Genesis Chapter 13 Notes

Abram left Egypt taking his wife, and taking Lot with him. The Bible says that Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold. In today's time that would be very wealthy in money and resources. Even though he was very rich, that did not stop him from serving his God. He created an altar and called on God's name. Lot who was with Abram also had flocks, herds and tents. I'm convince that he was wealthy as well. Lot's people could not dwell with Abram's people so therefore Abram felt it was best for them to be separate. Truth be told God never told Abram to take Lot with him in the first place which is why it is good that they separated. In life there are some family members, friends, and other toxic people in your life that you cannot take with you. Some people will try to slow you down and stop you. Abram asked Lot to separate himself from him and all that he has. Lot saw the plain of Jordan in Sodom and Gomorrah and it looked like a place that  was beautiful and well watered. Both Lot and Abram separated themselves from each other. Lot went east to the plain of Jordan while Abram stayed in the land of Canaan. The men in Lot's new home were extremely sinful and wicked in God's eyes. I noticed that when Abram and Lot separated that's when the Lord started talking to Abram even more. He asked Abram to look to the north, south, east and west and Abram did. Then the Lord said that every land you see will be given to you and your children forever. Then the Lord went on to compare his children with the dust of the earth. The dust on the earth is not something that you can intellectually count. In otherwords, he will have so many nations of children that he won't be able to count them because there will be so many. I know I am getting ahead of myself but the Bible says that we are heirs to God's Throne and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus, We are also a seed of Abraham through faith but I'll talk more about that later. Intellectually Abraham's children will be counted by God but man's intellectual ability would limit him. So then the Lord gave him specific instructions to walk through the land and He will give it to him. Abram and his family left Canaan and dwelled in the plain of Mamre which is in Hebron. There be built an altar for the Lord.

There are many lessons I learned from this passage. First and foremost, when God is about to take you somewhere there are just some people who cannot be a part of your life. Some people can't go where God is about to take you.  Second, you have to be careful! If God didn't tell you to take that person with you then that person could be placed into your life to cause strife. There can't be two Kings in One Castle, two main chefs in one kitchen, etc…You have to remove that person from your life. It was when Abram and Lot separated when God was able to speak to him. Sometimes people can hinder the process of your growth and success. One thing I noticed about Abram is that everywhere he went, he built an Altar for the Lord. I personally believe that he worshipped the Lord at the altar. The Lord is great and I believe that Abram recognized that. The second lesson is, listen when God is speaking and take heed to what God is saying.

Genesis 13:1-18

1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth–el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth–el and Hai;

4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: 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.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.