Abram and Lot Divide the Land

"Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me."

Genesis 13:8

Abram was traveling with this nephew, Lot. They had left their home because God had called Abram to leave his former home and come to a land that God would give to his children. Abram believed God's promise, so he obeyed. Lot, the son of Abram's dead brother, went with him. 

They weren't alone. Each of them had great groups of cows, sheep, camels, donkeys and goats. They each had servants that cared for the animals. The servants would set up their camel hair tents in any place they found grass and fresh water. They would stay there until the grass was eaten and then move to another place. 

They reached a bare, stony place where the sun was hot and there wasn't much grass. Abram built an altar with great stones and prayed. 

Abram and Lot loved each other and were at peace, but when their servants cared for the animals they would argue. If Abram's men found a green valley, they wouldn't let Lot's servants into the valley. If Lot's servants found a well full of fresh water, they wouldn't let Abram's animals drink. They were always arguing and complaining to their masters. 

Abram didn't want this to continue, so he said it would be wiser to separate. Lot should travel one way and he would travel another so there wouldn't be any more arguments. Abram even let Lot choose the way he wanted to go. 

Lot looked and saw a green valley filled with a grassy meadow and fields of corn. A river ran into a clear lake and there were five towns on the banks of the lake. He liked this better than the bare, stony hills where they were. He never thought about the people who lived there - are they good or bad? He took the first choice and went to live in the green valley. 

Abram had the right to choose first because of his status as Lot's uncle, but he chose not to use this right. He gave up the right to choose first and let Lot choose. He hated the arguments and knew that by separating and allowing Lot to choose, there would be peace. The peace within the family would please God. 

QUESTIONS

1. Who had called Abram?

2. Who went with him?

3. What was Lot to Abram ?

4. Why did they go ?

5. What had God promised ?

6. What had they with them ?

7. Who argued?

8. What did the servants argue about?

9. Did Abram and Lot argue?

10. How did Abram prevent an argument?

11. Who was to choose first?

12. Who might have chosen first ?

13. Why didn't Abram choose first ?

14. Should you hurry to take the first choice?

15. What should you try to avoid?

16. If you and don't say "It's mine," and "I must," would you avoid arguments?

Abram Received God's Blessing

"In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:3

When Noah's grandchildren and great grandchildren multiplied and the world was full of people again, they still were not all good. As time went on they grew worse. 

But God called to a very good man named Abram, and told him that if he would move away from his home, God would show him a new land to call his own, and God would bless him and give the land to Abram's children and their children. God told Abram his children would be more than the grains of sand on the seashore or the stars in the sky. God told Abram that from his children all the nations of the earth would be blessed. 

Abram thought it was strange to hear this from God because he was an old man. He and his wife, Sarai, didn't have a child. But he believed in God. He believed God is Almighty and can whatever He will. So he did as God said and moved from his home to the land God showed him. 

He brought all of his animals with him - his cows, goats, sheep, camels and donkeys. He brought servants to care for the animals. When they reached a place with grass and fresh water, they would stop to rest. They only had tents made with goat hair and set up with poles. They could set up and take down the tents as they needed. Abram and Sarai and all their servants all lived in tents instead of in a house in a city. 

 Soon they came to a beautiful country. There were high hills rising up and green valleys full of grass for the sheep and cows. The glorious blue sea spread far away towards the west. God told Abram to look at the land, for this was the place his children would call their own. At the time, though, Abram didn't have any of it, and he still didn't have a child. 

But he was sure God was telling the truth, that somehow - he didn't know how - it would happen as God said and that his children should have this land and that in One all of nations of the earth would be blessed. This is called faith. 

QUESTIONS

1. What good man do you hear of today?

2. What did God tell Abram to do ?

3. What did God promise ?

4. Who were to have the land ?

5. Why was it strange to hear of his children ?

6. But did he believe it would come true?

7. Why did he believe it?

8. How did he show that he believed?

9. Where did he go?

10. What had he with him?

11. What did he live in?

12. What is a tent like?

13. What sort of place did he come to ?

14. Who were to have this land ?

15. How many were his children to be ?

16. Did he believe this?

17. What is believing called?