Abram and Lot

Bible Reading: Genesis 13

Memory Verse:  James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…

Devo

My family likes cookies. When the smell of oatmeal chocolate chip fills the kitchen, it’s a little like feeding time at the zoo. Most of us dive for the biggest cookie.  There may have even been some fights…

Because we are born sinners, we are naturally pretty selfish. We want the biggest and the best for ourselves. Sharing is honestly hard to do.  

Abram and Lot had that problem.  God told Abram to leave his family and live in a new land, and their nephew Lot went with them.  God blessed Abram’s family and both men had many sheep, cows and goats.  

They had so many animals that the land was crowded.  Abram’s farm workers began to fight with Lot’s workers over the grass and the water in the area.

Abram took Lot aside and said, “We’re family.  There shouldn’t be fighting between us.  I think the best thing to do is to split up. You choose the land you like.  If you choose the left, I’ll choose the right.   If you choose the right, I’ll take the left.

Lot looked at the land. He saw that Canaan was pretty dry and dusty.  When he looked at the Jordan valley near Sodom and Gomorrah, it was green and beautiful, “like the Garden of God.”  He chose the green lands with lots of water.

That left Abram with the dry, rocky land.  He was the peacemaker and the giver.  God saw Abram’s heart and he made him a promise.

“Wherever you walk,” God told him, “I’m going to give that land to you.  I’ll make your family so big, you won’t be able to count them.”  

We serve a God who gives great gifts.  He even gave His only son Jesus to die for our sins, who was born in Abraham’s family line. We serve an awesome God who always keeps His promises.

What about you?

It’s easy to be give things away you don’t care about, broken toys and old clothes.  How are you about sharing your favorite things?

What are some great gifts that God has given you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a generous God. You own everything but You continually give to us. Help me to be a giver and not a taker.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.