Genesis 13 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Genesis 13:1-9

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 quarrelling arose between Abram’s herdsmen 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 quarrelling between you and me, or between your herdsmen 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.’

A. Find Out:

1. Who went with Abram when he left Egypt? v.1
2. What state was he in when he left Egypt? v.2
3. What did he do when he arrived near Bethel? v.4
4. What was the problem with Lot being with him? v.5,6
5. What happened because of this problem? v.7
6. Who did Abram say should have first choice of the land? v.9

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Abram waits until he is back in the land before he calls on the Lord again?
2. What is the basic problem that arises now? Why is it? Look back to 12:1 & 4
3. What does it say about Abram, however, that he is willing to let Lot have first choice of the land?

C. Comment:

The words in the Bible accounts are significant. Admittedly Egypt is south of Canaan, but previously Abram “went down to Egypt ” (12:10) and now he “went up” from Egypt (v.1). Both indicate the direction of his spiritual life as well as geographical direction.

He comes back to the place where he last worshipped the Lord and worships again (v.4). He feels, perhaps, that he is back in a place where he can speak to God again with a clear conscience. He is where he should be! We should remember that God had been with Him in Egypt just as much as in Canaan. Abram has still to learn that.  

Now back in the land he is confronted with another problem: it seems overcrowded with Lot’s herds there as well (v.5-7). If Abram had left Haran on his own as God had said this would not have happened. We need to remember all our actions (especially disobedience) have CONSEQUENCES. Abram nevertheless copes very graciously with the difficulty and allows Lot first choice of the land, such is the grace of this man (v.8,9). A man of faith, worship and grace. What an example!

D. Application?

1. Can I remember today the Lord is with me WHEREVER I am?   
2. My actions have CONSEQUENCES.

Passage: Genesis 13:10-18

10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan towards 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 towards 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  for ever. 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.

A. Find Out:    

1. What did the plain of Jordan look like? v.10
2. How was Sodom described? v.13
3. WHEN did the Lord speak to Abram? v.14
4. What did the Lord promise Abram? v.15
5. How long would the promise last? v.15
6. What was Abram told to DO? v.17

B. Think:

1. What two things has God promised Abram?
2. What does it say about the Lord that he still rescues Abram?
3. Why was Lot ‘s method of choosing where to go unwise?

C. Comment:

After Abram has given him first choice of the land, Lot LOOKS around, and sees that the land to the east LOOKS good (v.10,11). However, that land included evil Sodom (v.13). Should Lot have known that? Was he someone who didn’t worry about evil? Whatever the answers, he decided on the basis of what would bless HIM. There was no thought about his older uncle and what might bless him! From now on Lot is on dangerous ground as we’ll see. Do we make choices purely on the basis of what will bless US, and bless us NOW, or do we consider others, and especially what the Lord thinks about it?

As soon as Lot has gone, the Lord speaks again to Abram (v.14). It is as if He waits until Abram is on his own at last, as he had been commanded to be at the beginning, until He brings fresh encouragement to His chosen man. Often the Lord will stay silent while we are not in obedience. Are we sure we are walking in obedience? Are we able to hear the voice of the Lord as He speaks His purposes to US? Finally, the Lord tells Abram to go through the land (v.17), perhaps so that he can see it and fully appreciate it and realize the wonder of what he was being given. We often have to actually TAKE our inheritance.

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to reveal disobedience & commit your way to Him
2. Come with a listening ear to the Lord.