Office 970-454-3411

Genesis 13

Good Morning “Learners from Abram.”  Today we are in chapter 13.  

As you read yesterday, a question may have popped into your mind.  Was Abram only being partially obedient from the get go?  Check out Gods command in chapter 12.  “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And what did Abram do?  

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.”  Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Did you catch that?  God said leave your people, and your fathers household.  Now it would have been ok for him to take Sarai because they are married - they are one… but who else did he take?  Note: Lot was a grown man able to care for himself. Maybe you also wondered why when he got to the land God had produced a great famine.  We read how Abram took matters into his own hands instead of trusting God.  

Now here in 13, Abram is forced back to the land, when Pharaoh tosses him out.  He understands this time though.  Demonstrating obedience, he doesn’t just go across the border but all the way.  

“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” Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He went back, to where he started before taking matters into his own hands.  Now both Abram and Lot had herds of animals, and the land in famine could not support them both.  Now we begin to see maybe why God brought famine on the land back in 12.  Perhaps God was already working a plan, using famine to eventually grow Abram into complete obedience.  

Abram demonstrates where his priorities are when he lets Lot choose which land he wants as he suggests they part ways.  Notice - Lot chooses the land near, and pitches his tents near Sodom.  Sodom was already wrought with evil.  Maybe that’s the reason God wanted Abram alone?  

Notice, it’s not until the separation is complete, and Abram is fully obedient that God says - check it out!  It’s all yours.

“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. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can learn a lot from Abram.  God wants ALL of our hearts!  All in!  Full obedience!  Living obedient to God doesn’t necessarily mean He’s going to bless us - at least how we imagine.  However; we know He is a GOOD GOOD Father, and no good father rewards disobedience.  Hence if we want to experience ALL that God had for us… we must be ALL in!

Love you all!  Dig in! Give Him your whole heart.