Ep 16 ”The Choice of Abraham” Genesis 13

"Abraham’s Choice"

Genesis 13

Key verses: Gen 13:1-4

Genesis 13:1-4 1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. ²And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. ³And 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; ⁴Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

1. Abram’s Return v. 1-4

In the previous chapter, we see Abram continue south after pitching his tent and building an altar and then leaving for Egypt when a famine came. This was not God’s Will for Him but he was backslidden. He goes to Egypt only to live in sin (lying and deceit) and hurt his testimony. Now he is going to return.

 

v.3,4 – He returned to the place where he had built the altar and pitched his tent. He goes back to the place where he last had fellowship with God.

 

In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul writes with the theme of “order in the Church” while addressing Division and contentions which arose in Corinth. Remember, Paul is writing to believers. (church is the body of Christ). There are three types of people (natural, spiritual, and carnal). The remedy for these carnal Christians is the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 1:9 9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our LORD.

 

 Notice what the Prodigal son does in Luke 15

Luke 15:17-19 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

 

He goes back to the place he was before he left. Friend, are you backslidden? Do you know what you need to do? (I need to get back in Church, I need to quit this, that, or stop doing this) No, you need to go back exactly where you were before you were backslidden, the place of surrender. The place where Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior.

 

There is always a way back to the altar, the place of Surrender.

 

1 John 1:9 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(interlude) v. 5-7

• Abram and Lot returned wealthy men. The land was not big enough to contain them and there was a strife between their herdsmen.
• We are going to see as this story progresses that there are now repercussions from Abram’s backsliding. The first time Abram comes to this land there was no fighting mentioned. Now, that they have left Egypt and returned very wealthy, they cannot get along.
• Abram left Egypt; he has returned to this land to get back in fellowship with God. But what about Lot? Obviously, Lot left Egypt with Abram, but is he going to restore his fellowship with God also? Let’s look and find out:

 

2. Abram’s Re-focus v. 8-14

v.8,9 – Abram realized he was the cause of all this. He is now going to let Lot choose.

v.10 – There is no mention of Lot having an altar like Abraham. He chooses Sodom for personal reasons. Abram left Egypt completely, not just the land but he left the rebellious nature. He left his backsliding when he came back to the altar to restore fellowship. Lot did not.

2 Peter 2:6-8 6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

 

Lot was a Righteous man. By faith, he left with Abram.

Genesis 12:1-4 1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: ²And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: ³And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. ⁴So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Hebrews 11:8 ⁸By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Lot initially left the land of sin, put his faith in God and followed after Abram. Only problem, when they left for Egypt backslidden, Abram returned to the altar, Lot will now leave for another like Egypt. Notice v.10

Genesis 13:10 10And 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.

The land that made him rich and wealthy. The land they left because there was a famine. There is a contrast between two Righteous men here, one that is consecrated (Abram) and one that is not (Lot).

 

v.14 – Now, Abram can re-focus on obeying God. Notice something, Lot lifted up his eyed. The backslidden Christian lifts their eyes. They open their own doors, they do what they want. God tells Abram “Lift up now thine eyes” There is a difference here. Lot lifts up his own eyes, God tells Abram to lift up his eyes. There is a re-focus with Abram. (illustration of letting God open and close doors.)

 

3. Abram’s Response v. 15-18

“Abram’s moves were ordered by the Lord and he moved on in obedience to the known and revealed will of God for his life – a truly spiritual man.” – John Philips

 

Luke 12:16-22 16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. ²²And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

 

Jesus called this man a fool. What do we know of this man just from outward appearance? He was a good man, neighbor, a law-abiding citizen, family man, the list goes on…except Jesus called him a fool. Why? He was a covetous man. He lived for himself. “Eat drink and be merry.” Here is a man who lived for himself. He laid up treasure for himself. He had his eyes on himself. Lot lifted up his eyes and saw Sodom. Abram returned to the altar physically, but also spiritually. He waited on God and when God spoke he obeyed