Abram Learned a Lesson

THROUGH Abram’s backsliding and God’s chastening of his sin, Abram learned an important lesson. He never went back to Egypt again, and instead of rebelling against the sad result of his sin, he acknowledged his guilt. He proved that he had learned a tremendous lesson by magnanimously settling the strife. His conduct is evidence of his growth in grace, even through the experience of failure and sorrow. Read his reaction to his nephew now:

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” – Genesis 13:8–9.

He says to Lot, in effect, “Lot, I am willing to be the least; I am willing to take the loss if need be, I will let you take the very best; You may take your choice.” Now Abram had every right in the world to demand just exactly the opposite. He had been called to Canaan, not Lot. God had given the land to Abram, not to his nephew. God had made His covenant with Abram, and not with Lot who had come along as a hanger-on. Abram was the eldest of the two, and could expect Lot to recognize this important fact. Yet Abram did nothing of the kind. Instead, he did the very opposite.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Studies in the Life of Abraham by M. R. De Haan (1891-1964)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.