . .

Malachi 3:10 NIV84

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Now, I know we will hear this verse used time and time again telling people to pay their tithes.

But there is a much, much more profound and deeper meaning here, if we can see it.

Pay attention to it and look at what God says . . .

Test Me in this . . .See if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it!

God is challenging His people to test Him.

To let Him show them that He wants to bless them.

To let God give you the promises that He has in store for you.

For no other reason than for us to learn that we can count on God.

That we can trust God—for ALL THINGS!

And this is exactly what He is doing here with Abram and reiterating the blessing.

This blessing that God was promising Abram was intended for Abram's benefit and an eternal blessing for all of Abram's seed.

The amazing fact is that at this point Abram had no son but was promised this a possession forever.

He had to accept it by faith.

Now, we know that later on Abram messed up and sometimes we mess us and waver in our faith.

But in this moment, Abram had faith enough to believe in God and accepted the blessing of God and thus reaped the reward of the blessing of God.

Because not only was the blessing a promise of the eternal promised land but also God promised Abram this . . .

Genesis 13:16 NIV84

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.

And Abram had no idea what God had in mind.

Honestly, Abram and Sari were childless and barren, distraught and despondent because they have no children.

Remember Abram was at least 75 years old at this point, pretty old for children.

Abram had probably began to wane and give up on the chance of ever having children and ever having a heir.

And here God is trying to reaffirm to Abram that His promise is real.

So real that Abram's offspring will be too numerous to count.

What about it, have you given up on God's promise to you?

Is your faith waning?

GOD IS HERE TODAY WANTING TO RENEW THAT COVENANT, RENEW THAT PROMISE HE MADE TO YOU SO LONG AGO.

The question is, do you have faith enough to believe?

In Hebrews 11, the “Faith Chapter”, we are reminded of this . . .

Hebrews 11:6 NIV84

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Action Required

Are you earnestly seeking God?

I don’t know how theologically sound it is, but sometimes I pester God.

When I read things like in Hebrews 11 that tell us to earnestly seek God.

And then in Matthew 7 where Jesus tells us . . .

Matthew 7:7–8 NIV84

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

To me that tells me to take action.

Not to say one little prayer and give up, but to pray and keep praying, seek and keep seeking, ask and keep asking.

It is an invitation to me to pester God.

And as far as I can tell, God doesn’t mind.

So pester God a little bit—it’s okay.

Now, that doesn’t mean bring God your Christmas wish list, it means earnestly seek after God’s will and bring your petitions and your needs to God.

Open your heart to God and let God in.

We all say we have faith in God—it is putting action behind that faith.

Look at what God tells Abram in verse 17 . . .

Genesis 13:17 NIV84

Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

God tells Abram to get up and go!

Rise and walk through the land . . . The length of it, the breadth of it.

Survey what I have promised you Abram.

Learn the details of the promise.

Take it, possess it, enjoy it.

So, when was the last time we took inventory of all the blessings God has given us?

When was the last time we surveyed God's promise to us?

And we have already talked about God’s promise of eternal life, but what other promises has God made?

Do we even remember God's promises to us?

If we don’t how do we know if they are being fulfilled if we don't even remember what they were?

So, the first thing we need to do is take inventory of God's promises.

And once we realize the blessings that God has given us.

Once we realize what has not come to pass.

Then we need to take action and ask questions of ourselves.

Why has this promise not come to pass?

Is it because it is simply not time?

Or because I've not fulfilled my part?

I not stepped into the blessing God has waiting for me?

Once we assess and survey the reason why, then we take action and DO IT!

And sometimes that is the scariest part.

Just doing it.

But remember, faith takes action to be complete.

Altar/Challenge

And while we are doing all of that, we also cannot forget the one essential thing in all of this.

Don’t forget to worship the Lord.

Don’t forget to give Him, honor, glory, and praise.

Look at the last verse of our passage . . .

Genesis 13:18 NIV84

So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord.

He built and altar to God.

And what did Abram do in that altar?

He thanked God.

He praised God.

He adored God.

He loved God.

He worshiped God.

When was the last time we really got down to business and just worshiped God?

We sing songs and praises to God.

We may lift our hands and even hear an amen ever so often.

But when was the last time, we just let go and worshiped God?

When was the last time we surveyed our Promised Land?

Let’s pray . . .