Abraham was looking for something more than just a new location. How about you, what are you looking for?
For Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Heb.11:10
Abram went down (looking for food) to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. Gen.12:10 During Abram’s time in Egypt the Pharaoh undeservingly gave him livestock, silver and gold and sent him back Canaan.
Due to these inherited riches Abram eventually became very wealthy in livestock and servants as well as his nephew Lot. Eventually, the land could not support the livestock needs of both Abraham and Lot while they stayed together. Their herders began to quarrel over whom should get what. Gen.13:1-7
Oh, how often does wealth get in the way of what is most important. Abram took the high road and told Lot to take whatever he wanted and he would take what’s left over.
Abram held things loosely
Lot measured everything by the temporary values and chose the commercial walled city of Sodom which was much like the fertile ground of Egypt. Abraham accepted the rest of the surrounding parched land. Abraham had values that were based upon the realities of eternity, not the alluring and shallow passing fads of the immediate.
Later, Lot was kidnapped by some local kings and despite their separation and hard feelings Abram didn’t abandon him. Although Abram was highly outnumbered, he risked his life and others’ to successfully rescue all of Lot’s clan, the inhabitants of Sodom and Lot’s possessions. Gen.14:1-16 Ironically, Abe was safer in a tent than Lot was in a fortified city.
After this dramatic rescue the king of Sodom wanted to reward Abraham with much money. I love Abram’s response,
“I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.”Gen.14:23
It was not about Abram. It was about God.
What a contrast to today’s utilitarian culture.
Genesis 13:13 tell us that the people of Sodom were wicked, yet later Abraham prayed for the city for Lot’s sake and God permitted Lot to barely escape just in the nick of time. Abraham loved Lot despite his worldliness.
What about you? Have you ever helped someone who didn’t thank you for all you’ve done for them and it got you into more trouble? Have you prayed for others only to see them do everything they could to run farther away from God?
This was Abram’s life and ours’
In the midst of all this disappointment and years of waiting Abram’s trajectory was to trust God despite not seeing the fulfillment of God’s promise to provide a descendant for him. Are you waiting for something to happen for you too? Aren’t we all in some way or another? Like Abram, we can get pretty tired of waiting for that something to happen.
Join us next time as we see the trouble Abram brought on himself by not waiting for God’s promise.
