Gênesis 13

Gênesis 13

Ironside - Gen. 13:8, 9. Abraham could afford to be generous with his earthly-minded nephew because his heart was set on that “city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). Toward this he looked, and all earthly inheritance or temporal possessions seemed very insignificant in comparison with it. Only as we see a better world above our heads, can we put this world beneath our feet. It was this which enabled Abraham to preserve the pilgrim character to the end and so to relinquish to Lot that which the younger man desired. Nothing so frees the soul from the bondage of covetousness as the knowledge of God and the appreciation of what He has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). Abraham had a very real understanding of eternal verities and values, and so could appraise aright the passing things of time and sense. “ ‘Tis the treasure I’ve found in His love That has made me a pilgrim below; And ‘tis there, when I reach Him above, As I’m known, all His fulness I’ll know. And Saviour, ‘tis Thee from on high I await till the time Thou shalt come To take him Thou hast led by Thine eye, To Thyself in Thy heavenly Home.”—J. N. Darby. EVEN AS THE GARDEN OF THE LORD - John Bennett - Genesis 1-13 Many see this first day of the year as a time for decision and choice, an appropriate occasion for a fresh start with new objectives for life. It was not the New Year in Genesis 13, but for Lot, decision day had arrived. The combined flocks of Abraham and Lot overstretched the available pasture, v. 6, and this shortfall led to strife among the workforce. The discord threatened to sour the relationship between uncle and nephew, v. 8. Something had to be done, and Abraham took the initiative. Although he was the older man, and clearly the senior partner, he allowed Lot to stake out his territory, v. 9. He would have the leftovers. What a lesson in what Paul calls ‘moderation’ (yieldingness, reasonableness, forbearance), Phil. 4:5. His outlook is in sharp contrast to the aggressive grasping attitude of those who ‘look on (their) own things’, Phil. 2:4. What kind of considerations influenced Lot? The plain of Jordan had much to commend it. It was well irrigated and, in this respect, it resembled the garden of the Lord with its river that parted into four heads, Gen. 2:10. Approximately two thousand years had passed since Adam and Eve had been expelled from that delightful environment, and yet evidently they had conveyed to posterity details of the beauty and bounty of Eden. ‘The garden of the Lord’! It conjures up thoughts of tranquility and prosperity. Everything about Eden was aesthetically perfect, Gen. 2:9. Lot had a strong religious reason for turning eastward! And yet there were danger signals. It was also like the land of Egypt, v. 10. With his uncle he had recently visited Egypt, an expedition that had been a spiritual disaster for Abraham. It seems as if there was something about Egypt that appealed to Lot, and now he craves that kind of environment. The proximity to Sodom should have been a deterrent, for ‘the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly’, v. 13. Lot made a wretched choice; trying to save his life, he lost it. After a promising start there, he lost his wife, he lost his possessions and he lost his integrity. When choosing, be like Moses rather than Lot; ‘he had respect unto the recompence of the reward’, Heb. 11:26. Genesis 13:9 “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.” Is not: Ge 20:15 Ge 34:10 if Ps 120:7 Ro 12:18 1Co 6:7 Heb 12:14 Jas 3:13-18 1Pe 3:8-12 Genesis 13 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passages: Hebrews 12:14+ (ABRAHAM OBEYED THIS NT PRINCIPLE) Pursue (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. ABRAM PROPOSES A SEPARATION FROM LOT Is not the whole land before you? Please separate (a command) 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.” - Recall that Abram had just recently bowed in worship at the altar, which is another way of saying he surrendered himself to the Lord. In such a mindset, Abram was now prepared to lay down his rights to a weaker brother! What a pattern to imitate! (cf 1Co 11:1+, see Walking Like Jesus Walked!) Abram's proposal is that they would partition the land, but Lot's eyes began to wander (Ge 13:10)! Abram could have justifiably said "The first call is mine." But he practiced Ro 12:10+ and deferred in a spirit of humility and conciliation. And so this righteous man allowed his nephew to decide which area of land he wished to shepherd his flocks. It takes more grace than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well. -- C H Spurgeon 🙏 THOUGHT - Abram as the elder had rights but did not insist on them. Do you insist on your rights or do you chose do you take the Jesus approach and "Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself." (Php 2:3NET+) The only way you can accomplish this is by depending on the Holy Spirit! Wiersbe speaks to this point writing "In his latter years, General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was too infirm to attend the Army’s world conference, but he would send the delegates a message. One year he cabled them only one word: OTHERS. I have been privileged to minister with the Salvation Army in different parts of the world, and I can testify that they take that word OTHERS very seriously. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others’’ (Phil. 2:4+).