Abram risks his life for his brother

“Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants .... and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people” (Genesis 14:14-16). The king of Sodom and the kings of  the nearby cities had paid tribute to Chedorlaomer,  king of Elam, for twelve years. Banding together the decided to rebel and not pay the tribute.  Chedorlaomer, with the aid of three allies,  invades, defeats them,  and marches home with a large amount of prisoners and booty.  Lot, living in Sodom,  was also taken prisoner (verses 1-12).

Benson comments “The invaders were from Chaldea and Persia, then only small kingdoms.” And some of the kings were kings of cities. On a trip to Israel,  visiting the excavation of several cities of ancient Israel at Jesus time, I saw what were called cities were also very small.  So Abram with his three hundred and eighteen trained men mounting a surprise attack by night,  were well able to defeat them.  Matthew Henry comments that Abram took this opportunity to give  proof of his being a true friend to Lot. He says we ought to be ready to help  those in distress, especially relations and friends. He continues though others may have been wanting in their duty to us, yet we must not neglect our duty to them.  Agreeing Paul writes “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

Though perhaps not a tad selfish in choosing what looked like the best land (13:10ff), it would be hard to deduce that Lot was “wanting in his duty.” But Matthew Henry makes a good point, Abram was “laying down his life for his friend.”  He could have said “he made his bed, let him lie in it!” If laying down his life sounds familiar, it was meant to be. Because while we were yet enemies Christ laid down His life for us (Romans 5:8, 10). And because Christ showed His love for us in this way, John admonishes us that we “also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).  He then asks, “if we shut our hearts to our brother in need, how does the love of God live in us” (verse 17)?

In the context of Romans 5 Paul describes the process of character building that is meant to follow the assurance of our justification (being put right with God). By learning to tap into God's grace we glory in the trials that produce patience. This in turn produces character and hope, by which the love of God floods our hearts (verses 1-5).

Father, by faith Abram displayed what we call Christian character without the help of the Holy Spirit.  Help us to stay close and connected to You Lord, so that the fruit of You spirit, the love, the joy, the peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control (Galatians5:22,23) grows in us,  thus demonstrating to the world that we are Yours. We need Your help Lord, and we are asking for it this morning,  in Jesus Name Amen

Possessing promises: And then the LORD said to Abram:

'Lift your eyes now and look .... northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; ..... Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.'  (Genesis 13:14-18). Lot and his herdsmen had left. It must have been grievous to Abram, the quarrel had not been with Lot (13:7). So God comes and comforts him renewing again His promise (12:1, 7). The writer to the Hebrews tells that Abram dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, looking for and waiting for a heavenly city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:9, 10,  16).  

God has put eternity in all our our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11),  so that we might seek and find Him “though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). God's promises were to Abram and His descendants.  And,  echoing eternity, He has promised us steadfast love and mercy to “thousands of generations of those who love Him and obey His commandments” (Exodus 20:6).  God gives Abram, and us through him,  two instructions, “lift up your eyes,” and “walk.”

Concerning “lift up your eyes” we,  either like Lot lift up our eyes to the things of this world (13:10), or like Abram we lift up our eyes  to see those things that are far off, confessing that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). It's about perspective!  As believers,  we are citizens of another kingdom. And when I am in danger of being offended by the pain, chaos and difficulties of life, I need to renew my perspective. “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come”  (Hebrews 13:14). And if we see with the eyes of faith,  we like Paul,  will understand that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Ephesians 1:18; Romans 8:18).


The phrase “the promised land” would become familiar to Abram's descendants. And having renewed Abram's perspective of the promise,  God now commands Abram to walk the land as a prophetic act declaring his,  and his descendant’s  God given eternal right to the land (see 24 February post).  The land however still had to be possessed.  And Moses, standing on the banks of the river Jordon just before the conquest,  instructs Israel to do just that  (Deuteronomy 1:8). It’s the same with the exceedingly great and precious promises the Lord gives us (2 Peter 1:4). God promised Israel would have rest after they had conquered and possessed the land (Deuteronomy 25:19). And “entering rest” is another Biblical picture of entering the promised land, possessing our promises. Many however did not enter because of two things, disobedience and unbelief (Hebrews 3:18, 19).   

Father, we are to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), but our fight is not a physical fight and our weapons are not physical weapons (Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4). Nevertheless we are in a war to the death with the enemy of our souls. Teach us to fight the good fight Lord,  and so to be like Abram who, after he had patiently endured,  obtained the promise (Hebrews 6:15). We want to possess everything You have for us Lord, give us faith, obedience, courage and persistence Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Strife, unity and the Kingdom: “And there was strife

between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s   herdsmen. So Abram said to Lot, 'Please let there be no strife ..... for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.' And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was ... like the garden of the  LORD” (Genesis 13:7-10). Abram goes from one test to another. He had gone from fear of starvation and tyranny in Egypt,   to the problems of riches and wealth,   particularly in cattle, and it was for both he and his nephew Lot. The strife is between their respective herdsmen was because “the land was not able to support them” (verse 6).

Concerning the phrase “for we are brethren” Derek Kidner,  in his commentary, writes “Abram's handling is a model of insight,  good sense and generosity. His proposal as well as practical,  resolved the immediate situation with creating any future ones.” Unity,  peace and going the second mile,  are well pleasing to the Lord. “How good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). We are commanded as much as it possible to live at peace with all, and to be eager to maintain the unity purchased for us at the cross (Romans 12:18; Ephesians 4:3).  The command to prefer one another in love  can seem costly (Romans 12:10), but it has great reward.

Lot,  lifting up his eyes sees what 's looks good,  he chooses it for himself, and  “pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD” (verses 12, 13). All that glitters is not gold, and  what looks good will turn out for Lot to be a huge problem for him. Kidner again “The sequel for both men is instructive. Lot, choosing the things that are seen, found them corrupt and insecure; choosing selfishly he was to grow even more isolated and unloved. Abraham, on the other hand, found liberation!”  When we “lift up our eyes,” we are to seek the things that are above,  and set our minds there where Christ is,  for “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).  Walking in faith has eternal rewards.

Abram had problems, and so will we. Jesus told us “In this life you will have trouble, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world (John 16:33).  The say what doesn't kill you makes you strong. As believers we have all the resources of heaven at our disposal. And when we choose to respond in faith, it forms our character, a character that pleases God.  This needs to be our aim (2 Corinthians 5:15)!

Lord Jesus, please give us a spirit of generosity that prefers one another in love. It goes against the grain many times Lord. You tell us however,  that whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Your sake will save it (Luke 9:24). It's the upside down kingdom Lord. And when we seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness  all these things will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).  Thank You Lord for Abram's  example.  Show us how to walk in his faith, and please equip us to do do so,  in Your precious Name we pray Amen

Compromise and Grace: Now there was a severe famine in the land,

and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there (Genesis 12:10). The Bible is brutally honest about its heroes. Abram is fearing for his life because of the beauty of Sarai his wife.  He's worried they might take her and kill him. So he tells her to say she's his sister.  In fact Sarai was taken into Pharaoh’s house,  and Abram was give “sheep, oxen, donkeys, male and female servants  and camels.”  But “the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, 'What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had” (verses 12-20).

Sarai of course was Abram's half sister (20:12), so it was only a half lie.  But why was Abram afraid they would kill him, God wasn't going to that happen, He had promised He would make Abram a great nation (12:2)? It's easy for us to sit in judgement on this, but it's one thing to build an altar, and quite another to put your life on the line. But we need to learn something here. When God makes a promise, we can take it to the bank. On the other hand, we will more than likely be tested. Faith acts! In Hebrews 11,  the faith chapter, we read over and over “by faith” so and so did something.  In particular faith trusts God in the difficult times,  and acts accordingly.  And God's exceedingly great and precious promises are there precisely to help us through us through in such times (2 Peter 1:4).  Would we have known what to do in Abram's situation? Well,  what we could have done, is to ask God, who promises to gives wisdom liberally if we admit that we lack it, and  then ask Him for it (James 1:5).  I've claimed this promise over and over, and when I do, I pray “Lord I qualify for this promise, I lack wisdom,  and I'm asking for it.” If Abram has asked,  God would likely have said “Trust me, I will protect you.”

In fact the Lord had protected Abram anyway, and he comes out of Egypt a rich man not just with cattle, but clearly enough servants so that his nephew Lot could be given some too (13:2, 7).  So contrary to the way some see God, He is not just waiting for us to mess up so He can zap us. He knows our frame, He know we are but dust.” He knows how frail we are (Psalm 103:14). And He extends grace to Abram.  Justice is getting what you deserve,  grace is not getting what you deserve. The  wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23).

Father, wages are what we  get for what we did, but when we repent and turn to You  we are forgiven, cleansed, justified and adopted into the family of God (John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 6:11).  That's grace! We deserve none of that Lord, and but for Your mercy and grace there would be no hope! Thank You Lord for Your steadfast love and mercy, and I'm forever grateful Lord,  in Jesus Name Amen  

Thanksgiving and Worship: Then the LORD appeared to Abram

and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD (Genesis 12:7). Abram had left Haran as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. They passed though  Canaan and came to Shechem. He then moved on and pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai,  and built another alar there.  And there Abram called on the name of the LORD (Verses 4 - 8). We are not told the nature of the Lord's appearance, be it a dream or vision or whatever, but He speaks to him of his descendent inheriting the land, not Abram himself.  Sari was still barren of course (11:30), and  God was renewing His impossible promise.

Abram seems to have built the altars as a response to the renewal and confirmation of God's earlier promise (12:1-3). His calling on the Lord is said to be both worship, thanksgiving. It is also seen as   Abram identifying himself with the Name of the Lord, in the same way that a Christian identifies him or herself with Christ. Abram's response is of course an act of faith, and his response involves action.  It is about relationship, and relationship involves responding to each other. We too are called to respond to God in faith. Paul, speaking about not retaining God in unbelievers knowledge says  “when they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1: 28, 21).

Paul is saying something important here. Firstly that we all start off knowing that God exists, that He is there (see also Romans 1:19, 20). Secondly we can loose that knowledge simply by not being thankful or by not worshipping Him,  by not calling on the name of the Lord! The Lord hates it when we are lukewarm, He would rather that we were cold (Revelation 3:16).  The Lord has taught me some things about negativity and thankfulness, about what it does to the brain, to our emotions,  and even to our physical health (you can suss out the research of Dr. Carolyne Leaf). So God is not some egotistical narcissist needing our thanks and praise to make Him feel good! No He does it because He wants the very, very best for us, and thankfulness and worship are big steps in His plan to bring life and health and peace to His beloved (Malachi 2:5). Some time ago now I started ending the day by writing down in my journal three things in my day for which I can be thankful.  It was hard in the beginning, but there are the old faithfuls, salvation, a place to live, friends, His Word, food etc.  And of course there are His exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4), and the  prayers of praise and thanksgiving in His  word

Thank You Lord, thank You, thank You,  thank You! You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.   You have redeemed us by Your blood Lord Jesus,  out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And we give Your thanks and praise,  and we worship You this morning Lord, in Your precious and Holy Name Amen

Covenant promises: The LORD had said to Abram:

“Get out ..... I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This promise of blessing and cursing to Abraham and his descendants,  is of course a promise to Israel, for Abraham is Israel's father. You might think it a coincidence that during the tenure of US presidents who have stood with Israel,  that America has prospered. And that  the converse is also true. I don't think it a coincidence, but then I believe the Bible. Of course Israel is far from perfect,  but then neither are we, and we need to pray for her.  I don't want to be opposing God! Again, I am not saying there's no injustices, for there certainly are! But we are commanded to pray for,  and seek the peace of Jerusalem,  (Psalm 122:6; 34:14).

God called Abram out alone, in order that He might do a great work in him (Isaiah 51:2). The believer certainly needs to be in fellowship (Hebrews 10:25), but the deeper work of God is done when He gets us on our own. We see this in the stories of Joseph, David and Paul. These alone times are both times of testing and strengthening.  God is promising Abraham not only land, but a name,  and posterity – his descendants would multiply and become a great nation. But how on earth was this  going to happen, for Sarai his wife was barren.  In Romans 4:19 we read of Abraham that “not being weak in faith,  did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” Abraham was seventy five at the time of the promise (12:4), and he would be sorely tried as he waited, and as we shall see, he would make some serious mistakes.  

I know something of the fiery trial of delayed answers to His promises. The questioning “did I hear correctly;” The temptation to do God's part when He doesn't come through in our time frame;  the lack of closure on outstanding issues etc.,  etc. Several years into my promise,  and seemingly no closer than at the beginning, He asked me if I had waited patiently for Him.  He had earlier used Psalm 40:1 to instruct me to do so. I could only answer that I'd waited. Was it patient waiting?  That was another question altogether!  There's a saying that God is never early, and He is never late.  And He has things to do in us and in others,  as we wait. In particular “those who wait in hope on the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles they will run and not be weary they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). A little old lady friend of mine once comforted me by saying “The trouble with God, is that He has no sense of time!”

Lord, You are not slack concerning Your promises, for You have a very different sense of time. A thousand years with You is as a day (2 Peter 3:9). Thank You that You chose not to remember Abraham's mistakes,  and when we confess You don't remember ours (Hebrews 8:12). Thank You that by Your grace we can choose to never, never,  never give up, in Jesus Name Amen

The God who speaks: “Now the LORD had said to Abram

....” (Genesis 12:1).  I can't resist saying “He speaks, therefore I AM” (I know “I AM” exists [Exodus 3:14],  because He speaks to me).  But seriously,  if you tell someone today that God speaks to you, they are likely to lock you up.  Certainly lunatics have claimed to hear Him. I read that surprisingly many people claim God told them to murder someone.  But this can't be the God of the Bible, since  “You  shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).  The three persons of the Trinity talk to each other (Let US ...   Genesis 1:25; 11:7 etc.).  So should it be so surprising that the self communicating God, should communicate with His creation?   There need to be checks and balances of course, and we are to test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21). First and foremost He will not contradict His Word. He will not tell you to divorce our wife, for  example,  so that You can marry another (Matthew 19:9).

Jesus tells us that His sheep hear and know His voice. He is the good shepherd (John 10: 26, 14, 4). He knows His  sheep (His disciples – the ones who follow and obey Him), He call us by name and we are His. When we follow Him and learn to hear His voice, we do not listen to the voice of the stranger, the thief the one who comes to kill steal and destroy (verses 5, 10).  New converts tend to know His voice immediately, but are often intimidated into silence by others,  even Christians, I was!. Many  don't really have a relationship with Him, but it's what salvation is really all about.  We can't really follow Him if we don't know His voice.

God speaks to us primarily in and through His Word. Most of us who read the Bible have this experience of a verse or passage standing out to us. This is usually the Holy Spirit illuminating it and saying to pay attention.  Hearing His voice and obeying are closely related, we suppress the truth by unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).  Our own desires can lead us astray (James 1:14). Sometime we have to learn the voice of the stranger by our mistakes.  Then we need to confess and ask the Lord to teach us. In the end it is all about following. As with Noah and Abram,  following and obeying often goes against the stream. We must not be conformed to the World, we are to take up our cross in this way and follow Him (Romans 12:1; Mark 8:34). But to him who has more will be given (Matthew 29:25)! In other words when we hear and obey,  we will hear more often,  and more clearly! To learn more, I recommend Mark Virkler's Youtube videos.

Lord Jesus, You are my shepherd; I shall not want. You feed me with Your Word and You quiet and refresh my soul. Thank Your Lord. You lead me in  paths of righteousness to glorify Your name. Even in the dark and difficult times I will not be afraid,  for You have promised never to leave me nor forsake me. You correct me when I go astray,  and Your  discipline comforts me. In Your time You will cause my righteousness to shine like the sun. You fill my cup with peace and joy, I will drink of Your goodness all the days of my life,  and I will spend eternity with You. I thank and pause and honour and glorify You Lord, in Your precious Name Amen