The Amazing Abraham
No 4 Gen 13 Back to the Altar

Pastor Jack Anderson

Abraham's Egyptian episode was over. He returned and he crossed over into the land of promise a sadder and a wiser man. He would never again be so foolish as to act without consulting God, never again would he step out of His Will.

He had learned the lesson that we must continually learn as we travel the "Path of Faith"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"

There are a number of things for our consideration from chapter 13, as we continue to "Follow the Footsteps of Abraham"

A Scriptural Principle. V 1

"And Abram went up out of Egypt"

This reminds us of a great Biblical Truth, namely the importance of the Believers separation from the world. This is a truth that has fallen on hard times and on deaf ears in this generation. As believers we live in the world, but we are not of the World. We are not to be worldly believers for we are citizens of heaven. Of course Biblical Separation does not mean Isolation, but Insulation.

As a live wire is insulated from all that would short-circuit its effectiveness, so the Believers are to Insulated. They are to be at one end, in contact with the source of power, and at the other end touching the place of need where God has placed them to be His Witness.

Nothing must ever be allowed to enter the lives of Christians that would short circuit the power of God working in and through them. Christians must separate themselves from all that would hinder their effectiveness in the service of the Lord.

A Spiritual man is marked by his separation from the world. The Spiritual man comes out of the Egypt of this world, out of his sin, and by God's Grace he stays out of it. Abram had played the fool in the land of Egypt, but now, he is out of Egypt, he has pitched his tent at Bethel, built his Altar and now intends to stay close to his God.

Illustration. Many years ago, in the days when horses and coaches were the means of transportation, a woman was interviewing three men who had applied to be her Coachman

She asked the applicants the same question! "You know that steep hill just outside of town, and that place where the road narrows, and there is a sheer drop to the rocks in the sea! How close could you drive to the edge without loosing your nerve? The first man said "Madam if the wheels of the coach came within six inches of the edge, I would feel quite safe".
The second man said, "Madam if one of the wheels went over the edge I would still be in control and I could recover the coach without harm"

The third man said "Madam" I would keep your coach as far away from that dangerous edge as I could. The third man got the job.
This is what separation is all about! It is not trying to get as close to the edge of this world without loosing one's testimony! It's keeping as far away from the world as possible and keeping near to Christ. Separation and Sanctification always says

Nearer still nearer Lord to be Thine
Sin with its follies I gladly resign
All of its pleasures, Pomp and its Pride
Give me but Jesus my Lord crucified.

A Scriptural Principle

A Serious Problem

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. Gen 13:2 you might well be thinking that this would be a nice problem to have. The problem amplified in verses 5-7

The land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. Most Bible scholars agree that Abram and Lot were Shepherds before they went down into Egypt. They had flocks of sheep.

But on their return they now had cattle to feed as well. The ground was still feeling the effects of the famine, and while there may have been enough pastures to graze sheep, there was not enough to graze the cattle as well.
We must keep in mind, sheep have teeth in both their upper and lower jaws, and this enables them to graze grass almost to its roots. Cattle have got teeth only on the lower jaw, therefore cattle can only graze where the grass is long. There were pastures, suitable for sheep but not for cattle. It was not the Shepherds who were fighting it was the herdsmen.

There was strife in the camp and they could not dwell together. This trouble may have come as a surprise to Abram, but it was no surprise to God. Abram had a Skeleton in his closet and it had now come back to haunt him! The skeleton's name was Lot. This skeleton was well camouflaged for some years, but now Lot's true character was revealed.

God had called Abram and had given to him specific instructions to get out of his country and from his kindred. Abram took his Father Terah and his nephew Lot with him. Why was God so specific in His instructions to Abram to make a complete break with those who were closest to him? It was because of His awareness of future events.

God is Omniscient! He knows the hearts of men, now and forever.
God knew that Terah and Lot would deter Abram from doing His Will. God preferred to spare Abram the problems that he foresaw if there was not separation from the Old ties of the flesh
.
This Problem now manifested itself in strife! Abram and Lot's possessions were now so great after their return from Egypt that they could no longer live together.
Abraham and Lot had got out of the land of Egypt, but Egypt had not left them, for its cattle and wealth were with them in abundance. This is the first instance of riches in the Bible and they are causing strife.

We also have here the potential problem of wealth in the Believer's life, for the riches of this world can either cause problems, be a curse or a blessing.

Riches can cause division in families! They can lure a person away from God! Many a child of God who once bore a bright testimony for God, but because of increased prosperity, became a spiritual bankrupt.

So what is the teaching of Scripture about wealth, as possessed by the believer? A careful study of the Bible shows, that there is no sin in being wealthy, provided the riches have been honourably obtained and are regarded as belonging to God and are used with this in mind.

Riches increase the responsibility of the Believer who has them, and they will soon become a sin, if they are not used properly with a sense of Stewardship, and not that of Ownership.
Abram had received his riches through deception. He had acquired them dishonourably and strife was the outcome. Verse 7--adds this footnote "and the Canaanite and the Perizite dwelled then in the land.

There was strife between those who were brethren in the household of faith. It was bad enough for them to disagree over material things, but sadder still the Ungodly were watching all that was happening among those who worshiped at the Altar with Abram.

Strife and division are the Tools that Satan uses to hinder spiritual development. Nothing will hinder a testimony for God more than this. Paul warns the Church at Philippi.
Phil 2:14,15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

When the Lord's people are fighting among themselves they are doing the work of Satan.

Paul said to the Church at Corinth. "You are carnal for there is envy, strife, and division among you, you are carnal and walk as mere men"
Believers are not to walk and to act as mere men, they are to walk and act like the sons and daughters of God.

A Scriptural Principle
A Serious Problem


A Saintly Proposal. Verses 8& 9

Abram and Lot were standing together on the heights of Bethel. The land of Promise was spread out before them as a Map. Abram, who was the chieftain of the Tribe, had to face three issues that were pressing him.

1. The Worrying Circumstances They could not dwell together.

2. The Wicked Neighbours The Canaanite and the Perizite were dwelling in the land. This strife between the herdsmen was dishonouring to the Lord.

3. The Weaker Brother Abram, although he made mistakes, was a Spiritual man, Lot was a Carnal man who did not have Abram's spiritual stature.

It was the Spiritual man who made the first move. With the memory of his Altar in mind, Abram did the spiritual and the sacrificial thing; he surrendered his own rights.

1> There was a Directness in his dealings with Lot" "Let there be no strife between me and you or between our herdsmen
This squabbling before the ungodly has got to stop, and I am prepared to take steps to stop this folly.

2> There was Discernment in his dealings with Lot "for we are brethren" Lot, the things, which unite us, are far more important than the things that divide us.

Illustration- Two Christian ladies shared the same office in their place of employment. They were always arguing over a window in the office, whether or not the window should be opened or closed. The First Lady said, " I feel as though I am going to suffocate in here", and then she would open the window.

A little later the second Lady said, " I am going to catch my death of cold in this place"
A Third lady, not a Christian, who worked in the office, got very annoyed by this childish behaviour said " Why don't we keep the window closed until one of you dies of suffocation? And then keep it open until the other dies of pneumonia, and then I might get some peace in this office.

How true to life this is. How trivial are the things that divide the Lord's people. These Christians
were bitterly divided over a window, yet at the same time they were united in Christ.

Jesus prayed for His disciples-
John 17:20-25 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

1> There was a Directness in his dealings with Lot"
2> There was Discernment in his dealings with Lot
3> There was Dignity in his dealings with lOT

Abram's attitude was magnanimous!
Gen 1:9 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.

"Lot, make your choice of the land and I will take what you leave". Lot could hardly believe what he was hearing. Abram was surrendering his right of choice to him. Abram was putting Lot on equal footing with himself. Although he was the senior man, the stronger in power, the sole heir of the divine promise, yet he was prepared to sacrifice what is really his by sovereign right.

Abram was prepared to put away his own rights to guard the Testimony, and to keep unity in the ranks of those, who professed to love and serve Jehovah.
Abram, has been to the Altar and he has learned how to sacrifice.

It was C.H Spurgeon. who said, "It takes more Grace than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well" this was what Abram was doing. The World might look upon Abram as a fool for surrendering his position and his rights, but God Blessed him for it.

The greater Son of Abraham renounced all that was His, when He went to the Altar of sacrifice on Mount Calvary and gave His life's blood to redeem selfish and sinful men. How little we know of sacrificial service. The Spirit of the world has laid hold of many believers and has produced in them an attitude like Lot of old, who only thought of self.

George W. Truitt, the great Baptist preacher, said, "It is not the talents one has that makes him great, however many and brilliant they may be. It is not the vast amount of study that gives mental enrichment to the mind and life. It is not in shining social qualities; it is not the large accumulation of wealth that secures peace and honour. In none of these, measured by God's standards does greatness reside. The true greatness consists in the use of all the talents one has in unselfish ministry to others."

The words of the Apostle should ever challenge and convict concerning "Self Sacrifice" 2 cor 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

We learn the grace of self-sacrifice, when we are found daily at the Altar of the cross gazing on the supreme sacrifice that was made for us and entering into the fullness of the sacrificial work of Jesus.

The words of Jim Elliot once more come to mind
He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot loose.

A Scriptural Principle

A Serious Problem

A Saintly Proposal.

A Selfish Person verses 10-12

The eyes of Lot were the binoculars of his heart. The greed there focused on the well-watered plain of Jordan, a place like unto the land of Egypt.
Lot acted with a carnal resolve in the choice he made, and the choice he made revealed the kind of man that he was.

Lot's Devotions were weak
Lot had herds and flocks and tents; but Abram had something more, he had an Altar. There is not even a hint that Lot had an altar.

Lot's Desires were worldly

The Plain of Jordan was well watered everywhere. This would satisfy the stock. It was also like the land of Egypt. This would satisfy his soul. This was the real reason for the choice he made. Lot had enjoyed his time in Egypt.

Lot's Decisions were wrong
.
Lot chose the plain of Jordan. He separated himself from his godly Uncle Abram. Before long he pitched his tent towards Sodom. It began with a Look but very soon he had left the Tent of pilgrim and was living in a house in the city of sin.
In the Garden of Eden, it was when Eve saw that the tree was good for food, it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise. She took of the fruit and did eat and gave to her husband. Satan still says to the believer "There is no harm in a look"

Lot looked to Sodom and soon he was living in Sodom. He lost all! His Testimony! His wealth! His Wife! And only for Abram he would have lost his life!
Abraham rescued him once, but he prayed for him often. that the Lord would be merciful to him.

A Soothing Promise.

Abram had just lost an earthly friend, who had travelled with him from Ur of the Chaldees; but when his earthly friend had gone his Heavenly friend came to him to reassure him regarding his Possessions! And his Posterity!

Gen 13:14 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 forever.
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.

"Abram, you have not lost anything. All the land, which thou Seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever". The land, which had been greedily staked out by selfish Lot still belonged to Abram.
God's calculations are not like that of men. When we subtract one from one we have nothing. But according to the Lord when we subtract one from one we have everything.

Matt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

"Abram you will possess the land! All that you can see I will give it to you and to your seed forever".

A Sure |Possession.

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

Abram, the land is before you go in and posses it! As the Church of Christ, let us go and claim and possess all that He has promised to us, as we travel through our earthly pilgrimage, for His promises are Sure, they have been settled in heaven.
One day soon He will call us to walk the length of our heavenly inheritance, that He has reserved for those who love Him.

A Satisfying Place.

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.

Mamre…means the place of fatness…speaks to us of the place of blessing

Hebron…means the place of fellowship. Lot has wandered of into the far country but Abram is building an Altar for he is in the place of nearness.

The Altar… is the place of worship and nearness.

Abram is dwelling in the "Satisfying Place" he is living close to the Lord.

Nearer Blessed Jesus, To Thy wounded side
Nearer to Thy heart of Love,
Would my soul abide.

There alone is safety, there alone is rest
When beset by danger
When by foes oppressed.