059 Abraham: The Choice

After Abraham settled in Canaan, God blessed him financially. The Bible says he was “very wealthy.” And he shared that abundance with his nephew, Lot. Each man’s flocks and herds multiplied to the point that the land could not sustain them all. Soon quarreling broke out between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. 

So, Abram said to Lot, “Look, we’re family, so let’s stop this fighting. This is a big land with plenty of resources. Let’s part ways. You choose where you want to settle and I’ll head the other way.”  

Now, as patriarch of the clan, Abram had every right to demand the land of his choosing. But in his generosity and humility, he gave Lot first choice. Lot chose the green, lush land toward the east, leaving Abram with the dry, sparse land to the west. 

It was another step in Abram’s journey of trust…and God blessed him for it. He took Abram out one day and said, “Look around, Abram. All this land I will give to you and your offspring.” 

What can we learn from Abram that can help us in our journey of trust? 

1.     While the journey of trust is unique to everyone, you don’t walk it alone.

While God is your Father, He is also Father to others.  Like it or not, that gives you brothers and sisters.  And, as is true with any family, while the potential is there for great fulfillment there is also the possibility of great frustration.

2.     When you walk on the same path as others, even the closest relationships can become strained.

This helps explain Jesus’ prayer following the Last Supper.  

“My prayer is not for these alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in You…May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent Me.”

John 17: 20-21, 23

With the specter of death hanging over Him, it was the unity of His followers that captivated the mind of Christ.  

Question:  Are you an answer to Jesus’ prayer? Or a traitor to it?

3.     When breakdown occurs, mature believers take the initiative toward reconciliation.

Jesus taught, “If your brother sins against you, go to your brother…and be reconciled.”  (Mt. 18:15)

Addressing relational breakdown early on may not be the easiest thing to do – but it’s always the best thing to do. 

4.     If resolution can’t be found through compromise, it might be more important to lose than to win. 

When it comes to relationships, God says that winning is not the most important thing. Unity is.

Abraham was willing to lay down his rights because (1) he had totally abandoned himself to God’s faithfulness and (2) he realized that this world wasn’t his ultimate home.

There’s an intriguing commentary on Abraham in the N.T. book of Hebrews:

“All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.  And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.”

Hebrews 11:13

Many of us really need to take this text to heart: I am an alien. This world is not my home.  There are bigger issues at play.

5.     When you relate to people graciously, God will bless you and even expand your influence.

God’s promise was of newer and even broader dimensions of life to Abraham.  But they came about because of this man’s refusal to allow his personal preferences to make him small.  In his weakness, God was able to bless him with greatness. 

Text: Genesis 13

Originally recorded August 31, 2014, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.