seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 13:5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
Here's how David Guzik explains these verses.
God commanded Abram to leave his family behind when he came to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1), but Abram brought his nephew Lot along with him. Trouble like this was the result.
This conflict came after Abram did the right thing. When we get right with God, we can often expect attack from the devil.
Something had to be done about this strife between the estates of Abram and Lot, because they could not continue a conflict like this before the unbelieving inhabitants of Canaan.
When the Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land, and saw the men of Abram and Lot fighting, they must have thought, Oh, theyre just like us. They say they worship another God, a God they say is the true God, but I see they are really just like us.
Many people will never listen to what any believer says because of what some believers are.
Many people will never listen to what any believer says because of what some believers are.
Their possessions were so great: This is the first mention of wealth in the Bible. There was a great difference between the riches of Abram and the riches of Lot. They both had great wealth, but Lots wealth possessed him. Abram had great possessions, but they did not possess him.
The GodVine commentary says there were several reasons for the trouble Abram and Lot found themselves in.
1. Because their flocks were great. 2. Because the Canaanites and the Perizzites had already occupied a considerable part of the land. 3. Because there appears to have been envy between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. To prevent disputes among them, that might have ultimately disturbed the peace of the two families, it was necessary that a separation should take place.
This made the quarrel, Very dangerous; if Abram and Lot cannot agree to feed their flocks together, it is well if the common enemy do not come upon them and plunder them both. Very scandalous: No doubt the eyes of all the neighbours were upon them, because of the singularity of their religion, and the extraordinary sanctity they professed; and notice would soon be taken of this quarrel, and improvement made of it to their reproach by the Canaanites and Perizzites.
You know those pages of "how to" you get when you buy something that requires some construction? I know the proper word is instructions. I call them destructions. I told my kids.... "If you don't follow the instructions, then the end product will destruct."
God told Abram to leave Lot at home..... Abram brought Lot with him.
It's just like another "innocent" action.... God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from the tree of Knowledge.
