“Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.) Finally, Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”-Genesis 13:5-9
Abraham and his family were experiencing growing pains. Abraham was prospering and so were those with him. Lot was accumulating great herds, flocks, and wealth. Unfortunately, the amount of grazing land couldn’t support both men’s herds. Due to this, conflict arose between Abraham and Lot’s herdsmen.
Growing pains. Sometimes we call them good problems. When our church began to grow, finding a parking spot was a real challenge. Sometimes finding a seat in the sanctuary was difficult. When I’d talked to our leaders about it, they would often say, “Those are good problems to have.” So we made the decision to move to two services which freed up some parking and opened some sanctuary seating. We made accommodations so others could grow. How do we respond to the growth or accommodate the success others are having around us? Do we see it as a threat to the journey God has us on, or do we see it as an opportunity to help others reach the dreams God has put in their hearts? Abraham refused to allow their success to become a point of division. Dividing to conquer would be much more beneficial than dividing because of offense.
It is here that we see Abraham make a bold move. As the patriarch, he had every right to decide who would go in which direction, but instead, he esteems and empowers Lot to choose. “The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”-Genesis 13:9
Abraham had learned a valuable lesson in Eygpt about trusting God for his provision. He was trusting that whichever direction Lot chose, God would still bless him and fulfill His promise to make him into a great nation. He wasn’t looking to the land for his provision but to God.
Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church