GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 13

GRIFFIN COMMENTS—GEN 13 (Gen 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.

Part of all that he had was the booty he received from Egypt, which would not make a dent in his possessions, but likely one of the handmaids he got from Pharaoh was the Hagar who later plays a part in the life of Abraham and Sarah.

BATTLE OF THE KINGS (Gen_13:1; Gen_14:11-12) One night Lot heard a noise and could not make out its meaning.

The fight came The weak ones fell The swift ones fled The thriving young Lot was led off a prisoner of war.

He looked down the road for his uncle Unconsecrated mouths devoured his victuals and his wine WHAT WERE HIS REFLECTIONS AS HE "LIFTED UP HIS EYES" THIS TIME? Looking around for his uncle as you may one day look around for someone He complained that the grip was too tight on his arm A blow that stunned him answered the complaint His wine was drunk and the skins thrown in his face His tent was torn up and made into bandages His soft mat was thrown upon a beast of burden AND LOT LOOK AROUND FOR HIS UNCLE He complained and they laughed at his accent.

SOME BARGAINS ARE NOT SO GOOD AS THEY LOOK! Some young men may set up too soon in business Do not go far out to sea in a cockleshell.

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(Gen 13:2) And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

To travel with such a large household of people, and possessions must have required a lot of organization, and taken up a lot of space wherever they camped.

One unusual attribute about Abraham is that he was rich and still a godly man. It is very difficult to have riches and not trust in them, but each time God tested him, Abraham proved that his riches did not take precedence over the will of God. (Gen 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; He came back to the old familiar places where he had built altars in the past, but there was still a restlessness about him. He had not yet settled down to any particular place and journeyed from down south around Hebron up to the northern area around Bethel, though it was not called Bethel until many years later. It was called Luz at the first (Gen_28:19).

(Gen 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. Every man should remember his old altars, and return for new consecrations whenever the opportunity arises. This is what Jacob did also. God told him to return to Bethel where he had made an altar.

There may be in the journey of life many inviting scenes, many fertile spots, but there is no place like the place of the altar. From this spot nothing that Egypt and the intermediate countries could offer was able to divert Abram. He came back prosperous, but his heart was unchanged. Time is apt to wear out the sense of mercies.

Many in their travels leave religion behind them.

(T. H. Leale.)

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At the first he built the altar near the tent (Gen_12:8). Now he pitched his tent near the altar. Man's home and God's house should be contiguous.

(J. C. Gray.)

(Gen 13:5) And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

It is doubtful that Lot had near as much as Abraham, but what he had was enough to cause much friction. The conflict was not between Lot and Abraham, they appeared to get along fine, but it was with the herdsmen. We should learn from their experience that the more affluent we become, the more cause for division and contention. It is not always with the more Godly themselves but with those who serve them.

(Gen 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.

Often the confrontations we have in life were of no fault of our own, but someone outside had their problems and we are drawn into it.

And as we find here, sometimes we are blessed so much that our very blessing becomes a problem. We see that sometimes for example when a church building gets packed out and you hear the pastor say, “We have a problem, but it is a good problem.” The problem has arisen from a blessing, and that is far better than a problem due to offenses within the family.

(Gen 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.

It is difficult to know what the Canaanite and Perizzite being in the land had to do with their problem, but it could have been that they stirred up this strife, or were causing their own set of problems besides the altercations among the herdsmen. It has been suggested that their being in the land made fodder more difficult to obtain.

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(Gen 13:8) And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Abraham shows his nobility. It would have been better if Lot had come to Abraham and said, “I am in the way here. God sent you on this mission, and I came along to enjoy your company, but now I see that my herdsmen are causing problems, so I will move on.” It was Abraham however who intervened. He did not want to cause any difficulty so he offered a solution.

(Gen 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.

Abraham could have chosen for himself and let Lot have what was left, but he had an honorable spirit about him and offers Lot the privilege of choice.

LAND IS BEFORE YOU (Gen_13:9) We have before us a holy city--true promised land.

1. Land of promise (1Jo_2:25 Rev_21:7; Rev_22:14) 2. Land of life (1Jo_3:15 Rev_21:5) 3. Land of light (Rev_22:5) 4. Land of plenty (Rev_7:16; Rev_22:2) 5. Land of joy and happiness (Psa_16:11 Isa_35:10) (Gen 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.

Lot was looking for the best he could find. He had the normal humanistic mind that looks out for Number One. He shows no consideration for Abraham who has seniority and experience and chooses the best for himself.

FOOLS GOLD (Gen_13:10)

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In 1576 the Cathay Company (Cathay is another name for China) was formed to trade with China by way of North America. They sent Martin Frobisher to find a way through the continent.

He probed the northern waters and found Baffin Land or Frobisher's Bay. Here glittering gold-colored rocks diverted his attention. With the usual captive Indian and a case of ore samples, he hurried back to England. The assayers declared that the ore was indeed gold, and he returned to America for more.

When the 200 tons he brought back turned out to be fool's gold the Cathay Company folded up.

Lot and Sodom: He pitched his tent toward Sodom not knowing that becoming a judge in Sodom would turn to a fool’s paradise. What is real estate worth now in Sodom?

Judas sold out for a handful of silver. He kissed the door to heaven and missed it.

Act_4:12 "No other Name" What if Moses had stayed with "riches of Egypt." (Heb_11:24-26) "Buried with them" 1Co_3:13 "Wood, hay and stubble" When Charlemagne was buried they sat him in a royal chair fully dressed as a king. A Bible was opened before him with his finger pointing to the Scripture: "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul." (Mar_8:36) Some people give or pray or fast as those in Matthew 6. When they get to heaven they will expect a reward. But when God looks at the record He will say, All I see here are "Canceled Checks" Pharisee and Publican (Thought he would find peace) Mat_7:21-23 (Gen 13:11) Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

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The carnal man knows not what he does when he separates himself from the righteous. From this point on the life of Lot went steadily downhill. His blessings of the past were all tied to his association to Abraham.

The very end, for which Lot was induced to fix his residence at Sodom, was entirely defeated. (Essex Remembrancer.)

(Gen 13:12) Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Many sermons have been preached from this text, “Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Of course he had no intentions of getting involved. He just wanted a few advantages of city life that he could not find out here in this wilderness. And I am sure he felt his family would not be influenced by their culture, after all he would continue to teach his family the values of the religion of Abraham. But it did not long remain that way.

(Gen 13:13) But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

They were such wicked sinners, and so exceedingly, that their name has become synonymous with perversion. When men reach this state of depravity, God has to destroy them, for their minds become reprobate.

The land is "as the garden of the Lord." But the people?....

Everywhere the glory of nature is stained with the scarlet of human sin, and nature can do nothing to purge that stain away. (W. L. Watkinson) (Gen 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: This was the time God had been waiting for, when Abraham would leave his family behind and break all connections with the past. Now God could give more details of the covenant He would make with Abraham.

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There is nothing lost by meekness and yielding. Abraham yields over his right of choice: Lot taketh it. And, behold, Lot is crossed in that which he chose, Abraham blessed in that which was left him. As heaven is taken by violence, so is earth with meekness. And God (the true Proprietary) loves no tenants better, nor grants larger leases to any, than the meek.

(J. Trapp.)

(Gen 13:15) For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Some have felt that this promise was only to the seed of Abraham, but here it specifically states that the promise of this land was to Abraham and to his seed. Abraham never did realize this as Stephen said in his message (Act_7:5), and since that is true there must come a fulfillment of it someday. Jesus mentioned sitting down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom and apparently there will be a day when he does receive this land. Of course Paul takes it further and shows that it is completely fulfilled in the Holy City in Hebrews 11, but that does not change this promise.

(Gen 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.

God promised this to Abraham when he had no children, and when it was looking like it would now be impossible because his wife also was getting too old to have a child. Afterwards the seed of Abram is likened to the stars of heaven for multitude (Gen_15:5). Neither the dust nor the stars can be counted, as the offspring of Abraham is without number.

(Gen 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.

Wherever Abraham walked was his. From this point on the land he walked on would be a small area, but if that promise is retroactive, it would go back to the time he was at the Euphrates River and go down to the river of Egypt, the Nile. This latter is what God Himself

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mentioned as belonging to Israel in the Palestinian Covenant (Deu_30:3-5; Eze_20:33-37; Eze_20:42-44).

WHAT YOU WALK ON IS YOURS (Gen_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.

Abraham was given the land he walked upon. He had already walked from Ur of the Chaldeas to Canaan. Whether God is speaking of his past as well as his future is unknown, but we do know he walked all over Canaan and down into Egypt. All of this belongs to Abraham still.

Peter would forever have the water walk (Twice he walked) •Picked up the man at the beautiful gate •Walk one block—that's all you get •Walk through the Bible—it is yours!

•Walk through science—it is yours!

Healings Salvation (Act_2:38) Promises (Psalm 91; Mat_11:28-29; 2Co_9:8; Eph_3:20) Enoch was translated when he walked with God Elisha walked with God Paul walked into the Philippian prison (it was his then) (Gen 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. It was in this general area that Abraham spent the rest of his time.

Here he bought a burial plot for Sarah when she died, and here he had an altar to Jehovah. Later, Abraham himself was buried there, then Isaac and Rebekah. The embalmed body of Jacob was placed there beside his first wife Leah.

There is a Muslum mosque over the cave now. Behind it is a small cupola, with eight or ten windows, beneath which is the tomb of Esau, excluded from the privilege of lying among the patriarchs.

(McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia)

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