Genesis Chapter 13

¹ And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

² And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

³ And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

⁴ Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

⁵ And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

⁶ And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

This is an extreme blessing to be so wealthy that there isn’t enough resources to handle both men’s wealth. I’m guessing this is an example of the blessings of God separating you from others. God has different plans for each one of us, so we might find ourselves having to say goodbye to people we love to reach the place where God is calling you. I remember my best friend was my sister-in-law Judy. We spent all of our time together. We even lived across from one another. The time I spent with her was some of the most enjoyable times in my life, unmatched even now. Still, when God was ready he parted us…. our journeys were no longer heading in the same direction. We didn’t have a fight or stop loving one another, we just veered off into different places. It happens when you follow God.

⁷ And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

⁸ And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

I imagine the strife was the sign to part ways at this point.

⁹ Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

¹⁰ And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

¹¹ Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Lot got to pick first. This kind of gives the impression that Lot looked for the best area for himself. I also got the impression that Abram wasn’t worried about getting the second best because he knew that God’s blessing wasn’t dependent on the condition of the land.

¹² Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

¹³ But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

How soon mankind forgot the flood.

¹⁴ And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

¹⁵ For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

¹⁶ And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

¹⁷ Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

¹⁸ Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

Abram had an altar he built to have personal fellowship with God. He dedicated his time to forming this close relationship with God and God blessed him. If we will do the same in our own lives…. and I don’t mean build a physical altar, I mean build a spiritual relationship with God…. God would be all over our lives, teaching us, blessing us…. guiding us. What a relationship like this looks like is to first receive Jesus as our savior and Lord…. because there is no relationship with God without coming to him in Jesus. The next thing is to live in his presence. This means you live your life like God is there with you at all times…. so much so you find yourself speaking to him about everything… praying without ceasing… like you see an ambulance go by, and you say, “Father, please take care of the person that the Ambulance is helping.” …. everything going on in your life is a topic for discussion with God… all day. “Father, what should I do about this?”, “Father, I’m so tired… help me get through my chores.” “Father, if there is something I should know about this situation, let me know…protect me.” Prayers are not always formal events where you walk through a list of request, say AMEN… then dismiss God… prayers are ongoing, spontaneous and address the needs at hand. The by product of living like this is you tend to watch your actions better.
Abram lived his life mindful of God….and God blessed him.

¹⁴ And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

¹⁵ The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

¹⁶ And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

¹⁷ And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

¹⁸ And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

¹⁹ Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

²⁰ And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.