- Scripture: Genesis 13:1–13:18
- The Anchor: “Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me… 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.'” – Genesis 13:8–9
After coming out of Egypt, Abram, Sarai, and Lot moved back to the land from Bethel to Ai, which was to be the promised land. There was a conflict between the herders of Abram’s sheep and the herders of Lot’s sheep, so Abram and Lot decided to distance themselves. Abram was generous and let Lot choose his half of the land, while Abram took the other half. Lot saw that the side of Sodom and Gomorrah was materialistically good, so he took that side. After they separated, God promised Abram again that his descendants would inhabit all of the land, and that Abram would have descendants as many as the dust on the earth. God then told Abram to walk through the land that he was to inherit, and Abram did that.
Abram’s decision to let Lot choose the land first is a great example of the phrase “Walk by faith, not by sight.” Lot saw that the land was good in his worldly eyes, but he overlooked the sin, which will be revealed in later chapters. On the other hand, Abram let Lot choose whichever side he wanted because Abram trusted that God would provide for him whichever side he ended up with. We often want to be in charge of what we do and the decisions that we make. Very rarely do we trust in God’s great plan, which He already has for each and every one of us.
Also, God told Abram to walk on the land that he was given. We have a huge physical world that we live in, but God also provided us with spiritual land. If we think about it, there is still so much to uncover and explore about our faith and about God’s word. I want to continue to explore the Bible with new eyes and walk through the vast land that God has given us.
Reflection
- Lot chose his path based on what looked materialistically good, while Abram chose to walk by faith. When you are making decisions about your future, your schedule, or your goals, how often do you catch yourself choosing based purely on “worldly eyes” rather than trusting God’s plan?
- The passage challenges us to actively “walk through the land” of our faith to uncover more of God’s word. Looking at your routine this year—even in the middle of school, spending time with friends, or planning big events—what are some practical ways you can explore the Bible with fresh eyes?
Prayer
Lord, help me to walk by faith and not by sight, trusting You so deeply that I don’t feel the need to constantly control every outcome or decision. Thank You for the vast spiritual land You have given me to explore, and thank You for being silently present in every single moment of my day. Amen.