Text: Genesis 13:8-18
Theme: Separate from Lot
Greetings:
Joke: A husband and wife were in church. The pastor noticed that the husband has fallen asleep and said to the wife, “Wake your husband up!” The wife answered, “Pastor, You're the one who made him fall asleep, you wake him up!”(Adopted)
Introduction: Abram was an ordinary person born in Ur of Mesopotamia (Genesis 11:31), and died in Hebron of Canaan at the age of 175 years. He married Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah (Genesis 25:7). He was introduced as living with his father Terah. He had two siblings namely, Nahor and Haran (Genesis 11:25-26,32). Abram might have heard about his forefather Enosh (Genesis 4:26) worshipping YHWH and could have desired to be righteous like Abel (Matthew 23:35) and Noah (Genesis 6:9). But somewhat lived among the idol worshippers.
Today I would like to share with you referring to the monthly theme “Throw Off Hindrances”. The theme for this day is ‘Depart from Lot’.
Let me leave with you three thoughts for this day:
Depart from Lot
Dwell in the Promised land
Walkthrough the Promises
1. Depart from Lot (Genesis 13:8-9)
Abram was called by God when he was in the land of UR. He was asked to leave the country, people, and father’s household (Genesis 12:1), Abram left the country, left the people but not the household (Genesis 12:4). He took Lot with him.
Now, he decided to depart from his household. He resolved to do away with the disturbing unbelieving situation. The reason was disturbances of peaceful atmosphere. Always strive for peace. Betwixt believers a contention will be very indecent, and of scandalous tendency (Benson).
There was a fight between the servants of Abraham and Lot. ‘Bad servants often make a great deal of mischief in families and among neighbors, by their pride and passion, lying, slandering, and talebearing.’ (Matthew Henry).
Paul wrote, ‘Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?’ (2 Corinthians 6:14). Deuteronomy 22:10 states, “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.”
Paul and Moses are concerned with an imbalance in power and purpose. One can easily imagine the futility of pairing an ox and a donkey under the same yoke which would inseparably link their movements and efforts.
For John Calvin “to be yoked with unbelievers mean nothing less than to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness and to hold out the hand to them in token of agreement.” Be yoked to Christ with humility, with love, and with forgiveness (Matthew 11:28-30).
‘We make many decisions in life. But some are just more important than others. And the difference between a good decision and a bad decision can mean a whole world of difference for your life. The story of Abraham and Lot in the land division offers some insights into making decisions.’ (Pastor Jason Lim).
Who is your counselor? What is bossing over you? Depart from those habits, friends, people who are hindrances to your faith journey and attaining your promises. Don’t fight for your rights but let them take whatever they want but you wait for the Lord to speak and direct you. But depart from things that are not helpful for your spiritual life and strength.
2. Dwell in your promised land (Genesis 13:10-13)
Stand on the promises of God, hold on to the place where God has placed you and trusted you, and wait for the time of the Lord. Don’t make any hasty moves in your life.
A lot had his understanding and never waited for the leading of the Spirit. He never prayed before making decisions for his future. Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt (Genesis 13:10). Outward and earthly motives prevail with him in the selection of his new abode. He is charmed by the well-watered lowlands bordering on the Jordan and its affluent.
Always our thoughts, our plans, our ideas are greenery but when you go there you can understand that you are in the dry place, dry land. The earthly vision will lead to destruction. Satan never tells you all the truth. He tries to pull you from the race. We can’t think of a flying bird leaving the bird which is at hand.
‘Those who, in choosing relations, callings, dwellings, or settlements, are guided and governed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life, cannot expect God's presence or blessing. They are commonly disappointed even in that which they principally aim at. In all our choices this principle should rule, that is best for us, which is best for our souls’ (Mathew Henry).
The beauty of the land attracted Lot but also distracted him from taking into account the wickedness that was there. Afterward, it became desolate (Genesis 13:13, Genesis 19). This can be taken as an object lesson to not allow attractive surroundings to distract us from avoiding the influence of wickedness.
‘The higher blessing of good society was missing in the choice of Lot. He was probably a single man when he parted from Abram. Then he married a woman of Sodom. He has fallen into the snare of mingling with the ungodly’ (Barnes Notes).
Lot was a believer but his wife was an unbeliever. She loved the world and all its attractions. She prepared to stay back at Sodom than to flee with her husband to a safe place. She disobeyed and did not believe the word absolutely; she turned back with her desire and became a salt pillar (Genesis 18:26).
Lot had plenteous blessings while he was with Abram because of his wrong choices, wrong fellowship, living in the wrong place, and evil associations he had lost everything including his wife and the future of the daughters.
A great warning for all of us. Our wrong choices of friendship, could ruin our lives and make us lose everything. Stay and stand on the promises of God.
3. Walkthrough the Promises (Genesis 13:14-18)
God spoke to Abram after Lot departed from him (Genesis 13:14). For a long time, Abram never heard the Lord speaking to him after that first call and promise (Genesis 12:1-3). The man chosen of God now stands alone. He has evinced a humble and self-renouncing spirit. This presents a suitable occasion for the Lord to draw near and speak to His servant. When we leave the unholy, unwanted, unpleasant and when we look unto the Lord, then and there the Lord comes closer to us.
Abram built altars for the Lord, he worshipped Yahweh at different stations but never heard the voice of the Lord, he was never directed him where to go and what to do. Our wrong associations block communications with God.
Now, God responded to Abram’s faith by renewing his promise to make Abram’s descendants into a great nation and give them Canaan for a homeland. Also, Abram obeyed the voice of heaven. He moved his tent from the northern station, where he had parted with Lot, and encamped by the oaks of Mamre at Hebron.
God promises us to give, and bless but we need to work for it. The Israelites left Egypt to occupy Canaan. Canaan wouldn’t come to Egypt but they need to go to Canaan. Disciples went to the sea to catch fish. Isaac worked in the field and God blessed him a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). God blessed Jacob after he served his father-in-law for twenty years (Genesis 31:1-7).
Promises are designed to enable us to travel with joy and peace in believing. A promise will release us from all negativity. It gives us an agreed outcome so that we do not live under the tyranny of our circumstances. Promises enable us to explore our favor in the situation.
We can have promises after promises on daily basis but without striving for it, you will never be blessed. Reading the promises, confessing promises are not enough, work for it. "That you be not slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6:12)
The promises come under three heads, temporal, spiritual, and of a mixed character (J. C. Philpot, 1845).
Reference for the temporal promise is "His bread shall be given him, and his waters shall be sure." (Isaiah 33:16). Also, Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33).
The reference to the spiritual is John 3:16. The temporal blessings are bread, water, and clothing.
The MIXED is “All things work together for good to those who love God." (Rom. 8:28.) That promise is of a mixed character. Every bodily affliction, every family trouble, everything that tries us in providence, everything that is bitter and cutting to our flesh, as well as everything spiritual and gracious is included in that comprehensive expression.
Conclusion:
Dear friends, leave and depart from all that hinders your growth and pulls you down to progress. Dwell on the place where the Lord has placed you until he tells you to move. Walk through the promises of God, own it, strive for it. God bless you, Amen.
