Genesis 13:1-18 NKJV
13 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 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.”
10 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. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.
14 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.”
18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.
As is nearly all of Holy Scripture, today’s segment is fascinating. Abram and his family leave Egypt and head to the South. Lot, Abram’s nephew, also travels with him with his flocks and herds. Because these two family groups are so large, ultimately strife arises between their respective herdsmen and they have to separate.
Quite generously and kindly, Abram offers Lot the choice of wherever land he chooses; Abram would simply and happily take whatever Lot did not. Lot, quite selfishly, choose the well-watered plain of the Jordan (including the vicinity of Sodom before God has destroyed it), leaving the land of Canaan to Abram. It would seem as if Abram got a raw deal, and Lot won the proverbial lottery with the land he chose.
But God in His wisdom always keeps His promises to His people and provides for them. God blessed Abram with the promise that everywhere he looked – to the north, south, east, or west – everything he could see would be given to him and his descendants. This was in keeping with what God has promised Abram about making his name great, blessing him, and blessing all the families of the earth in him.
God’s promises in His Word are sure and certain, even and especially when circumstances and life events seem to militate against them. In our sinful weakness we are easily drawn away from God’s promises when we allow ourselves to focus on experiences and their accompanying emotions instead of His sure and certain Word. When that happens, dear Christian, repent and seek God’s forgiveness in His Gospel preached and His Sacramental gifts.
And remember Luther’s words in the meaning to the Fourth Petition: “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.” God promises to provide for us all. Let us thank and praise His holy Name forever and not doubt Him.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for keeping Your promises and for providing all that I need. Amen.