Abram is a man walking with God. His misadventure in Egypt is behind him and he is back in the place of blessing walking by faith. This is seen in the fact that when a dispute arose between himself and his nephew Lot,
Abram willingly took the second place. He placed the needs of Lot ahead of those in his own life and left himself in the gracious care of God. By the way, that's how you can know when you are growing as you should be. When you can willingly turn loose of your rights and privileges for the good of others, you are on your way!
Today's message is based on Genesis 13:14-18. So, if you have your Bible handy, you may follow along if you like. After the incident with Lot, Abram is left alone with his wife, his servants and his possessions. It must have been a difficult thing to see his own flesh and blood separate from him under such harsh conditions.
Yet, for Abram, that difficult time would turn into a time of grace and blessing. For it is this time that the Lord chooses to renew His promises to Abram. Let's follow closely, as the Lord renews His promises to His servant Abram. While these are Abram's promises, there are spiritual applications that we can learn from these words.
Let's begin by reading Genesis 13:14-16. Here we'll see the confirmation of God's word. When you look at the events of Genesis 13:7-11, you may believe that Abram got the short end of the stick. You see, verses 10 and 14 tell us that both Lot and Abram "lifted up their eyes".
But, what they saw with those eyes was vastly different. Lot saw the world; Abram saw the promised land. Lot looked in self-sufficiency; Abram looked in perfect trust. Lot looked with a heart driven by greed and lust; Abram looked with a heart driven by a sacrificial love of unity. Lot looked through eyes connected to a worldly, uncommitted heart; Abram looked through eyes that were connected to a committed, spiritual heart.
Lot may have taken the best of the land, but Abram was about to get all the land! Beloved, those who walk with their faith in God and their heart centered in His will need never fear that they will lose anything! God honors the faith of His people, because the faith of His people honors Him!
God's promise to Abram was full of blessings! Genesis 13:14-15 describes a promised land. Yes, Lot chose the best; but Abram got that and the rest to boot. The land was the prize for his faith! God's promise is farther enhanced by the promise of a multitude of offspring from Abram (Genesis 13:16).
No doubt his lack of children was a sore spot with Abram. To the people of that era, many children were an indication of the blessings of the Lord (Psalm 127:3-5). Even his name was a mockery to him. Abram means "Exalted Father."
However, God's promise is that Abram will have a legacy in children. So many, in fact, that they will descend from him and their number will be beyond comprehension. That has literally come to pass! God's promise to Abram is one that will never be repealed. Notice that there are no strings attached! God is going to do this thing for His Own reasons. It is an eternal promise (Genesis 13:15)!
God's promise came to Abram after he was separated from Lot. Lot represented worldliness and lack of commitment to the things of God. When that distraction was removed, Abram heard from the Lord. (Did you notice that this promise merely amplified promises that had been given to Abram earlier?) Genesis 12:2, 7 are the first of the promises concerning the seed and the land. Now, those promises are amplified, expounded and enlarged. This is how the Lord always works with His people.
I'd like to mention that the walk of faith is a walk of progressive revelation. As we walk in obedience to what He has already revealed, He will show us more and more as time goes by. That is how the Lord works; line upon line, precept upon precept, Isaiah 28:10. That's how His Word works, Psalm 119:105. We want to know it all up front, but God reveals Himself as we are ready to receive Him, John 16:12
Genesis 13:17 shows us God's command to his worker Abram. After the promise has been given, a call to obedience is issued. This is always the way it works with the Lord. His promises are nearly always coupled with His commands. This is good and right! If we want His best, then we should be willing to follow Him.
In this particular instance, Abram is called upon to get up and to go with God. He is being challenged to deepen his walk with the Lord. Abram is commanded to get up and walk up and down, all over the land he has been given. He is to try and see it all!
As Abram journeyed, he was live as though he carried the title deed to the land in his hand. Even if, at the moment, it belonged to someone else, Abram was to accept by faith the fact that this land was his land.
So it is in our spiritual journey. We have much in Jesus, but we have to claim it by faith. For instance, what about victory? Jesus says that we have it, 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:37. Let's face it, there are days when you just have to take that by faith!
Finally, I'd like to briefly discuss Genesis 13:18. When the Lord spoke, Abram responded in action and obedience! As this old man traveled around that country, he was looking at more than the mountains, valleys, rivers, streams and lakes. He was looking for a place to settle down forever.
Hebrews 11:8-10 tells us that Abram had his sites set just a little higher than Canaan. He was looking for Heaven at the end of the way. So he just kept going, moving around the country enjoying all God had given him until the day came when he would go home to God.
Similarly, we too are pilgrims in this world. As we journey through our lives, we are to do so in dependence upon and obedience to the Lord God. Always knowing that this world is not our home. One day we will leave this world for a better land. But, until then, let's move at the command of the Lord, for nothing honors God like obedience to His commands, 1 Samuel 15:22; John 14:15.
The Bible tells us that Abram moved to Mamre which is in Hebron (Genesis 13:18). Those two names are filled with meaning. Mamre means "Fatness" and Hebron means "Fellowship". The idea is that Abram has settled down in a place of blessing and closeness to the Lord. He is living a life of close fellowship!
A life that is lived in communion with God is a life that God can bless! He desires that every one of us be in a place where we love Him more than anything else in this world. He wants us to acknowledge Him. He wants us to exalt Him. He wants us to love Him. He desires our worship, John 4:23-24.
Remember, God is absolutely self-sufficient, Psalm 50:10-15. He needs nothing! He does not need us. But, He wants us! That is precious and we should all determine that we will live our lives for His glory, considering the fact that He gave His life for our salvation.
In closing, I ask you, "Where are you in your relationship and walk with God today? Are you as close as you should be? Are you growing deeper each day in the things of the Lord? When He speaks, do you move? Are you concerned with strengthening your fellowship with Him day by day? Is His worship the number one priority in your life?
Certainly, those are hard questions to hear and face, but they reveal a lot about the condition of our relationship with the Lord Jesus. May we determine that, like Abram, our life will be characterized by our altars and by our obedience to the voice of God.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Deuteronomy 5:33; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 119:133; Ephesians 2:10; Micah 6:8
Prayer: Dear Lord, as I go about this day I know that many challenges await me. Please give me the wisdom and courage to face these challenges with an open mind and calm heart. Please be with me as I face these challenges so that I know I am not alone. Amen
God bless you always!
Heather
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