Gênesis 13

Gênesis 13

Constable - when Abram offered Lot what was on his left he was referring to northern Canaan, the area around Shechem (cf. 12:6; 33:18-34:31; 37:12-17) as far south as Bethel and Ai. The other choice was what was on their right: southern Canaan including Hebron and the Negev (cf. 13:6, 9; 13:1, 18; 20:1; et al.). Both men had previously lived in both regions. ILLUSTRATION OF STRIFE - Two Christian ladies had to share the same office. One always wanted the window open; the other wanted it closed. “I feel I am going to suffocate in here!” said the one. “I’m going to catch my death of cold!” retorted the other. Someone came up with a suggestion. “Why don’t you keep the window closed until one of you dies of suffocation and then keep it open until the other dies of pneumonia,” he said. “Then we’ll have some peace around here!” C H McIntosh - The man of faith can easily afford to allow the man of sight to take his choice. He can say, “If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou wilt depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.” What beautiful disinterestedness and moral elevation we have here! and yet what security! It is certain that let nature range where it will, let it take its most comprehensive grasp, its boldest and highest flight there is never the slightest danger of its laying its hand upon faith’s treasure. It will seek its portion in quite an opposite direction. Faith lays up its treasure in a place which nature would never dream of examining, and, as to its approaching thereto, it could not if it would; and it would not if it could. Hence, therefore, faith is perfectly safe, as well as beautifully disinterested, in allowing nature to take its choice. Oswald Chambers - The test of self-interest If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:9. As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you, and these things are yours by right; but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the right and proper thing to consider if you were not living a life of faith; but if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and leave God to choose for you. This is the discipline by means of which the natural is transformed into the spiritual by obedience to the voice of God. Whenever right is made the guidance in the life, it will blunt the spiritual insight. The great enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but the good which is not good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. It would seem the wisest thing in the world for Abraham to choose, it was his right, and the people around would consider him a fool for not choosing. Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eye on God. “Walk before Me.” COMMENT - Background - As 1915 got underway and Britain prepared for the second year of World War I, Oswald Chambers began a four-month series on the life of Abraham. By the end of this series, Chambers decided to leave London’s comforts to serve with soldiers (see March 28, Companion). In today’s study, Abraham makes a similar choice by giving up his rights to the well-watered land. Chambers says that when we give up our rights to good things, we grow spiritually. A young boy went to the store with his mother. The shop owner, a kind man, passed him a large jar of suckers and invited him to help himself to a handful. Uncharacteristically, the boy held back. So the shop owner pulled out a handful for him. When outside, the boy’s mother asked why he wouldn’t take a handful of suckers when offered. "Because his hand is much bigger than mine!" said the boy.—Brian Harris, Mount Roskill, Auckland, New Zealand Abraham And Canaan’s Ecology A sophisticated sensitivity to ecological balance in the Bible is found in Genesis 13:1–13. Abraham and Lot both owned large herds of goats and sheep and “the land could not support them … together; for their possessions were so great that they could not remain together.” A grassy, fertile area can quickly turn into a barren wasteland if large numbers of cattle are allowed to graze in it. Goats and sheep especially, bite off grass close to the roots. The result can be “overgrazing.” Plants (grass, shrubs, weeds of all kinds, etc.) whose roots hold down and bind the topsoil, are eaten away, leaving the earth unprotected, without vegetation and exposed to erosion by rain and wind. These, in turn wash and blow away the soil until only barren, rocky wilderness is left. Abraham, the Bible tells us, was aware of this danger, saying to Lot: “Let us separate: if you go north, I will go south; and if you go south, I will go north” (Genesis 13:9). And so, lot chose the Plain of Jordan settling the opposite direction to the hills of Hebron, where once again Abraham prevented potential ecological damage by coming “to dwell at the oaks of Mamre.” (Genesis 13:18) —Nogah Hareuveni “If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left!”—Gen. 13:9 An instance of the practical effectiveness of Mr. Sherman’s preaching is narrated thus. In one of his Monday evening lectures to teachers, the subject was the parting of Abraham and Lot: in the course of which he spoke of the magnanimity of Abraham, and, as a contrast to it, said that he had just visited a family belonging to the congregation that was rent by discord about the ownership of an old bedstead It happened that amongst his hearers was a man who had not been in Surrey Chapel for years. He was greatly amused by the illustration. As he left the chapel, he called on an old friend, and told him that he was at the very time arranging the distribution of some property left by a relative, amongst which there was an old bedstead, which had been matter of dispute: but the effect of the address upon him was such that the bedstead difficulty was soon amicably settled. After You 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. Genesis 13:9 Read: Genesis 13:1–18 In some cultures a younger person is expected to permit his elder to enter a room first. In others, the most important or highest ranking individual enters first. No matter what our traditions, there are times when we find it difficult to allow someone to choose first on important matters, especially when that privilege rightfully belongs to us. Abram (later called Abraham) and his nephew Lot had so many flocks, herds, and tents that the land could not support both of them as they traveled together. To avoid conflict, Abram suggested they part company and generously gave Lot first choice of the land. His nephew took the fertile Jordan Valley, leaving Abram with the less desirable land. Abram did not insist on his rights as the elder in this situation but trusted his future to God. “So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me . . . . 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” (Genesis 13:8–9). Lot’s choice eventually led to dire consequences for his entire family (see Genesis 19). Father, Your unfailing love and faithfulness guide us in every choice we make. May our lives speak well of You and honor You today. God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. —Jim Elliot Genesis 13:9-13 Letting God Choose Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan. —Genesis 13:11 We may have secret longings too deep to utter to others—perhaps a desire for marriage, or a work or ministry we’d like to perform, or a special place to serve. We must put each desire in God’s hands and pray, “Lord, You must choose for me. I will not choose for myself.” Genesis 13:10-11 tells us that Lot made his own choice about a desire he had. He “lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere . . . like the garden of the Lord . . . . Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan.” The plain of Jordan, with its rich soil and copious water supply, looked best to Lot. But the land was polluted with wickedness (v.13). Pastor Ray