Chapter 12 of Genesis opens with God giving a man named Abram (later to be known as Abraham) specific instructions along with several promises.
Genesis 12:1-3 "Now the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself away from your country, from your relatives, and your father's house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing. And I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you; in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
Then verse 4 says "So Abram departed, as the Lord had directed him; and Lot (his nephew) went with him." Lot, a relative ... one that Abram was supposed to leave behind went with him. Maybe it was Lot's idea, or maybe Abram's, or perhaps someone else. We are never told. We just know Abram didn't do exactly what God told him to do.
Then verse 4 says "So Abram departed, as the Lord had directed him; and Lot (his nephew) went with him." Lot, a relative ... one that Abram was supposed to leave behind went with him. Maybe it was Lot's idea, or maybe Abram's, or perhaps someone else. We are never told. We just know Abram didn't do exactly what God told him to do.
God had blessed both men abundantly but eventually strife broke out between Abram and Lot's herdsmen over grazing land for their multitude of livestock. We then see Abram tell Lot to choose the land he wants and to depart from him. Lot chooses the Jordan Valley and resides near Sodom while Abram resides in the land of Canaan. Although Lot departs, this is not the end of the impact of Lot on Abram's life.
However, Genesis 13:14-16 tells us what God has to say after Lot departs. "The Lord said to Abram after Lot had left him, Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your posterity forever. And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted." Notice how similar these words are to the original words God spoke to Abram back in Genesis 12:1-2. But notice too that God does not speak these things until AFTER Lot leaves; after Abram is back in complete obedience to God's plan.
You see, Abram had a Lot in his life. It was not a divinely assigned lot. It was a self assigned lot. It was never God's intention for Lot to go with Abram. Aside from the family conflict and strife over grazing lands, the affects of Abram's self-appointed lot would reach much further. We later see Abram rescuing the people and possessions of the kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah which included Lot and his family from King Chedorlaomer and his forces. (Gen. 14:1-16) In Chapter 19 of Genesis we read about Abram's pleading with God to spare Sodom from destruction. (I'm certain the fact that this was where Lot and his family lived had something to do with it.) Angels are sent to help the family escape, but not before Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt. Poor and destitute, Lot and his daughters live in a cave and resort to incestuous relationships. The family strife between Abram and Lot continue with Abram's descendants (Israel) and Lot's descendants (the Moabites and the Ammonites). (Gen. 19:36-38) However, in God's faithfulness to restore families, He later reconciles these groups through the marriage of Ruth, the Moabitess and Boaz, the descendant of Judah. (Ruth 4:13, 18-22) Truly amazing how God works, isn't it?! But also quite eye-opening and humbling that the decisions we make that run contrary to God's leading can have such disastrous implications.
So how did this all happen? Why does this patriarch of the faith, not give full heed to God's original instructions? Why would he allow Lot to come with him? It seems completely out of Abram's character. As I said before, we are never given an answer, however if we take a look back at the end of Genesis 11 we are given some clues that can help us deduce the possible reasons why. You ready? Here we go.
In Genesis 11:27-31 we are told about the family of Terah, Abram's father. Terah has three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran is the father of Lot and is deceased. We also learn that Nahor has a wife and children and that Abram and his wife, Sarai (later to be known as Sarah), have no children because she is barren. Terah decides to leave Ur of the Chaldees and go to Canaan. He takes with him Lot, Abram, and Sarai ... obviously leaving Nahor and his family behind. However, when they reach Haran they "settle there."
There are three fascinating points to be seen here. First, since Abram and Sarai had no children and Lot's father was deceased, it is likely that in order to fill the emptiness in Abram's home and the brokenness of Lot's heart, Abram and Sarai took Lot under their wing as a son. Over and over again God speaks to Abram about his posterity, about making him a great nation, about his numerous descendants. They could have easily mistaken Lot as the descendant all these promises would come through. But once Abram asks Lot to leave, God reiterates His plan of descendants through Abram. They would later be tempted again to make a human way for all this to happen. His name is Ishmael. No, neither Lot nor Ishmael could be a substitute for Isaac.
Second, I personally find it very interesting that Terah feels led to leave Ur of Chaldees and go to Canaan. Canaan ... the very place God eventually leads Abram. Canaan ... the very land that is promised to his descendants, the people of Israel. All this leads me to wonder if God spoke to Terah about Canaan long before He spoke to Abram about it. The fact that Canaan is the hopeful destination of Terah and eventual destination of Abram is no coincidence, but obviously, this side of heaven, I'll never know. (*Amendment from original post ... I always want to be sure to correct myself if I am wrong, and as of this morning's Bible study, I have learned two new things that shed contrasting light to this point. Joshua 24:2 states that Terah worshipped other gods clearly indicating that Terah never heard from the Lord concerning Canaan. Both Genesis 15:7 and Acts 7:2 back this up. This is why it's so important to be in corporate study that's being taught by someone who went to seminary!)
Thirdly, and to me the most profound point, Terah wanted to go to Canaan, yet the Bible says "but when they came to Haran, they settled there." (Gen. 11:31) I hardly find it coincidental that the name of the place he "settled" was the same name as his son who died - Haran. Some may think I am reading too much into this, but I don't think so. I think this is so symbolic of our human nature to get stuck in life's most devastating disappointments. In our brokenness and deep grief we can become willing to settle instead of pressing on to what lies ahead. (Phil. 3:13-14) Haran might of been good, but Canaan was God's best. Terah allowed himself to get stuck, and believe me, I say that without an ounce of condemnation as I can clearly see my own Harans. I believe it is very possible that Abram saw this in his father and couldn't bare to leave Lot behind. Terah was stuck in the loss of his son, and Lot could've easily become stuck there too, in the loss of his father.
All of this has spoken so intimately and profoundly to my heart about carefully examining my perceived lots in life. Are the things I am engaged in God ordained lots or self-assigned lots? Have I taken on a lot out of obligation or out of a genuine calling? Has the season of a God ordained lot passed, but I have not let it go? Am I doing things because they look right or seem fair, or am I actively pursuing God's will and being obedient to it regardless of my perception? Because really the bottom line is this, we can do a thing and it can be good but not necessarily God. However, if we will wait on Him and do His thing in His timing it will be God's very best. I do not want my impatience or human rationalization to keep me from God's best. I want to be obedient. And although all of that convicts my spirit, I am also ever aware and grateful for God's amazing grace. The same grace that is evident in Abram's life long before the age of grace was ushered in through Jesus Christ.
So how is it that a man who stumbled in so many ways was still so blessed? Was it because of God's grace? Was it because he was chosen? Was it because God made it so? Was it because God's nature is to be loving, compassionate, and merciful? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. But there is something else worth pointing out about this great man. He was pure of heart. How do I know that, you might ask? Through the course of Abraham's life, God appears to him many times. What does the Bible say about those who see God? Here are the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." And what do we know about how the Lord sees man? 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." In spite of the outward mistakes, God saw a heart that was pure of motive and fully devoted to Him. I believe this made all the difference, not only in Abraham's life, but in yours and mine as well.
Can I tell you how grateful I am for this account in Genesis and even more grateful to see this righteous and yet flawed man that would emerge out of the pages of Genesis and graduate to the Great Hall of Faith found in Hebrews Chapter 11?! I don't know about you but this tattered, torn, and weary woman needs to see that faith works in tandem with the faithfulness of God. He is the very source of our faith ... the Author and Finisher of it! He ever goes before us to make a way. He uses our mistakes to teach us, opposition to refine us, obstacles to strengthen us, and in our missteps He faithfully re-positions us to bring us right back to the blessing He has prepared, promised, and waiting for us all along. Let us be obedient to His call but know without a shadow of a doubt that His grace is truly sufficient to cover our mistakes. "He earnestly remembers and imprints on His heart that we are dust," and boy, am I one thankful human that He does! (Ps. 103:14)
In Genesis 11:27-31 we are told about the family of Terah, Abram's father. Terah has three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran is the father of Lot and is deceased. We also learn that Nahor has a wife and children and that Abram and his wife, Sarai (later to be known as Sarah), have no children because she is barren. Terah decides to leave Ur of the Chaldees and go to Canaan. He takes with him Lot, Abram, and Sarai ... obviously leaving Nahor and his family behind. However, when they reach Haran they "settle there."
There are three fascinating points to be seen here. First, since Abram and Sarai had no children and Lot's father was deceased, it is likely that in order to fill the emptiness in Abram's home and the brokenness of Lot's heart, Abram and Sarai took Lot under their wing as a son. Over and over again God speaks to Abram about his posterity, about making him a great nation, about his numerous descendants. They could have easily mistaken Lot as the descendant all these promises would come through. But once Abram asks Lot to leave, God reiterates His plan of descendants through Abram. They would later be tempted again to make a human way for all this to happen. His name is Ishmael. No, neither Lot nor Ishmael could be a substitute for Isaac.
Second, I personally find it very interesting that Terah feels led to leave Ur of Chaldees and go to Canaan. Canaan ... the very place God eventually leads Abram. Canaan ... the very land that is promised to his descendants, the people of Israel. All this leads me to wonder if God spoke to Terah about Canaan long before He spoke to Abram about it. The fact that Canaan is the hopeful destination of Terah and eventual destination of Abram is no coincidence, but obviously, this side of heaven, I'll never know. (*Amendment from original post ... I always want to be sure to correct myself if I am wrong, and as of this morning's Bible study, I have learned two new things that shed contrasting light to this point. Joshua 24:2 states that Terah worshipped other gods clearly indicating that Terah never heard from the Lord concerning Canaan. Both Genesis 15:7 and Acts 7:2 back this up. This is why it's so important to be in corporate study that's being taught by someone who went to seminary!)
Thirdly, and to me the most profound point, Terah wanted to go to Canaan, yet the Bible says "but when they came to Haran, they settled there." (Gen. 11:31) I hardly find it coincidental that the name of the place he "settled" was the same name as his son who died - Haran. Some may think I am reading too much into this, but I don't think so. I think this is so symbolic of our human nature to get stuck in life's most devastating disappointments. In our brokenness and deep grief we can become willing to settle instead of pressing on to what lies ahead. (Phil. 3:13-14) Haran might of been good, but Canaan was God's best. Terah allowed himself to get stuck, and believe me, I say that without an ounce of condemnation as I can clearly see my own Harans. I believe it is very possible that Abram saw this in his father and couldn't bare to leave Lot behind. Terah was stuck in the loss of his son, and Lot could've easily become stuck there too, in the loss of his father.
All of this has spoken so intimately and profoundly to my heart about carefully examining my perceived lots in life. Are the things I am engaged in God ordained lots or self-assigned lots? Have I taken on a lot out of obligation or out of a genuine calling? Has the season of a God ordained lot passed, but I have not let it go? Am I doing things because they look right or seem fair, or am I actively pursuing God's will and being obedient to it regardless of my perception? Because really the bottom line is this, we can do a thing and it can be good but not necessarily God. However, if we will wait on Him and do His thing in His timing it will be God's very best. I do not want my impatience or human rationalization to keep me from God's best. I want to be obedient. And although all of that convicts my spirit, I am also ever aware and grateful for God's amazing grace. The same grace that is evident in Abram's life long before the age of grace was ushered in through Jesus Christ.
So how is it that a man who stumbled in so many ways was still so blessed? Was it because of God's grace? Was it because he was chosen? Was it because God made it so? Was it because God's nature is to be loving, compassionate, and merciful? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. But there is something else worth pointing out about this great man. He was pure of heart. How do I know that, you might ask? Through the course of Abraham's life, God appears to him many times. What does the Bible say about those who see God? Here are the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." And what do we know about how the Lord sees man? 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." In spite of the outward mistakes, God saw a heart that was pure of motive and fully devoted to Him. I believe this made all the difference, not only in Abraham's life, but in yours and mine as well.
Can I tell you how grateful I am for this account in Genesis and even more grateful to see this righteous and yet flawed man that would emerge out of the pages of Genesis and graduate to the Great Hall of Faith found in Hebrews Chapter 11?! I don't know about you but this tattered, torn, and weary woman needs to see that faith works in tandem with the faithfulness of God. He is the very source of our faith ... the Author and Finisher of it! He ever goes before us to make a way. He uses our mistakes to teach us, opposition to refine us, obstacles to strengthen us, and in our missteps He faithfully re-positions us to bring us right back to the blessing He has prepared, promised, and waiting for us all along. Let us be obedient to His call but know without a shadow of a doubt that His grace is truly sufficient to cover our mistakes. "He earnestly remembers and imprints on His heart that we are dust," and boy, am I one thankful human that He does! (Ps. 103:14)
