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Genesis Chapter 13 "Separation of Lot; Manifestation of the Land." This Bible Study is
written by Roger Christopherson, and it's transcription/ location Genesis 13:1 "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south." Abram was a very rich man with a good standard of living. Genesis 13:2 "And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." Genesis 13:3 "And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;" This shows us that the famine is over, and God has given Abram much experience, and many riches for his family. Yet, Abram still trusts and obeys God. Genesis 13:4 "Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord." When Abram arrived in the land of Canaan the first time before the famine, he built an altar to the Lord. Now that Abram is returning from Egypt, he went to this place of his first altar, to offer sacrifices to God again. While in Egypt, the term "at the first", from the Hebrew text, indicates that Abram did not worship while in Egypt. Now that he is back in Canaan, back home, he returned to the altar and worship that he had done before. Keep in mind that through the drought and the famine, Abram gained many riches, and Abram was thankful to God for his gain. He knew where his blessings came from. All things work for the good for them that love the Lord. Genesis 13:5 "And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents." Even Lot was blessed in Egypt. Genesis 13:6 "And the land was not able to bear them that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together." Lot and Abram had so many cattle that the grass on the land could not feed them. Sometimes we are blessed so much that it causes division in the family. This is one of God's ways of spreading out His family. Genesis 13:7 "And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: (and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwell then in the land)." Why was; "(and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dewll in the land)", given? Because the Canaanites and the Perizzites are from the fallen angels, they are "Nephilim". Here we see the same old influx of angels and their offspring that happened back to the daughters of men in Genesis six. Back then they were giving in marriage; and Satan is again using his angels to penetrate into Abrams family. Even though there wasn't enough grazing land, the real trouble started when the "Canaanites and Perizzites" came on the scene. This is another attack on the lineage, or bloodline of the coming Messiah. Genesis 13:8 "And Abram said unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I prey thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren." Abram told Lot that this is not a problem to cause a strife within their family. Abram reminded Lot that they were not like these foreigners; the Canaanites and Perrizzites, so lets not argue. It even happens today in all Christian homes, Satan will attack Christian families to cause strife. When it happens, be calm and do something about it. Recognize that the root of the problem is Satan, and deal with it. We have the power given by God to order Satan and his angels out of our lives. Genesis 13:9 "Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." Abram knows God will provide for him, and it doesn't matter where he is, so Abram gives Lot his choice of the land. Genesis 13:10 "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar." When Lot looked at the lush land and green grass around the river Jordan, it wasn't even a guess where Lot was going. Lot was going to an advantage over Abram. This location along the Jordan is where Sodom and Gomorrah are, and at this time they were growing cities. Along with the city life, Lot will see the crime and corruption within Sodom. Genesis 13:11 "Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other." Lot took the best of the land. Genesis 13:12 "Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." We will see in later that this was a bad choice. These cities were starting to mix with the "Nephilim", and were strongholds for that type of sin, that we call "Sodomy" today. This term "wicked sinners" in the Hebrew text is "Ra-a", which is from the root, "injurious to others, evil, and moral depravity and corruption." "Sinners" in the Hebrew test, as used here, is "Zimmah"; "meditated wickedness, designed to be wicked, for lewd purpose, the sins of unchastity." We will see more and more as "the time of the end" draws near, it will become as it was in the days both in the days of Noah, and as it was in Sodom and Gomorrah, for Jerusalem in the end times is called Sodom, and Babylon. As this comes about, it will be God Himself that will protect His own, and our fight and battles, of His elect, will be His fight. We are to arm ourselves for the spiritual battle, for the physical battle is the Lord's. At the appointed time, all evil rudiments will be destroyed, just as God eliminated the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighboring towns. God doesn't need atomic weapons to fight the battles, but He will use His own power, and His nature itself. Genesis 13:13 "(But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.) After Lot had departed from Abram, then God dealt personally with Abram. Genesis 13:14 "And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated form him, "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:" This promise is an everlasting covenant to all the tribes that haven't even been born at the time of the promise. The covenant is an unconditional covenant that will become reality in the Millennium age, and on into eternity. Wherever true Israel travels, they will posses this gift of God, and God will bless His people. This blessing is extended not only to the two tribes of the "House of Judah" [the Jews], but especially to the "House of Israel", the ten tribes that were scattered in 722 B.C. The prophet Hosea identifies how to know the identity of the "House of Israel" Hosea 1:10; "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." The Christian nations of today have a huge population base, and in that place where they are calling themselves "Gentiles", ["not My people"] they deny themselves to be Israelites. Friend, the "living God" is Jesus Christ, and those that are sons of the living God are called "Christians". In verse fifteen God has promised His blessings to go even to the end generation, and it is well known that the Christian Nations of today are well blessed. Genesis 13:15 "For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever." Genesis 13:16 "And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." This promise is alive today, and our Heavenly Father does keep His Word. Genesis 13:17 "Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." Genesis 13:18 "Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord." Abram moved again to to the fertile plain of Mamre, to the place called "Hebron". When God blessed him again after his move, Abram again built another altar to God for worship and sacrifice. Today the Holy Spirit is with us and in us, and our place of worship and praise is wherever we are placed, and happen to be. We are to revere God in all that we do, at all times.
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