“And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: … And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. …
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: … and they separated themselves the one from the other. … Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. … Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.” Bible selections from Genesis 13
This week’s story about Abram/Abraham and Lot really gave me a new appreciation for decisions Abram/Abraham had to make to follow the calling from the Lord: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, … and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This promise included a land, a nation, and a people. Abram/Abraham obeyed, taking Sarah and Lot, his nephew with him. Here he has taken in Lot as a son, he has no children at this point and was not young. Lot is included in this promise as I am sure the others who stuck by the mission Abram/Abraham was given. Abram/Abraham had to leave several homes to fulfill his God-given purpose. We can see by the story that when they part Lot and Abram/Abraham are no longer on the same page. Lot set his tent facing Sodom and Abram/Abraham right away built and altar to the Lord. I have no doubt that if Lot were in unity in this God-given purpose a solution would have unfolded. At the time it may have been hard to see where this was leading but Abram/Abraham’s trust in God was unwavering. A powerful lesson and model for us. Thank you Lesson writers.