Good Afternoon Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We continue the study of our Spiritual Patriarch and Matriarch, Abraham and Sarah. The previous email examined Abram’s and Sarai’s journey into Egypt. This email will look at Abram’s and Sarai’s time in Egypt and their leaving Egypt. It is all found in Genesis Chapter 13.
Why do we study Abraham and Sarah? 1.) because they are our spiritual patriarch and matriarch and 2) because they are examples unto us.
I Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
“Admonition” = “Gentle reproof; counseling against a fault; instruction in duties; caution; direction.”
“Reproof” = “to convince of a fault, or to make it manifest.”
God, our Father, through the Holy Spirit admonishes and reproves us from a position of love because He wants us to experience the very best in life – His very best, not our very best. And He DOES IT GENTLY AS A LOVING FATHER. God our Father is not the ornery old man on the throne that religion has taught us. He is a very caring and very loving Father Who wants His best for His children.
Genesis 13:1-2
1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
As was mentioned in previous teachings, Abram being reunited with Sarai represents “faith” being reunited with “grace.” Abram and Sarai leaving Egypt with all that they had and with the riches of Egypt, symbolic of the world, is prophetic of the Children of Israel leaving Egypt, led by Moses, and of US, as Believers, accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord, King, Savior, and Great High Priest.
Genesis 13:2, in the Hebrew, says, “And Abram was exceedingly wealthy in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
RICH – in ancient writings, an Arab Sheik was considered rich when he owned:
1.) One hundred to two hundred tents.
2.) Sixty to one hundred camels.
3.) One thousand sheep or goats.
Remember Abram was given sheep, oxen, he asses, menservants, maidservants, she asses, and camels in Genesis 12:16.
So, what Abram was given in Genesis 13:2 was also given to him in addition to what he received in Genesis 12:16. Notice Abram wasn’t given cattle, gold, or silver in Genesis 12:16.
Abram’s wealth represents the “wealth transfer” to come in when the Children of Israel left Egypt in the Exodus and the “wealth transfer” given to us as Believers as part of our salvation. We are the seed of Abraham through Jesus Christ. We have the right to be exceedingly wealthy (see Deuteronomy 8:18, Proverbs 13:22, Galatians 3:14, 29, and Philippians 4:19) so we can fulfill Genesis 12:2-3 as God has commanded us.
Riches and wealth are dirty words in religion. We have been taught for many years that “Money is the root of all evil.” The correct translation of the Scriptures says, “Money is A root of many kinds of evil.” Notice God, our Father’s, thoughts about physical prosperity.
Deuteronomy 8:18
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Notice that Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “that He [God] may establish His covenant which He sware unto they fathers….”
Is there anywhere in that Scripture where it says that “Abram” or “We,” as Believers, do anything? NO! ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE AND CONFESS. It has already been done for us by The Father through Jesus Christ. God establishes HIS covenant. God NEVER, EVER breaks His covenant with us through Jesus.
Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Notice Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth…” In the Hebrew it says, “for He it is who is giving to thee power to make wealth…”
The distinction between “to get” and “to make” is very significant. There are two important points with this part of Genesis 8:18:
1.) The “power” spoken of in Deuteronomy 8:18. “Power” = Hebrew word “koah” which means “the ability, the efficiency to make wealth.” God gives TO US the ability and the efficiency to make wealth.
2.) The difference between “get” and “make” wealth?
GET = “To procure; to obtain; to gain possession of, by almost any means.”
MAKE = “To create; to cause to exist; to form from nothing.” God made the materials of the earth and of all worlds.
WE MAKE WEALTH BY OUR SEEKING, BELIEVING, CONFESSING, THANKSGIVING, AND TESTIMONY. God made it perfectly clear in Genesis 12:2-3 when blessing Abram, that Abram was to be a blessing to others, to the families of the earth. You must first be blessed in order to be a blessing. God’s idea of being blessed is radically different than religion’s idea of being blessed. No wonder Jesus railed against the Pharisees – RELIGION.
AS GOD CREATED ALL GOOD GIFTS AND PERFECT GIFTS WITH HIS SPOKEN WORD THROUGH FAITH, GOD INSTRUCTS US TO DO THE SAME WITH OUR SPOKEN WORK, OR DECREES, IN FAITH.
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just [righteous].
Galatians 3:14, 29
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Abram returns to the location between Beth-el and Hai where he had originally camped and erected an altar to the LORD. Notice Abram again “preached in the name of Jehovah.”
Lot – name means “To conceal” or “To cover” in Hebrew.
Lot’s name is symbolic of today’s Believers who live with one foot in the world and one foot in the Spiritual realm. They try to straddle both realms in their thinking and actions.
Lot would “conceal” or “cover” The Truth with his carnal thoughts, words, and deeds.
The Hebrew says this type of Believer is a “two souled man.”
What does the Book of James tell us about a “two souled” or “double minded” man?
James 1:7
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Why will this man or woman not receive anything of the Lord?
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
If a Believer doesn’t ask in faith, the Believer will receive nothing from the Lord. It is this simple.
Genesis 13:5
And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
Lot is blessed by being with Abram. [other examples are Potiphar blessed by Joseph, Laban blessed by Jacob, and James, John, and Peter (fishing) blessed by being with Jesus]
II Peter 2:7-8
7 And delivered just [Hebrew says “righteous” rather than “just”] Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
“Vexed” = “Teased; provoked; irritated; troubled; agitated; disquieted; afflicted.”
LOT was greatly influenced by his environment, by his senses. He was very carnal.
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 dwelled then in the land.
STRIFE BETWEEN ABRAM’S AND LOT’S HERDMAN CAUSED BY THE CANAANITE AND PERIZZITE EVIL SPIRITS IN CANAAN [GENESIS 13:7].
Canaanite Spirit – sexual perversion, addiction, exaggerated people pleasing, and child sacrifice.
Perizzite Spirit – limited vision, laziness, low self-esteem
Purpose of these evil spirits in the land was to knock Abram and Sarai off the foundation of God’s Word, His promises, to them. Evil spirits were there to pull Abram and Sarai into the natural realm.
We won’t go there in this email, but this is described in Romans Chapter 1 by the Holy Spirit through Paul. The end result of these evil spirits is Romans 1:28.
Romans 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
“Reprobate” = “one who has lost their conviction of right and wrong. They don’t care even though they have not lost their knowledge of what is right and wrong.
“Convenient” = Hebrew “those things not fitting, forbidden, shameful.”
James 3:14-15
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Strife comes from Satan’s wisdom and is earthy, sensual, and devilish. Confusion and every evil work accompany it.
The Canaanite and Perizzite are earthy, sensual, and devilish.
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 came to a Spiritual understanding of The Blessing which enabled him to say what he said to Lot. Abram didn’t care which direction Lot chose because Abram knew he was blessed of The Lord. This can only happen through faith (Romans 10:17). The same as the poor widow who gave her last two mites mentioned by Jesus. She had to come to a Spiritual understanding of how The Blessing, The Kingdom of God works.
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.
Notice that Lot “lifted up his eyes.” This symbolizes Lot operating by his senses, in the physical realm.
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.
Notice that verse 11 says, “Then Lot chose him…..” Does Lot come before the Lord and ask Him what land to choose? No! Lot is relying on his own wisdom and physical senses.
What does the Word of God tell us about relying on OUR wisdom, OUR knowledge, and OUR physical senses? We find the answer, as always, in The Word of God.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
I Corinthians 2:5
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
We all know the story of Lot. We’ll study more about Lot as we continue in our study of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis Chapter 14.
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.
Notice in verse 12 the Scriptures tell us that Lot “…dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
Sodom = Hebrew for “flaming” or “burnt.”
Scriptures tell us the people of Sodom were terribly wicked.
Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Ezekiel 16:49 [God talking about Jerusalem]
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
AMAZING REVELATION
The proverbial “sin of Sodom,” however, was not, as is often understood, of a sexual nature but rather that it had “abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.”
Genesis 13:14
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
Notice how Lot’s reaction in Genesis 13:10 differs from Abrams in Genesis 13:14. God tells Abram to “lift up now thine eyes and look….” Abram waited on God. There was time that elapsed from the time Abram spoke to Lot to the time Lot actually separated from Abram. Abram didn’t move or act until God spoke to him. Abram lifted up his eyes when God commanded him.
Genesis 13:17-18
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
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.
Notice Abram “removed his tent” and moved to Hebron AFTER God has commanded him to walk through the land.
Hebron = “friendship” or “fellowship” in Hebrew.
Abram is walking in “friendship” and “fellowship” with God his Father.
Hebron has a lot of history and is one of the oldest, continually populated cities in the world. All the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) are buried there with their wives, and later, Caleb is given Hebron as his possession in the Promised Land.
In closing, I apologize for the length of the email. There is SO much more material that could be shared. However, at the end of all this, the MOST important point is Abram/Abraham trusted in God. He believed that if God said it, it was so. Have you reached this point yet in your walk with Christ? This is God’s will for us, “casting all our care upon Him because He cares for us.” When you can do this for EVERY SINGLE THING in your life, then God knows you trust Him. This is faith. And God rewards faith. He does not reward fear.
Have a wonderful week and weekend in Christ Jesus.
Blessings,
Larry