Day 3 of Week 1 The Patriarchs

Today's Treasure:

So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 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
 

Today's reading begins with Genesis 13: 1 - 2

"So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold"

This action follows the Pharaoh demanding their departure from Egypt. I think of how it must feel to be sent away from a Pharaoh because he is in fear of the God you serve! Doesn't that just scream the might of our Lord! The Pharaoh was in such fear that he said, "Take her and go!". He didn't try to kill Abram on the way out or take back all of the wealth Abram accrued during his stay. I imagine he was terrified to think of what might come over his household if he tried to take revenge. People, that is the God we serve!  

Beth wants us to imagine the conversation between Abram and Sarai on the way back to the Negev.

Q: If you were Sarai, what would the ride back to Canaan have been like?

My Answer isn't the most submissive one out there. See, I have always been a strong minded individual. I have truly been working on allowing Brian to play the role he was mandated by God to play in our home. For so many years, that was difficult for me to swallow. I felt that I was giving up control of how things should be in our home. What I realize now is that I was screaming to my husband that I did not trust him. With God's help, we are settling into a relationship where we allow one another the freedom to express the roles that God intends for us. I can imagine that Sarai was not quite at that point yet because, let's face it, God is a relatively new aspect of her life. She doesn't have scripture to guide her in her decisions or teach her who God wants her to be. With the way she tries to handle the idea of Abram fathering many nations, I think she may have had her own set of flaws to boast about. I am sure there was much nagging on the camel ride home and a lot of bossing around. I am sure there were comments like, "don't you touch me there...I'm your sister, remember!"  

List significant similarities between Genesis 12: 8 - 9 and Genesis 13: 3 - 4

"From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev."

"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 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD."
 
Didn't Abram just retrace his steps and go right back to where he started from. Beth teaches us that the word restores means "to turn back, turn around, return". Isn't this comforting to know that we can start all over when we mess up and get off track.
 

Read Romans 12: 1

"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."

We are urged to offer our "bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God" because this is our "spiritual act of worship".

We can relate this New Testament scripture to the act of Abram building altars to God in the Old Testament. When we go to the Lord in submission and prayer, we are offering our bodies as an altar to Him in worship and praise.
 

What kind of division developed between Abram and Lot (Genesis 13: 5 - 7)?

Their herdsmen argued over where to graze the livestock

Overcrowding increases conflict, but that may not have been the only issue. What does Proverbs 13: 10 consider a breeding ground for conflict?

"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice"

Pride is a factor in every relationship we have as humans. There is just something in us that needs to be right or have more information that our counterparts. What is it? We all want to believe that these issues do not exist between family members; however, those in our family often have to see the ugliest sides of us.

What was Abram and Lot's actual relationship?

Lot is the son of Haran, who is Abram's brother. So, Abram is Lot's uncle.

How did Abram soften the blow of suggesting separation?

He allowed Lot to choose his own path (land) first

How did Lot choose his portion?

He chose the lush, well-watered valley

In which direction did Lot travel?

East

Take time to note the first eastward move in scripture (Genesis 3: 23 - 24)

"So the LORD God banished him (Adam) from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."

Beth gives us the following facts:

1. After the exodus, the children of Israel wandered east of the Jordan in unbelief - the had to move west towards the fulfillment of God

2. The Holy of Holies was located in the western extremity of the tabernacle
 
Read Genesis 13: 14 - 18. What happened after Lot parted from Abram?

The Lord made a covenant with Abram to give him all of the land around him and more offspring than the dust of the earth

God's first promise to Abram came when he separated himself from his home. The second promise came when he separated himself from Lot.

Compare 2 Corinthians 6: 17 and Matthew 28: 19 - 20. How do you reconcile these two seemingly opposite commands?

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you."

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

When we obey God's commands, it unites us in Spirit
 

Compare God's second statement of promise to Abram in Genesis 13: 14 - 18 to His first statement of promise in Genesis 12: 2 - 3. Record any additions or noteworthy ways God expounded on the first

12: 2 - 3

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

13: 14 - 18

"The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, 'Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring. forever. 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. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.' So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.