January 16, 2023

God has unique plans for each of us.

Genesis 13

Alex Styers
Monday's Devo

January 16, 2023

Monday's Devo

January 16, 2023

Monday's Devo

January 16, 2023

Monday's Devo

January 16, 2023

Big Idea

Want to hear God laugh? Tell Him your plans! 

God is a peacemaker. God always wants what is best for us and for us in return to love Him and to tell others about His great love.

 

Key Verse | Genesis 13:15-16

"[F]or all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted."

Genesis 13

Abram and Lot Separate

1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling 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. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 1 13:8 Hebrew we are men, brothers 9 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.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley 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 destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.

14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks 2 13:18 Or terebinths of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 13:8 Hebrew we are men, brothers
[2] 13:18 Or terebinths

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Dive Deeper | Genesis 13

Lot and Abram didn't want to quarrel.  They wanted to save the family name, so instead of their workers bickering with each other, the two decided to separate and continue in different directions. God generously gave the land to Abram, as he was the eldest; and Abram shared with Lot some of his given property. With that land, Abram built an altar to the Lord, while Lot moved to the cities where sin was abundant. Here, Lot was only concerned about the material aspect of having this land and not the consequences of how it would spiritually impact his family. Abram walked by faith; Lot walked by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) 

After getting married, Jenny and I moved into our first place together. We had two houses worth of furniture and other items to sift through and decide what to do with it all. Mine was older and worn; hers was nicer and newer, but we both had an attachment to our own things. What do we keep? What do we get rid of? This was very humbling and a great exercise in learning to use grace. (Does this bring you joy?)  We were combining households for the first time and had to make some tough decisions—all of this over "stuff."

I didn't choose this passage because it talks about land and Lot . . . (Realtor joke). 

Instead, I am reminded of the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21). In Luke 12:15 (NIV), Jesus says, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." How powerful is that? I relate to this passage because I, too, thought I could put all my trust and energy into earthly possessions and accumulating "stuff" like Lot. I have learned in fact that you can't take anything with you after your short time on this earth.

This month's memory verse

We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

– John 1:45b

Discussion Questions

1. Are disagreements holding you back from making amends with family members? 

2. What worldly things bring you comfort? What can you do to shift your focus from those things and toward God?

3. Thank God for what you have now. Pray for others who may have less.

Respond to Today's Passage

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HS

Hugh Stephenson

What does Abraham know that I don’t? Same question for Noah and Enoch. Enoch lived in a time of insane sin. Reading from thousands of years later, it seems the purge accomplished by the flood did not result in any long-term change. Enoch “…walked with God”. Noah lived in a time just as crazy. Perhaps more. The text is silent- yet it’s seems plausible that Noah was likely ostracized. I can imagine what took place over the 120 years he spent building the ark. Yet, in his obedience, he knew that when it was time to go the right action was to do just that. Once the people realized what he said was coming true, I can imagine thousands of people surrounding the ark pounding on it and pleading to be let in. How was he able to stand fast? Noah “…was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.”
HS

Hugh Stephenson

Abram gets tapped out of a comfortable life in a prosperous place and walks 660 miles into the desert. Then to Shechem, (400+ miles). There is no indication he wavered one bit. A few chapters later we read… Abraham “…believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” I like this phrase I picked up recently- “Active obedience versus passive resistance.” (This describes my life up to 2013. And far too much of it afterwards.) What did Enoch, Noah and Abram do? They changed the world. How? They knew God, knew themselves, and knew their purpose. In that one sentence, 100% of all my failures and successes are explained. The failures are 100% mine. The successes are 100% His.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

The link below is to the famous commencement speech by Admiral William H. McRaven from the UT 2014 Commencement Address – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._McRaven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70 He describes the very difficult SEAL team training and how anyone can leave the training by simply going over to bell and ringing it. Then he says this- “If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.” Are these three ancient forefathers the equivalent of Navy SEALs in their time? I am sure it took the same level of dedication, purpose, and commitment that McRaven advocates in this speech. My only chance is to live out the complete and total trust, surrender, and obedience that Enoch, Noah, and Adam lived out. Given the nature of the spiritual battlefield today I will need the whole armor of God Paul details in Ephesians 6:10-20. And to never, ever ring the bell.
CL

Chris Landry

Love the humility and flexibility of Abram in verse 8: “Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.”” Family ties can be a huge blessing (or the opposite). Abram had wisdom that allowed him to see that their herds couldn’t survive if they were on top of each other. Verse 6: “…the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.” Kinsmen lookout for each other. Beckons back to being my “brothers keeper.” A high call that is found in Christian Community in the church today. How can I steward my flock and help him steward his flock? How can we both excel at what we’ve been given? (Matthew 25:14-30) We’ve been given so much to tend to and I want us to thrive….not merely survive. What can I do today to make sure my kinsman excel? What environment or flexibility can I offer that puts them first? The point isn’t the separation of the Abram and Lot, but the point is the care and concern of someone besides myself.
MD

Melissa David

What a great reminder to focus on the eternal not the temporal things in life!
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks, Alex. Interesting contrast between Lot’s self-centeredness in choosing for himself what appeared to be the best of the land, and Abram’s generosity in offering Lot whatever he wanted. What’s missing is God’s promise to give the whole land to Abram and HIS descendants. Not to Lot and his. As I read this chapter, I was reminded of people playing Monopoly, accumulating real estate and utility properties, playing with play money over play houses and play hotels on play streets. At the end of the game it all goes back in the box. There is NO intersection with reality, true life outside the box. Maybe that’s how God watched Lot choose Park Place and Boardwalk for himself: He shrugged and said, “No matter. All the land goes to Abram and his seed no matter what Lot chooses in Monopoly.” We always have to include God in our perspective.
MS

Michael Scaman

When Lot and Abram parted company they really parted and were quite distant. Lot saw and chose with his eyes, his heart set on wrong things . He didn't know the reputation of Sodom? Abram made honorable choices. Later Abram would not even want it said of his that the King of Sodom made Abram rich they were so notorious in their values. In the end Lot lost even what he thought he was getting and Abram with given by faith the land in all directions, even eastward in the direction Lot chose ultimately.
MS

Michael Sisson

“…God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning, SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE, #26
AL

Amy Lowther

1. No, disagreements are not holding me back from making amends with family members. 2. Worldly things that bring me comfort include well designed, well organized shopping malls or shopping centers in the metroplex. Things that can shift me from these worldly comforts to God include creating shopping lists, shopping within a budget, and making donations. 3. God thank you for my job, my home, my friends, and my parents. They are good things which help me live a healthy life. As I work through things, thank you for being there for me and helping me through the good and through the bad. Your words, your strength, and your son Jesus help me to succeed and to help others as possible who may be struggling in these areas. Be with us all as we settle in to 2023 and work for your glory. We thank you and we love you. Amen.
AB

Alan Beam

13:11 - God's sovereignty on display. What would have happened if Lot chose the promised land? Could he have? Would the promised land have been the same but come about a different way? Ultimately "what if" doesn't matter. God used Lot's decision as part of His will in action. In the same way, God can use me as as Pharaoh or a Lot, or as a Moses or an Abraham. Will I walk by sight and have God use me despite my disobedience, or walk by faith and participate in His Will?