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Genesis 13:1–12 (NRSV) So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.He journeyed on by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai
to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together
and there was strife between the herders of Abram’s livestock and the herders of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.
Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt
in the direction of Zoar; this was before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; thus they separated from each other.Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
Usually we get off track by not responding to the already-revealed Word of God.
2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
3 Examples of How to Make Decisions: Walk by Sight (Non-Christian) Walk by Sight sometimes, but strive to Walk by Faith (Christian) Walk completely by Faith (Jesus)
Walk by Sight (Non-Christian) Lot and Abram were running out of land.
Lot is choosing Self (wealth) over his uncle, and over his God.
Genesis 13:10 (NRSV) Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt…
Garden of the Lord= significance = meaning = identity…. Found ON EARTH.
“I will raise my eyes and look down that corridor, 4 feet wide, with 10 lonely seconds to justify my whole existence. But WILL I?” Harold Abrahams
It’s not the wealth for Lot, it’s what the wealth says to him. And what it says to others about him.
If you are looking for your name in the Garden of the Lord, and not in the Lord of the Garden, you are vulnerable.
Walk by Sight sometimes, but strive to Walk by Faith (Christian)
Abram has the same 3 things that Lot does, and he can’t keep them all either. Wealth (identity) Relationship with Lot Relationship with God
Abram’s decision points forward to the cross, and to the Greatest Commandment
Genesis 13:3–4 (NRSV) He journeyed on by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Jesus is tempted by Satan. Satan tells Him that he can have everything without losing Himself.
Jesus had 3 things that He couldn’t keep together as well: His Identity His Creation His God
