Tag: Genesis 13

Pure Religion

Posted on by jovial_cynic
If you understand that the correct way to love God is to love your neighbor, you’ll understand that “sinning greatly against the LORD” means to sin greatly against your neighbor.

Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked sinners against the Lord.
Genesis 13:13 (NASB)

NOW THE MEN OF SODOM WERE WICKED. To their fellow man. This is stated in Ezekiel, viz., neither did she (Sodom) strengthen the hand of the poor and needy (Ezek. 16:49).
Ibn Ezra, Genesis 13:13:1

One Body

Posted on by jovial_cynic
The Hebrew idiom used in this verse is much sweeter than the English translations.“Left” and “right” are actually “left hand” and “right hand.” Abram isn’t telling Lot to go far away from him. These aren’t opposites. He’s indicating nearness, as they are still one body.

Is the entire land not before you? Please separate from me; if you choose the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.
Genesis 13:9 (NASB)

אם השמאל ואימינה IF THOU WILT TAKE THE LEFT HAND, THAN I WILL GO TO THE RIGHT —Wherever you settle down I will not go far from you and I will stand by you as a shield and as a helper. Ultimately, indeed, he (Lot) was really in need of him, as it is said, (Genesis 14:14) “And Abram heard that his brother was taken captive etc.”
Rashi Genesis 13:9:1

Remember

Posted on by jovial_cynic
The story of Abram in Egypt is book-ended with the same specific altar on both sides, sitting between Bethel and Ai.In both cases, the text says he “called upon the name of the Lord.”

There are two lessons that jump out.

Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 12:8 (NASB)

And he went 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, to the place of the altar which he had made there previously; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Genesis 13:3-4 (NASB)

First, repeating things is a way to highlight the story. It’s underlined, bolded, italicized and blinking: REMEMBER THIS! A great famine will drive the people of God into Egypt, where a Pharaoh will take what is not his. But remember God’s mighty hand; you will be rescued. Remember!

Second, the rabbis say that “called upon the name of the Lord” can mean that Abram preached. He told people who God was.

But imagine how different his preaching was before and after being in Egypt. What lessons has Abram learned? Experience, suffering, seeing God rescue… these things change a person. They grow a person.

After the first altar, Abram is still willing to let his barren wife be taken away, fearing for his own life.

After the second altar, he is willing to accept a barren land, allowing Lot to take the fertile plain of the Jordan, trusting that God can turn barrenness into fruitfulness.

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

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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

The Sons of Canaan are Everywhere

Posted on by jovial_cynic
In the previous chapter, we were told that the Canaanites were in the land. This time, it’s the Canaanites AND the Perizzites.

For historical context: the Canaanites lived in cities. “Perizzites” refers to rural villagers, who did not live in cities.

Perhaps the Canaanites represent the sin in our hearts, and this tells us that this sin doesn’t merely present itself in the obvious big ways, but also in the small ways. The less obvious ways.

And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
Genesis 13:7 (NKJV)