Sharing The Promise
Opening Prayer
God, thank You that You promise always to be with us, love us, and save us when we call.
Read Genesis 13:1–18
[1] So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. [2] Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. [3] From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier [4] and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD. [5] Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. [6] 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. [7] And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. [8] So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. [9] 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.” [10] Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) [11] So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: [12] Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. [13] Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. [14] The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. [15] All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. [16] 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. [17] Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” [18] So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How do these two men make their choices?Christmas in a household with more than one child can be an interesting experience. There may come a point where one child grows tired of their present and looks enviously at their sibling’s toys: but they are determined to keep them for themselves.
Abram received the promise of land, and now it seems that Lot may need to share it. In verses 8 and 9, Abram freely offers Lot the choice of the land. In Egypt, Abram was afraid at the possibility of losing the promise (10:10–13), yet here he is willing to sacrifice the gift that God has given him. Because Abraham was not gripping, but willing to lay down his rights, he ended up prospering and passing on blessing.
Lot chooses the most fertile-looking land, which ensures he is caught up in the wickedness of the city of Sodom (Genesis 19). There is not a direct correlation here, but Lot’s heart was already exposed as being in a wrong place as he choose the better of his uncle’s property for himself.
Faith should not be affected by scarcity; instead people of faith should relinquish their rights in order to bless others. In doing so we find that God announces blessings for us.
Apply
Ask God to help you to share what he has given you, and take the time to think and pray about the gifts you have.
Closing prayer
Father, I want to be a receiver rather than a taker. Help me to have a heart like Abram demonstrates.
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