Genesis 13: Surrender To See

So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 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.
 
8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.
 
14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
 
Meditation
To help you see, surrender to God’s sovereignty.
 
Wealth typically leads people to surrender to strategic plans rather than God’s sovereign plan. Abram was “very rich” and surrendered to God’s sovereignty, allowing Lot to choose wherever he wanted to live. Lot lived by sight, “lifting up his eyes” to see the fertile Jordan Valley, moving his tent as far as Sodom. Abram trusted God’s strategic plan.
 
The Lord tells him to “lift up your eyes” and he sees God and His promises. Abraham believed God would give the land of Canaan, and through His promise God would spread Abram’s offspring throughout the earth. In his meekness, Abram said to God “Wherever you lead, I will live.” And God gave him the earth (Matthew 5:5).
 
Abram’s faith was fueled by worship, setting up an altar to call upon the name of the Lord (4). Worshipping the Lord changes everything (Psalm 73) because it secures us in God’s sovereignty, forcing faith so we can really see. Abram was rich, but he looked to a Heavenly city (Hebrews 11:8-16). Worship and walking personally with the Lord fueled Abram to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
 
Abram looks good in today’s reading, but soon his life will help us see we need someone greater than his example. Jesus is the One who totally surrendered to the Father’s sovereignty, giving up everything to die for us so we can be forgiven. Jesus left the riches of Heaven so all who believe can be rich in faith, love, and mercy.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What jumps out to you from today’s reading, especially the contrast between Abram and Lot?
 
-How does this reveal Abram’s surrender to God and his sovereignty? Why is it tempting to live by sight in our own resources rather than trusting God and His abundant resources?
 
-Why does it fuel our faith to see Jesus totally surrendering to God’s sovereign plan, living to die for us so we can be forgiven and freed to totally trust in Him? Where do you need to surrender to God’s sovereignty, living by faith and not by sight?
 
Key Verse
14 “…Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.”