OceanSide church of Christ

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LAND RIGHTS

Genesis 13

Victor M. Eskew

 

I.           The Title of Genesis 13

 

A.   Land Rights

B.    Property, Problems, and Promises

C.   The Land Promise Reaffirmed

 

II.         The Key Verse of Genesis 13:  Genesis 13:14-15

 

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:  for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy see forever.

 

Why this passage?  Abram is standing almost dead center within the Promised Land.  Lot has taken the “good” land.  Now God reaffirms His promise to the patriarch.  All the land he can see will be his and his seed’s.

 

III.       The Outline of Genesis 13

 

i.               Abraham Returns to Canaan (Gen. 13:1-4)                   Canaan

ii.              Strife and Separation (Gen. 13:5-13)                             Conflict

iii.            The Land Promise Reaffirmed (Gen. 13:14-18)              Confirmation

 

IV.        The Lessons from Genesis 13

 

A.   It is possible for a rich man to be a faithful servant of God (Gen. 13:2).

 

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

 

1.     Jesus taught that it is hard for a rich man to enter into heaven (Matt. 19:24), but that with God it is possible (Matt. 19:26).

2.     Rich individuals must trust God and learn to use their riches appropriately in the service of God (I Tim. 6:17-19).

 

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us rich all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

 

B.    The faithful of God always call on the name of the Lord (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.

 

C.   Much strife develops due to the unmet needs that individuals have (Gen. 13:6-7a).

 

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.  And there was a strife between the herd-men of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle…

 

1.     NOTE:  Each party has a need that must be met.

2.     Each party believes that he has a solution.  Often that solution satisfies his need.

3.     Many times, the parties must look for a third solution that satisfies the needs of both parties in the strife.

 

D.   We must remember that there are people around us who are not believers in God who are watching our actions (Gen. 13:7b).

 

…and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

 

E.    Strife does not need to exist between those who are brethren (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.

 

F.     Abram posed a solution to the problem.  His solution was unselfish and gave Lot the choicest land (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.

 

G.   Youth often make selfish and unwise choices.

1.     Lot’s choice was selfish (Gen. 13:10-11a).

 

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.  Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan…

 

2.     Lot’s choice was not wise (Gen. 13:11b, 13).

 

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan:  and Lot journeyed east:  and they separated themselves the one from the other…But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

 

H.   Be careful where you pitch your tent because your life could be radically altered by your environment (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.

1.     Application: 

a.     The school a person chooses to attend.

b.    The career a person chooses to labor in.

c.    The city, even the neighborhood, one chooses to live in.

2.     I Corinthians 15:33

 

Be not deceived:  evil communications corrupt good manners.

 

I.     There are some in the world who live radically different lifestyles than God’s people (Gen. 13:13).

 

But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinner before the Lord exceedingly.

 

J.    In some way, God legislated His will to all of mankind during the days of patriarchy (Gen. 13:13).

1.     The men of Sodom were “sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”

2.     To be a sinner, one must transgress the law of God, for sin is the transgression of the law (I John 3:4).

 

K.   Man’s actions sometimes see to conflict with God’s plans.

1.     God had promised Canaan to Abram (Gen. 12:1).

2.     Lot, who was not a descendant of Abram, was now in control of “all the plain of Jordan” (Gen. 12:11).

3.     How would God now fulfill His promise to Abram?

 

L.    God confirmed His land promise to Abram (Gen. 13:14-17).

 

M.  Abram continued to trust in God (Gen. 13:18).

 

Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which his Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.