Genesis 13:1-18
Choose the Land Before You
1So Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev—he and his wife and all his possessions—and Lot was with him.
2And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.
3From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched,
4to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
5Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist.
7And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.
8So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen.
9Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
10And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company.
12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
14After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west,
15for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever.
16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
17Get up and walk around the land, through its length and breadth, for I will give it to you.”
18So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Abram comes up from Egypt into the Negev with Sarai, Lot, and all their possessions. Abram is very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. He travels back to the place between Bethel and Ai where he had first built an altar, and there he calls on the name of the LORD.
The land cannot support both Abram's and Lot's growing herds. Their herdsmen begin to quarrel, and the Canaanites and Perizzites are living in the land as well. Abram does not cling to his position as the older man or the head of the larger household. He tells Lot that they are family and asks them not to fight. He gives Lot first choice of the land.
Lot looks over the plain of the Jordan, which is well watered like the garden of the LORD and the land of Egypt. He chooses the whole Jordan Valley and moves east, settling near the cities of the plain. Abram remains in Canaan. The text hints at the moral danger of Lot's neighborhood by naming Sodom's wickedness and great sin, but Lot's choice is initially presented as attractive and practical.
After Lot separates from him, the LORD tells Abram to look in every direction. God promises the land to Abram's offspring and says they will be like the dust of the earth. Abram moves through the land and settles by the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he builds an altar to the LORD.
Abram's open-handed choice is not based on scarcity. He trusts that God's promise does not depend on grabbing the best-looking option first.
Questions
1 Why did Abram and Lot need to separate?
AnswerTheir possessions and herds had grown too large for the land to support together.
2 What did Abram offer Lot?
AnswerAbram gave Lot the first choice of the land.
3 What did Lot choose?
AnswerLot chose the well-watered Jordan Valley and settled near the cities of the plain.
4 What did God promise Abram after Lot left?
AnswerGod promised the land to Abram’s offspring and descendants as numerous as dust.
What This Means for Us
Peace sometimes requires giving up the first choice. That is not weakness when we trust God with what remains. In a household disagreement, name the real problem, protect the relationship, and look for a generous solution. Generosity should be wise, not naive, but it does not have to begin by securing every advantage.
Prayer
God of promise, free us from the fear that we must grab the best portion before someone else takes it. Give our family courage to choose peace, generosity, and honest conversation. Help us trust that your care is larger than the advantages we can see at first glance. Amen.