Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Well, we see at the end of Chapter 12 Abram being disgraced due to him not trusting in God – this happens when we don’t believe God’s word and we start to scheme.
Things were tough in the land of Israel or Canaan as it was then, and his sheep were struggling and so he went off to Egypt.
Egypt is a picture of the world.
It seems more attractive, you can get what you want there but what you also find is trouble of your own making.
So, Abram was now, in effect, in 13:1 deported from Egypt.
What was he doing in Egypt to start with?
This was not the Promised Land but Abram, the man of faith, had his moment of doubt.
Now the only way to get back right with God is go back to where you were in fellowship with Him.
But even though it seems he should not have been there God had appeared to him.
Abram: Man of God.
V.1-4
Now he comes back to the place where he first pitched a tent and where God had spoken to him and told him that He would give his descendants this land.
Going into Egypt is perhaps symbolic of going into sin but once he had been chastised he came back to the place God first spoke to him and called upon Him.
This is what we have to get.
Go back to the place you were in fellowship with God and He will bring you back into fellowship.
As we heard this morning chastisement and God putting the pruning knife on us is painful but once afflicted we are quick to get back to how things should be and we get in line with the purposes of God.
Lot on the other hand didn’t learn and continued to desire the things of Egypt as we shall see.
Abram: Man of Peace & Charity (You go to left or right) v5-13
Through no fault of their own the land could not sustain both Abram and Lot together and strife reared its head among their shepherds.
Both Abram and Lot have become very wealthy but the cattle that they have cannot graze the same land and water sources were poor.
Now the shepherds start fighting with each other in the presence of the heathen and when this type of thing goes on between Christians in front of the world it ruins our witness.
This is not as uncommon as you might think – gossip and backbiting going on – it ruins our witness in the world.
We are called to love one another.
And so, solutions need to be found for very real problems and there is a need for selflessness.
So Abram, on the basis that they were related, said ‘let there be no strife between us’ and then gives a solution to their predicament.
You go one way, I go the other.
You go Left, I go right.
You go east I go west.
What is more – I let you choose which way you want to go.
Now this is the Abram of faith!
What a man was Abram!
Such charity!
Such selflessness!
Letting Lot choose which way and having peace in himself that it will all work out – He was now trusting in the Word God had given to Him earlier in chapter 12, which said:
and finally he was doing something about the first thing he was told in verse 1:
He had hardly got away from his family seeing Lot and his lot come with him.
It would have been better to tell Lot to stay at home in Ur.
And so there was trouble with the family for there was no room.
However, the trust Abram had in his God and His Word had finally caught a hold of him.
Indeed, he would have claimed the promise found in
Except he knew this of God through experience.
Abram was now completely reliant upon the Lord and relaxed about decisions others make.
And in this case we see that Abram is the peacemaker – there are so many disputes between families other things, especially about money.
Money in families can cause a lot of pain especially when it comes to contesting wills.
We say it’s not fair!
Not trusting in our God and in allowing ourselves to be used.
Let God repay!! Instead of blessing we curse.
(And by the way I wrote the first draft of this sermon 9 years ago)
So, Lot went east to Jordan where it is well watered and was like the garden of the Lord.
Abram bore in mind the scripture, though not written then but was written in his heart:
in allowing Lot his choice.
We should learn to be at peace as Abram.
We should take note that Lot’s decision to go there was based upon how things looked.
Notice it said in the text that it was like the garden of the Lord before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
We need to base our future on what God’s says not on what we think or what others think.
This is putting into practice
There are three types of people in the world: the unsaved, the carnal Christian and the spiritual Christian.
We see here with Lot that in verse 10 he looked towards Sodom, in verse 11+12 he moved towards Sodom and then in 14v12 he moved into Sodom.
Be careful of where you put your eyes.
Lot lifted up his eyes and saw Sodom and Jordan but did not lift his eyes to Heaven.
Notice the progression to sin from seeing from afar, to drawing near, to living in.
Sodom was well known for its sexual sin and from this, Scripture tells us, we are to flee not run to.
Abram: Man of the Promise v14-18
Despite the fact that Lot took to the land of the East, God promised all the land that Abram could see including where Lot went.
Then Abram was to do the walk of faith – literally!
He had to walk throughout the whole land to the boundaries thereof.
This promise was not based upon Abram believing nor was it conditional on any actions.
This promise was and is to be fulfilled.
We can see that present day Israel is occupying the land once promised to their ancient ancestor.
When God makes a promise He keeps it.
Israel, despite what we think of the country, is in its rightful place among the nations.
In fact, we know that Israel should be occupying more of the land than it currently has.
This should colour, in part, what we think of the Palestinian problem.
We should also know the history of the area and not jump to conclusions based upon recent and not so recent media stories.
With that said we cannot condone wrong doing on any side when we are shown that there is proof and we should seek, as Christians, to bring righteousness and justice.
Abram: Man of War
In the next chapter war broke out...
Then there was war.
The war was not of Abram’s or Lot’s making but a rebellion started against the King who was in power at that time.
Sometimes we are caught up in situations that are not of our making – life is not always fair and why should we as Christians think that life is not going to treat us the same?
James says: Count it all joy.
Trials and temptations will come to us.
In this world you will have trouble but Jesus says: Don’t worry.
I have overcome the world.
Not always good things happen to us.
We are not promised an easy life, indeed, it seems we are promised the exact opposite.
Now Abram hears some disturbing news: his nephew Lot has been taken captive by King Chedorlaomer and the other kings.
Whilst I said that the war was not of Lot’s making, the fact that he was there in Sodom put him in harm’s way and takes us back to the original decision of going East based upon how things look.
On hearing, Abram immediately sets off with 318 trained men and goes off after the army and defeats them and brings back Lot along with the other people who had been taken captive.
Abram would not have got involved in this war if his nephew was not involved.
Why should he get involved?
Lot has been a pain ever since he left his father.
So why would Abram risk his life for his nephew?
The only reason can be love.
He loved the unlovely.
This was love without condition.
Abram travelled 120 miles to save him out of the King’s hand.
And do you know what?
Lot went back to his worldly ways afterwards by going back among people who vexed him.
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