ABRAM GROWS TO TRUST GOD MORE
Genesis 12:10-13:18
Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” (13:17)
chapter 12
10. Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
11. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are.
12. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ’This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
13. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you."
14. When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.
15. And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace.
16. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17. But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai.
18. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19. Why did you say, ’She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!"
20. Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
chapter 13
1. So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him.
2. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
3. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier
4. and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.
5. Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.
7. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8. So Abram said to Lot, "Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.
9. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left."
10. Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:
12. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.
13. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.
14. The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.
15. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.
16. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.
17. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."
18. So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. When there was a severe famine in the land, Abram made a reasonable decision to move to Egypt. He also prompted his beautiful wife Sarai to lie about their relationship so that he could gain favor with Pharaoh. His sense of responsibility for his household'swell-being and security became a stumbling block, causing him to forget the presence of God in his life and lead others to sin.
2. God was gracious even as Abram failed to trust him and intervened to save him from Pharaoh'srage. When Abram returned to the promised land, Abram became prosperous. However, the blessing brought a different problem. The land could not support the growing livestock of both Abram and his nephew Lot, and their workers often quarreled. Learning his lessons from God'sprovision, Abram took the high road in resolving the problem, letting Lot choose where he wanted to stay and let him go.
3. Abram'saction was a step forward in his life of faith. God encouraged Abram by taking him on a walk around the land and assured him of His promises. Abram might have lost the better part of the land and his nephew Lot as a companion. But he had God as his reward.
Prayer: Father, you are my provider and comforter. I fear no one as I hold to your promises. I am not afraid to be lonely, as you are on my side.
One Word: Trust God and find peace and comfort