Abram & Lot Separate (Genesis 13)

God does not demand that everyone physically leave their country, but do Christians become spiritual citizens of a heavenly country? Are we therefore in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-15)? Let’s discuss this in Genesis 13.

What did Abram do as he left Egypt for the promised land?

Avram [Abram] went up from Egypt — he, his wife and everything he had, and Lot with him — into the Negev. Avram became wealthy, with much cattle, silver and gold. As he went on his travels from the Negev, he came to Beit-El [Bethel], to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beit-El and ‘Ai, where he had first built the altar; and there Avram called on the name of Adonai [Yahweh, or the Lord]. (Genesis 13:1-4 CJB)

Was there internal family strife? What caused it?

And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 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. (Genesis 13:5-7 ESV)

Was Abram’s character revealed in his generous offer to solve the crisis?

Then Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9 HCSB)

Did Lot’s choice bring him into danger? Do we have dangerous neighborhoods?

Lot looked around and noticed that the whole Jordan plain as far as Zoar was well-watered like the garden of the Lord or like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan plain. Then Lot traveled eastward, and they separated from each other. So Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent in the vicinity of Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were particularly evil and sinful in their defiance of the Lord. (Genesis 13:10-13 ISV)

Did God further detail the promise? How numerous were Abraham’s descendants to become?

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: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 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. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 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. (Genesis 13:14-18 KJV)

God does not demand that everyone physically leave their country, but do Christians become spiritual citizens of a heavenly country? Are we therefore in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-15)? You decide!