Abram’s Faith
Text: Genesis 13
Core Idea: God is calling us to walk by faith, not by sight – to cling to His promises as we worship through it all. Yes, there will be times when we stumble. But let’s not allow those struggles to push us away from Him. Instead, let’s keep running to God, knowing that everything we truly need and long for is found in Him alone.
INTRODUCTION
Well, we are going through the Book of Genesis – looking at how God’s salvation plan for the world all began. And last week, we saw that Abram, who once displayed great faith by leaving behind all that was familiar to obey God’s call, lost sight of the Lord in the moment of fear and hardship. Even though he was exactly where God wanted him to be, a famine led him to abandon the land and go down to Egypt, for he believed that this was the only way to protect his family. Instead of seeking God’s guidance or trusting in His provision, Abram chose what seemed best in his own eyes. Now, when he was close to Egypt, fear once again took hold of him, for he was terrified that the Egyptians would kill him and take Sarai if they found out she was his wife. So, he asked her to lie for him – to say that she was his sister. Sometimes it’s hard to be shocked by Scripture because we’ve read it so many times – but this is one of those moments that should stop us in our tracks. Think about it. Abram, the man chosen by God, prioritized his own safety over his wife’s well-being. In the face of a threat, he was more concerned about preserving his own life rather than protecting his wife – and the result was detrimental. Because of Abram’s foolish and reckless decision, Sarai had to bear the consequences as she was left vulnerable and terrified in Pharaoh’s palace. But just when it seemed like all hope was gone, God intervened. God struck Pharaoh’s household with serious plagues – forcing him to release Sarai and send them away. And if that wasn’t good enough, they left Egypt with more than they came in with, for Pharaoh didn’t take back the gifts he had given Abram when he took Sarai into his household. Then, what happened after this? How did Abram respond to this amazing grace? That’s what we’re going to find out today. So, with that in mind, please turn to Genesis 13 – and I’ll read this for us.
1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. 3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. 14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” 18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me share three things from this passage:
· TURNING BACK TO GOD
· TENSION IN THE LAND
· TESTIMONY OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
1) TURNING BACK TO GOD
Again, verses 1-2 show us just how gracious God is. Abram didn’t just survive Egypt – he left with his wife and even greater wealth. Even though he had done nothing to deserve such mercy, God’s steadfast love remained with him. And I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through Abram’s mind as he left Egypt. “Was he discouraged, thinking back to all the ways he failed? Was he weighed down by his guilt and shame for letting Sarai suffer the consequences of his foolish decision? Was he vowing to himself that he would never make the same mistake again? Could it be that his heart was just filled with gratitude, knowing it was God who stepped in to save them? Or is it possible that he was beginning to drift – being tempted to rely on his newfound wealth rather than on the Lord? How did Abram respond after his failure?” Verses 3-4 give us the answer. Now, to understand the significance of this text, let me take you back to the journey Abram took to reach the Promised Land in the first place. I’ve provided a map to help you visualize it. Abram began in Ur (which you’ll see on the far right), moved up to Haran, where his father died, and he continued on until he reached the land of Canaan, where God called him to be. I’m actually going to read from Genesis 12, but please keep the map on the screen so that everyone can trace Abram’s footsteps as I read this. Genesis 12:6-9, “Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem… From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.” With this in mind, let me read verse 3 of our text again – but remember, here, he’s coming out of Egypt. “From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.” Abram didn’t run away in fear, try to hide in shame, or beat himself up in guilt. Instead, he carefully retraced his steps to the very place where he first called on the name of the Lord – where he once worshiped and honored God. Do you see that? In other words, he went back to where it all started, in that he returned to God. Now, the fact that he went to the altar implies that he confessed his sin and offered atoning sacrifices to the Lord. And what’s truly amazing is that God didn’t reject him or withdraw His promises. He didn’t say, “How dare you show your face after all that you’ve done? Since you chose Egypt over Me, I’m going to reject you as well. In fact, I’m going to find somebody else to replace you – someone who won’t let Me down like you.” No, He reaffirmed His promise, as we’ll later see in the chapter – implying that God really did forgive Abram. And his faith was renewed. Abram went back to God – and found God already waiting for him with His arms open wide.
Brothers and sisters, do you find yourself in sin and failure? Are you crushed by the weight of your guilt and shame? Is your heart full of regrets for all that you’ve done and all that you haven’t done this past week? Are you still thinking about the things you shouldn’t have seen, the words you shouldn’t have said, and the decisions that you shouldn’t have made? Are you grieving about the way you treated your family, friends, or co-workers? Are you discouraged that you continue to find yourself committing the same sin over and over again? If so, it’s time to return to the Lord. Retrace your steps to where it all began – at the foot of the cross. The truth is that when we sin or fall short, we usually react in one of two ways. We either minimize it and say, “It wasn’t that bad – I don’t need to bring this to God,” or we magnify it and say, “That was so bad – how could I possibly go back to God after all that I’ve done? At least, not right now. I need to first feel the consequences of my sin before I ask for His forgiveness.” But in both cases, the result is the same – we stay away from God. James Boice said, “Abram was willing to admit that it was sin and confess it to God. Unfortunately, many Christians who sin do not do this. They try to cover it up and are therefore never restored to the joy of their initial conversion. How foolish we are to fail in this. The devil will tell us that we have sinned and can never go back, but God is the God of new beginnings. Someone has said that he is the God of the second chance. But He is even more gracious than this. He is the God, not merely of the second chance, but of the seventy-second chance or the hundred and seventy-second chance. The only way to get back into the will of God is to go back to the very cause of the departure, confess it, forsake it, and return to the place of fellowship.” Then, friends, let’s do that today – let’s go back to God, for He’s waiting for you. He longs to forgive you, restore you, and make you new. How do I know this? Because the Bible tells us that God is our heavenly Father. He not only created you, but He loves you and cares for you. There’s a beautiful passage in Hosea 11:7-9, which records the words of God against the sinful Israelites – He said, “My people are determined to turn from Me. Even though they call Me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? My heart is changed within Me; all My compassion is aroused. I will not carry out My fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God – the Holy One among you.” Even when we come to Him right after our failure, He won’t reject us, for His heart goes out to us in compassion. He won’t give up on us, for we are His and He is ours. But here’s another reason we can confidently return to God – because of what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. Because He died in our place, we can be assured that God will not condemn us when we come to Him in our failure. In fact, if God were to withhold forgiveness, He would be considered unjust, for the full penalty for our sins has already been paid by Jesus. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” So, turn your eyes to the cross. Cry out to the One who gave Himself for you. Meditate on the implications of the cross. And let the message of the cross refresh your soul, restore your hope, and renew your faith today.
2) TENSION IN THE LAND
What’s interesting is that this passage begins in a way that resembles the start of the previous one in Chapter 12. If you remember, Abram sinned against God and trusted in his own wisdom when the Promised Land failed to provide food during a famine. Now, in our text, the Promised Land appears to fail him again. Verse 5, “Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.” Right after Abram repents and returns to the Lord, he faces another test. If the famine was a test of adversity, this is a test of prosperity in that troubles came because both Abram and Lot had too much. I once heard someone say, “I’ve been more bossed by my fortune than I’ve bossed it.” Isn’t this so true? It often feels like our wealth controls us more than we control it. It shapes our schedules, influences our decisions, and even strains our relationships and ambitions. Matthew Henry captures the weight of this truth when he wrote, “There is a burden of care in getting wealth, fear in keeping wealth, temptation in using wealth, guilt in abusing wealth, and sorrow in losing wealth, and a burden of giving an account at the end on Judgment Day concerning the wealth.” In other words, wealth brings its own kind of struggle – a spiritual test that prosperity often conceals. That’s exactly what we see in our text today – conflict broke out between the herders of Abram and Lot. And as a result, it left them vulnerable – especially with the Canaanites and Perizzites still in the land. Think about it. These local inhabitants probably saw Abram and Lot as intruders to their land – which means that they were waiting for this division to weaken them so that they could drive them out. Then, the question is, “How will Abram respond?”
Well, Abram had three options. The first option was to suggest that they both leave in search of new land that could support their growing households. This would allow them to stay together as a family and continue expanding their wealth. But choosing this path would mean abandoning the land God had called Abram to – which means that it would be a step away from obedience. The second option was to assert his authority. Abram could’ve said to Lot, “I’m older than you. I’m your uncle. So, let me have the first dip. I’ll choose the best portion of land, and you can take the leftover.” This would allow Abram to remain in the land of promise and continue prospering. But it would most likely damage his relationship with Lot, for he was an ambitious man, as we’ll see later. Thankfully, Abram didn’t do either. Instead, he chose the third option, which was to give Lot the first choice – he was going to take the leftover. Now, could Lot have taken the land God promised to Abram? Possibly. But Abram wasn’t questioning God’s promises anymore. He chose to trust God – believing that God would make a way no matter what happened. This is important because it clearly shows us that Abram’s repentance at Bethel was real. It wasn’t a shallow confession of “oh, I’m sorry I got caught.” Rather, it was a genuine confession of “I’ve sinned against the Almighty God – I deserve nothing but Your wrath.” And when he experienced God’s forgiveness, he was a different man. This doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t sin again – he will. In fact, he would commit the same sin again in Genesis 20. But for now, with a renewed and strengthened faith, Abram was able to overcome the love of money and cling to God’s promises. For the sake of honoring God and preserving his relationship with Lot, he loosened his grip on wealth and gave it away generously.
What about Lot? How did he respond? Verse 10, “Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east.” If you’ve been with us in this sermon series, this pattern might sound familiar. Let me explain. In Genesis 3, Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eye and good for food – so she took it and ate. In Genesis 6, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful – so they took them as wives. In fact, there are so many other examples of this in the Bible. In Joshua 7, Achan saw a beautiful robe from Babylonia – so he took it. In 2 Samuel 11, David saw a beautiful woman bathing – so he sent messengers to get her. Do you see the pattern? They saw that something was good, and they took it for themselves. In other words, they walked by sight, not by faith. And that’s exactly what Lot was doing here. When he saw the land that seemed to be well watered, that resembled the garden of the Lord (likely a reference to the Garden of Eden), that reminded him of Egypt (a place of abundance even in times of famine), he claimed it for himself. He wasn’t thinking about God. He wasn’t thinking about the well-being of Abram or the relationship with him. He only thought about himself. Now, what Lot didn’t realize was that this choice marked the beginning of his downfall. In fact, the author of Genesis hints at this when he writes in verse 10, “This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.” And verse 13, “Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.” Lot was so captivated by what he saw that he failed to see the danger of settling near such a corrupt city. Now, some might say, “But Lot didn’t move into Sodom. He only pitched his tents near Sodom.” That’s true. But as the story unfolds, we’ll see Lot steadily drifting. In Chapter 14, Lot is no longer near Sodom – he’s living in it. And by Chapter 19, he’s sitting at the city gate – implying that he had become one of the leaders in Sodom. When Lot started to live by sight, he kept walking down that path until he found himself fully immersed in a life of sin. Now, some of you might be wondering, “Then, what should Lot have done?” Well, maybe, instead of looking around and calculating, he should’ve dropped his face in prayer. Instead of relying on his own judgment, he should have sought God’s wisdom and direction – because who knows? God could’ve said, “Stay with Abram because I’m going to provide for both of you.” Or “Don’t go near Sodom but go to the land I will show you.” But he chose to trust himself. I think the biggest irony is that Lot went east because the land looked like the garden of the Lord – but the Lord Himself was not there. He wanted the gifts, but not the Giver – and yet, that didn’t seem to matter. Driven by desire, Lot chased after what he saw. And just like Sarai, Lot’s wife and daughters would later bear the consequences of his foolish and self-centered decision.
What does this mean for us? Well, it reminds us that tests and temptations don’t disappear just because we’ve repented. Because we’re sinful, because the world we live in is full of wickedness, and because the devil is constantly seeking to lead us astray, our faith will continue to be tested. Again and again, we’ll face the temptation to walk by sight rather than by faith. Maybe that’s exactly where you are right now. You’ve recommitted your heart to God, but you keep finding yourself being tempted to follow your own instincts – to do what seems right in your own eyes, or what everyone else in the world is doing. Whether it’s how you approach your career, raise your children, or manage your money, the pressure is real. If this is you, guard your heart and turn to the One who longs to lead you in His wisdom and grace. It’s true that God’s instructions may not always make sense to us – in fact, sometimes, they may even appear foolish in the eyes of the world. For example, He might call you to give up a high-paying job in order to remain in your current role – freeing you to better serve your family and your church. He may ask you to let go of being right in an argument for the sake of preserving your marriage or a friendship. He may prompt you to prioritize your children’s spiritual growth over their extracurricular success. Or He may lead you to give generously (your money, time, and energy) so that others might flourish – even at your own cost. These choices may seem irrational from a worldly perspective, but they’re the kind of things that delight the heart of God. Then, brothers and sisters, what shapes and influences the most important decisions in your life? Are your choices guided by faith – or by what seems best to you at the moment? Don’t choose a career simply out of desperation for money. Don’t enter a romantic relationship just to escape loneliness. Don’t compromise your purity or integrity by watching things you know you shouldn’t. These things may appear attractive, like the garden of the Lord that Lot saw – but the Lord is not there. Instead, will you, like Abram, let go of your rights and bless others for the sake of honoring God and preserving peace with others? Will you choose to live by Kingdom values rather than your worldly ambitions? For Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Then, walk by faith and rest in the promises of God, for that’s where you’ll find true peace and lasting security.
3) TESTIMONY OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
Look at what God calls Abram to do in verse 14 – “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” Earlier, we saw Lot looking around and deciding for himself where to go. But here, it’s God who instructs Abram to look around – promising that He will give the land to him. And only then did Abram look around. He didn’t nervously look around before offering Lot the first choice. He didn’t anxiously look around to see what was left for him after Lot made his decision. No, he waited until God called him to look around, for he had his eyes fixed on the promises of God. As I mentioned before, the truth is that God could’ve withdrawn His promises from Abram. He had every right to do so – but God didn’t. Instead, He reaffirmed His promise with even greater clarity – verse 16, “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.” Here, God wasn’t just promising Abram land. He was promising a legacy – a countless multitude of descendants. As I was preparing this message, I happened to look under my desk and found a layer of dust – so much that I wouldn’t have been able to count it. (Don’t worry, I cleaned it afterward.) But that’s the point. If we can’t even count the dust in one small space, imagine how staggering it is for God to say that Abram’s descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth. That’s the lavish grace and faithfulness of our God. But we can’t help but ask, “How can God continue to accept Abram? Why doesn’t He just move on – find someone more faithful and more obedient?” Well, the truth is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – so even if God had chosen someone else, they too would have failed. And yet, God remains patient and faithful – not because of anything in Abram, or in us, but because Someone else gave up everything so that we might gain everything. Jesus surrendered His rights so that we could become heirs of God. He gave up perfect fellowship with the Father so that we might be adopted as sons and daughters. He laid down His authority so that we might one day reign with Him. He gave up His glory so that we could be clothed in righteousness. Abram gave up only his wealth to preserve his relationship with Lot – but Jesus gave up everything to bring us into a relationship with God. This is why God didn’t give up on Abram – and this is why He won’t give up on you.
Then, let me ask you, “Are you having trouble dealing with your failure? Are you hesitant to run to God because of all that you’ve done? Are you worried that God might turn you away?” If so, look to the cross, for it’s the clearest and most powerful expression of His love for you. Through it, God is saying, “This is how much I love you. No matter how often you fail, I will never give up on you, for I am committed to you. Even when you are faithless, I will remain faithful.” Brothers and sisters, if you look back on your life, I’m sure you can clearly see the grace of God in that you received so much that you didn’t deserve. I’m sure you can clearly see the goodness of God in that He gave us far more than we could ever earn. I’m sure you can clearly see the providence of God in that He protected you when you were vulnerable, guided you when you were lost, and strengthened you when you were weak. As Tim Keller once said, “We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” Then, I want to invite you to look up and see what you have in Christ – and as you do, continue to walk in faith, knowing that you’ll, one day, inherit all things with Christ when He comes back in glory.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, God is calling us to walk by faith, not by sight – to cling to His promises as we worship through it all. Yes, there will be times when we stumble. But let’s not allow those struggles to push us away from Him. Instead, let’s keep running to God, knowing that everything we truly need and long for is found in Him alone.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) How do you typically respond after personal failure? Do you tend to minimize your sin, dwell in shame, or return to God in humility? Why do we often struggle to believe that God will welcome us after we’ve failed?
2) In what areas of your life are you tempted to “walk by sight” rather than by faith? Have you ever made a decision that seemed wise in your own eyes but later proved spiritually unwise? What did you learn from that experience?
3) In what ways have you experienced God’s faithfulness even after your failure? How does the cross give us confidence that God will never give up on us? How does reflecting on God’s past grace fuel your present faith?