Genesis 13

Abram’s Excellent Adventure
Or
“Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want”

Quoting from The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, “The primary requirements for a successful herding group are pasturage and water sources. The hot, dry months from April through September require movement of herds to higher elevations where grass remains and streams and springs can be found. In the colder, wet months of October through March, the animals will be brought back to the plains for grazing. This seasonal movement necessitates long separations of herders from their villages or the establishment of an unconnected, semi-nomadic lifestyle in which whole families travel with the herds. The knowledge of natural resources along their routes of travel would be their primary lore. Disputes of grazing land and water rights would be the most frequent cause of quarrels between herdsmen.” (Walton, et al; p44-45)

Abram & Lot separate: How clear is that? If there are too many sheep and herdsmen and too few natural resources sharing the same space, there are going to be arguments and disputes over who gets to use what. It’s not really that surprising that this happened, as it was bound to happen eventually as Abram and Lot traversed the Negev countryside between Egypt and Canaan. “… For their possessions were go great that they could not dwell together.” (Genesis 13:6ff, ESV)

Abram, Sarai, and Lot covered territory ranging from Egypt to the Negev Desert to the area between Bethel and Ai, where Abram had built an altar when his caravan first arrived in Canaan. Thus, after all of their traveling to that point (200 miles from Bethel to Egypt + 200 miles from Egypt to Bethel = 400 miles), the amount of flocks, herds, and property they owned had increased. This was an entirely natural procession of events, considering that nomads literally lived and died by the health of their flocks. And besides, I figure that the writer of the book of Genesis (Moses?) would have mentioned specifically any events (famine, drought, attack by outsiders) that would have led to Abram & Lot’s flocks decreasing in number.

Yet, what is so important to learn from this part of Abram’s story is how the two men resolved the situation. They handled their employees’ dispute over resource availability and sharing in the only manner appropriate to their situation – through conversation, discussion, and compromise. “Then Abram said to Lot, ‘Let there be no strife between you and me, between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.’” (Genesis 13:8-9, ESV)

And with that declaration from Abram, Lot chose the Jordan Valley, leaving Canaan proper, and moved his tents close to Sodom. While Lot’s future deleterious relationship with the people of Sodom will be discussed later, I do want to say that I do not feel that Lot’s decision at this point was any indication of his leanings or inclination. Nowhere in this passage does it ever mention that Lot chose this area because of his selfishness or sinfulness that he possessed. It simply says that he liked what he saw in the Jordan Valley and took his uncle Abram up on the offer he made for Lot to have the first choice of where he wanted to live.

Side Note -- Genesis 13:13 does tell us, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” What is to be derived from this verse? Are we to be under the impression that Abram and Lot knew that the people of Sodom were wicked? Or was this verse included by the omniscient author of this book who had the knowledge of Sodom based upon the way that the story of Lot in Sodom would eventually play out? I don’t want to guess or presuppose knowledge upon Abram or Lot, mostly because, to do so, it would mean that I would be reading the story already knowing the way the story would end. Not enough people give Lot the benefit of the doubt when retelling and explaining these events, so I will. Forgive me…

After all of this, Abram looks across the horizon at Canaan, the land that Lot chose for him, yet the land that God had always chosen for Abram, Sarai, and their descendents. God reminds Abram, “Arise, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” (Genesis 13:17, ESV) Once again, Abram and Sarai receive the promise from God that they will be the progenitors of a great nation that will cover all of the land that Abram sees to the north, south, east, and west, numbered as if they were as countless as the dust of earth. And once again, Abram and Sarai are faced with the issue that they are both advanced in years and barren up to this point. Nevertheless, Abram moves his tents to the area of Hebron where he builds an altar to the Lord, acting upon his faith in the Lord. Would that I had such faith…