Tag: Abram

Strife and Wisdom

Posted on by jovial_cynic
The rabbis suggest that the conflict in Genesis 13:7 is a story about the wickedness of Lot’s herdsmen who hoped to gain in Abram’s blessing. With no natural heirs of his own, Abram’s possessions might go to his nephew; the greed of his herdsmen caused them to harass Abram’s herdsmen.

Some suggest that Abram’s herdsmen were the instigators, believing themselves entitled to Abram’s blessing, to the exclusion of Lot’s family and herdsmen.

Perhaps they’re all to blame.

And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.
Genesis 13:7 (NASB)

But this is also a story about “strife.” In Hebrew, this is “reeb,” and means “contention,” or “debate.” It’s often used to describe the kind of dispute that requires an impartial judge to step in and give wisdom.

Sometimes there is no “right” answer. There is only God’s wisdom.

Burdened with Riches

Posted on by jovial_cynic
Genesis 13 tells us that Abram was “very rich” in material possessions, but remember where he got those possessions: from Egypt. Empire.

Look:

Therefore [Pharaoh] treated Abram well for her sake; and he gave him sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Genesis 12:16 (NASB)

The Hebrew writers want you to know something. This word “rich” in v2 is “kabad.” It can mean “rich,” but it also carries the connotation of “heavy.” Burdened. Slowed. It’s not entirely good.

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
Genesis 13:2 (NASB)

Later, we’ll read about Hagar, who is one of those possessions. I think we’d agree that a concubine leads to trouble.

But also, this passage in Genesis 13 is almost immediately followed by the land being unable to “bear the weight” of Lot and Abe’s posessions. Again – “heavy.” Burdened. This leads to another problem in the story.

And yet… it seems that God blesses, despite our possessions.

God’s ways are Better than Our Ways

Posted on by jovial_cynic
We don’t know why Abram brought Lot. Perhaps he bore the family responsibility of caring for everyone.

Perhaps Abram is clinging to God’s perpetual promise: “be fruitful and multiply.” We know from the previous chapter that Sarai is barren, so Abram has no children. No heir of his own, so maybe Lot is the natural successor. Abram might be doing everything to keep his heir safe, thinking that God intends to use Lot to carry out the blessing.

So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.
Genesis 13:1 (NASB)

After Abram and Lot separate, God reveals that He’s going to make the barren land bountiful, and we’re given a clue. This appears as a foreshadowing about how God will accomplish His blessings through a barren woman. Abram will have an heir of his own.

May God always surprise us with the way He accomplishes His blessings.

It can Take Time

Posted on by jovial_cynic
Take hope, friend. When Abram returned from his lack of faith in Egypt, he made it back to Bethel, which means “House of God.”

But he got there “in stages.” Over time. It took a while. This is how it works. And God welcomes you into His house.

And he went [a]on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai…
Genesis 13:3 (NASB)

[a] The footnote says: Literally by his stages