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Rated M for Mature - 6/1/25

May 3, 2025

Genesis 13:1-18 1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. 2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. 8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. 14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord. 

Genesis 14:11–16 11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. 13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. 

Conflict is a part of fallen humanity. It shows itself quickly after the sin of Adam and Eve in the form of their own sons, Cain and Abel, in conflict to the point of death. We see it between relatives Abram and his nephew Lot. Two very wealthy men, one with a promise of blessing from God attempting to move their people and herds into a region not suitable for the both of them. The result was conflict between their herdsmen. 

In chapter 12 of Genesis Abram had been promised by God to make him into a great nation. He was to leave his father’s house and go to a place where God would show him. He obeyed, and his nephew Lot went with him. Abram went as far as the land of Canaan, where God visited him and promised to give Abram’s descendants the land. Because of a famine, Abram and his wife move to Egypt for a time. 

The second half of Genesis chapter 12 narrates a strange episode that results in Abram and Sarai having to leave Egypt. When they head back toward Canaan and settled where he had first placed his tent between Bethel and Ai,  Abram calls upon the Lord again. When the conflict arises it is Abram that is humble and accommodating. He defers to Lot and allows him to pick where he would settle first. Lot looks down into the Jordan valley and sees plenty of water and great cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The narration explicitly tells the reader that this was before God had destroyed those cities because of their great wickedness. He decides to move there, and Abram remained in Canaan. The Lord reaffirms his promise to him to give all of this land to Abram’s descendants that will be as the dust of the earth. 

How to Pick the Right Fight

Never fight over things or preferences.  

Genesis 13:2 “2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.” 

Genesis 13:5–6 “5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together,” 

The reality was that Abram was a very wealthy man. The circumstance causing the conflict was that both men had more possessions that the land would accommodate. 

Possessions continue to be a great source of conflict. 

James 4:1–4 “1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” 

It is easy to come into conflict in the body of Christ over what you have and what I want. It may be position, wealth, influence, etc.
Abram and Lot’s men were fighting over the opportunity to retain and grow wealth. This was not an argument over survival.
This point mirrors our 1st world existence. We fight over who gets there first in traffic, we fight over who gets preference, we fight over property lines, we fight over opportunities, we fight over position. 

Choose humility over stuff. 

Genesis 13:8–9 “8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.””

Abram chose humility over conflict about land and resources. He determined that being family was more important than who got ahead.

Philippians 2:3–4 “3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” 

As the body of Christ we are to, in humility, prefer others over ourselves. Are we asking, how can I promote my brother in Christ? How can I bless them? Or are we in conflict over what we do not have? 

Romans 12:16–21 “16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

It is our responsibility as mature followers of Christ to choose peace. 

God can bless you even if it seems you are losing. 

Genesis 13:10–11 “10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.” 

God always exalts the humble and humbles the proud. 

1 Peter 5:5–6 “5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”

It seems as if Lot has picked the more profitable option but Abram is the one that God visits and reaffirms his blessing. 

Genesis 13:14–18 “14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” 

Always fight for family and the truth. 

Family first 

Genesis 14:11–12 “11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.”

If the church can be preoccupied by possessions and preferences. the enemy can snatch our families and the truth right out from under us.  Abram would not allow his nephew to remain a captive. 

Genesis 14:13–16 “13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. 

We fight for things and let the enemy have our kids and marriages.
You must fight for their understanding.
You must fight for their worldview.
You must fight for their peace.
You must fight for them.

Fight for truth  

John 16:13 “13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

We must teach the truth and fight to keep it. If truth was something we were to simply discover, the Bible would not admonish us to protect and teach it. If you know the truth, it will set you free. We study the scriptures not to confirm our preconceived versions of truth but to learn and know kingdom truth.  We do not concede to popular opinion or cultural shifts but maintain and teach a biblical worldview that transcends cultures and chaos.














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