This morning I read of the interaction between Abram and Lot after their herdsmen had quarreled together. So plentiful were their flocks and herds that the land was unable to support them both. Though Abram was his elder, he graciously declared to Lot in an effort to make and keep peace in Genesis 13:9, "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left." He gave Lot the opportunity to go wherever he wanted, and promised to go in the opposite direction.
Abram was good as his word for Genesis 13:10-11 tells us, "And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other." For a man walking by sight, choosing the well-watered plain was a no-brainer. Lot went to the well-watered plain which looked like an oasis, and Abram went the opposite way likely across arid, rocky, and hilly land. Abram (who would later be called Abraham) walked by faith in God, knowing the God who promised would be faithful to establish and preserve him regardless.
It's likely you noticed the foreboding little parenthetical comment in verse 10. The land which was truly lush and well-watered ended up being destroyed by God when Sodom and Gomorrah were judged. It became a land of sulfur where nothing grew. And what became of Abraham? He wisely chose a source of Living Water when he chose to walk by faith in God alone. Genesis 13:14-17 says, "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you." Abraham trusted God, and God gave him great promises which extended to his many descendants.
Abraham built altars unto the LORD, and he also dug wells. Though many of these after the death of Abraham were filled with earth by the Philistines, Abraham's son Isaac went back and dug them again (Genesis 26:15). Isn't it thought provoking, that Lot chose the attractive, well-watered plain which was later uninhabitable, yet Abraham had an enduring legacy because God keeps His promises? Abraham found a source of Living Water which was unseen by men, even as the refreshing water which his men discovered as they dug wells to water Abraham's flocks. Beersheba was a place where Abraham claimed a well and there the LORD met with Abraham's son Isaac in Genesis 26:24-25: "And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well."
This passage teaches us when we choose God's way - the way of trust and faith in God - He will supply our needs according to His promise. God is more trustworthy than man's perceptions of the direction which is best for our lives to head. Walking by sight caused Lot to go to a place which would be severely judged for sin and he would lose much of his precious herds he sought to provide for. We do not read of him building altars but a sordid tale of his daughters plying him with alcohol to rape him. Abraham went God's way into the arid land of Canaan and not one word of God's promise failed, a promise which has been kept to this day and will continue forever! How true are the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ who said the man who tries to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for God's sake will find it. Jesus provides a spring of Living Water through the Holy Spirit for all who trust in Him!
Abram was good as his word for Genesis 13:10-11 tells us, "And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other." For a man walking by sight, choosing the well-watered plain was a no-brainer. Lot went to the well-watered plain which looked like an oasis, and Abram went the opposite way likely across arid, rocky, and hilly land. Abram (who would later be called Abraham) walked by faith in God, knowing the God who promised would be faithful to establish and preserve him regardless.
It's likely you noticed the foreboding little parenthetical comment in verse 10. The land which was truly lush and well-watered ended up being destroyed by God when Sodom and Gomorrah were judged. It became a land of sulfur where nothing grew. And what became of Abraham? He wisely chose a source of Living Water when he chose to walk by faith in God alone. Genesis 13:14-17 says, "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you." Abraham trusted God, and God gave him great promises which extended to his many descendants.
Abraham built altars unto the LORD, and he also dug wells. Though many of these after the death of Abraham were filled with earth by the Philistines, Abraham's son Isaac went back and dug them again (Genesis 26:15). Isn't it thought provoking, that Lot chose the attractive, well-watered plain which was later uninhabitable, yet Abraham had an enduring legacy because God keeps His promises? Abraham found a source of Living Water which was unseen by men, even as the refreshing water which his men discovered as they dug wells to water Abraham's flocks. Beersheba was a place where Abraham claimed a well and there the LORD met with Abraham's son Isaac in Genesis 26:24-25: "And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well."
This passage teaches us when we choose God's way - the way of trust and faith in God - He will supply our needs according to His promise. God is more trustworthy than man's perceptions of the direction which is best for our lives to head. Walking by sight caused Lot to go to a place which would be severely judged for sin and he would lose much of his precious herds he sought to provide for. We do not read of him building altars but a sordid tale of his daughters plying him with alcohol to rape him. Abraham went God's way into the arid land of Canaan and not one word of God's promise failed, a promise which has been kept to this day and will continue forever! How true are the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ who said the man who tries to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for God's sake will find it. Jesus provides a spring of Living Water through the Holy Spirit for all who trust in Him!
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