The Faithfulness of God's Promise : Reflection on Genesis 13
The Faithfulness of God's Promise
Reflection on Genesis 13
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 there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.
16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. (Genesis 13:6-7, 16, ESV)
1. The Test of Relationship and Abram's Concession
Abram and Lot had gone to Egypt and then returned to the land of Canaan. Even in Egypt, God had blessed them, especially increasing their wealth. In Bethel, they had worshipped God together, but this would be the last time they would offer sacrifices together. The increase in their possessions made it impossible for them to live together. Abram proposed that they separate, and he allowed Lot to choose the land first. Lot chose the land that looked good to his eyes, and Abram's gracious spirit towards his nephew became bittersweet. Love is a selfless giving.
2. God's Comfort in the Midst of Disappointment
As Abram's appetite for life was lost in the bitterness of the world, God came to him again. God reminded him of the promise He had made when He first called Abram. "If anyone can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring can be counted." What a reviving word, a cutting yet comforting word. How precisely God knew the disappointment in Abram's heart, and how thoughtfully He spoke of the dust of the earth instead of the stars or the sand.
3. The Unchanging Promise, the Unwavering Comfort
God's promise is faithful. When Abram sighed, looking up at the sky, God referred to the stars; when he gazed at the sea, God mentioned the sand; and now, as Abram's heart ached at the sight of the swirling dust, God spoke of the dust of the earth, affirming, "It's alright, I am with you. My word is not in vain." Human generosity and abundant wealth can never be relied upon. The most seemingly nutrient-poor word of God's promise pierces through the fluctuating human heart like a sine wave.
4. The Response of Faith: Worship
Reassured by God's promise, Abram joyfully built an altar to the Lord on that dusty ground. This is the response of faith to God's faithful promise, overcoming human loss and bitterness, and it displays the posture of a worshipper who adores God in any circumstance.