"All In" Day 2

Sorry that this blog is being published late. I have had a busy day today! I did some cleaning with the help of my friend Rochelle and then had a lunch bible study with another friend Melody. Then I ran errands and finally got ready for my evening small group bible study called "The Truth Project." It has been several weeks since this group has been able to meet so I'm really excited about seeing everyone again and digging into the concepts of absolute truth vs. society. Love it! I am definitely enjoying my life right now and enjoying summertime. Its great not to be at work.

So did all of you pray about and study Genesis 12 with me yesterday? Its pretty awesome how the story of Abram can be applied to our lives today in the 21st century isn't it?

Well today I want to go on with Abram's story. I don't know about you, but I'm curious as to what Abram is going to do next. He just got kicked out of Egypt because he lied to pharaoh and caused pharaoh and his house to be plagued. So now what?

Lets find out!

Turn with me now to Genesis Chapter 13. Please take a moment to read through Chapter 13 on your own. Then you can read on and get my commentary on it. Go ahead, read!

Are you done? Great! Now let's dig!

Genesis 13:1-4
Here we see that Abram made the decision to take all of his riches and go back to the land between Bethel and Ai to the place where he had first made the altar to God. What did he do when he got there? He called on God! Awesome! So when I make mistakes and cause others to sin I need to do what Abram did. I need to go back to the place where I started--the place that God first led me and there I need to call on Him. I can be honest with God in this place. I can say, "Lord, I made mistakes. Forgive me! Where do you want me to go from here?" Maybe you are in a place right now where you need to go back to the place God has been trying to lead you and just be honest with Him about your mistakes.
Now let's see what happens next...

Genesis 13:5-9
In this part of the book we see that Abram and Lot had a disagreement. What was the problem? Notice that we are told that the land could not support both of them and their livestock. Weird that the blessings from God (having an abundance of things and livestock) is what ultimately drove them apart. Have you ever seen that happen in our day and time? I know I have! How often do you hear about people that achieve success and begin losing friendships and family over it! Abram is wise when he tells Lot that they are brethren and should not fight. Abram has faith in God when he lets Lot choose the land that he will live on. Abram trusts God here and knows that the Lord will not let Abram lose the land that he was promised to his nephew, Lot.

Genesis 13:10-13
What does Lot choose? Read verse 10 carefully.
Did you find it?
Lot chooses the land that is the most watered, that is the best for his livestock. Wow! I just want to tell him, "How rude!" Abram gives him the choice of where he will live and he chooses the best and gives Abram the rest. Geez! Do you think Abram is going to fall on hardship now? Do you think his livestock will die off from not having well watered grass to eat? NO! Abram trusted God and let Lot decide. He knew he would be taken care of. This is a huge sign of an obedient, trusting heart. And Abram was able to do all these things and keep his integrity intact.

Genesis 13:14-18
Abram was faithful, obedient, and loving towards his nephew Lot. Abram went back to the promise land and praised God. What is God's response? Look at these verses. God promises Abram that he will inherit the land all around him and that his descendants would be more numerous than the dust on the Earth.

Awesome! I love this chapter of the bible! Even though Abram made mistakes in Chapter 12 we see that God's promises were still waiting for Abram back in the land outside Egypt. All Abram had to do was go back to the place where God was leading Him and call on Him. Abram's faith allowed him to deal with the fighting and strife that he was experiencing when he returned to the promise land without worrying about losing the promises God had given him. How awesome is God!

If you have walked away from God's promises today, go back to where God has been leading you and call on his name! Any person that might try to rise up and cause strife in your life will be called away without you having to fight with them. God's promises are still there waiting for you. No one can take them away and even your own mistakes can't take them away! Isn't that wonderful to know that despite ourselves God still wants to bless us?

Well, I hope you have been filled and enriched by God's word today. You will find that the more you study His word the more hungry you become to learn more about him. Its great! Join me again tomorrow!

Until then friends...God Bless!