Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents. The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.”
(Genesis 13:5-6)

God knew this was going to be a problem. Lot wasn’t an ungodly person (2 Peter 2:7). God would have prospered him wherever he was. God also blessed Lot because he was associated with Abram, His chosen father of nations (Genesis 30:27). This whole situation, and all the fallout from it, could have been avoided if Abram had fully obeyed what God told him (Genesis 12:1). God wasn’t trying to limit Lot. God was trying to save Lot from strife and sin, save Abram and Lot from conflict, and to have both men (and their families) enjoy His peace.

The plans of the Lord cannot be thwarted (Isaiah 14:27). But we CAN hinder Him (Psalm 78:40-41). And we CAN limit how much we receive from Him (Matthew 15:38). God wanted Abram separated from his family for a few reasons. If Abram had obeyed, they would have parted in peace. Abram did not, so now strife would be the cause. Not strife between Abram and Lot, but strife between their employees. This was NOT how God had wanted it done. But done it would be. Abram made his choice and now that choice was forcing his hand. It would have been MUCH easier and not made a difference to their individual wealth/holdings/possessions. It is ALWAYS best to obey the Lord fully and not impose compromise because of our own thinking.

The sage Steinsaltz writes: ‘Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, and cattle, and tents. Lot left Ur of the Chaldeans as the heir of his father, Haran. Consequently, he had property of his own. Although he traveled alongside his uncle Abram, he was not subservient to him. And the land could not support them to live together, as their property was substantial, and they were unable to live together. Although at the time the land was relatively uninhabited with large areas available for pasture, the size of flocks that grazed near a settlement was generally in proportion with the size of the settlement. In this situation, when the tribe of nomads arrived with Abram’s large flocks and Lot’s large flocks in addition to those of the locals, there was not enough land available for all of them. However, in addition to these objective limitations, there was another significant factor preventing them from living together.’

The Torah: A Women’s Commentary writes: ‘5–13. The amicable separation between the extended household of Lot and that of Abram continues the pattern of separation, distinguishing one group from another. Abram seeks to avoid enmity between kin.’

The sage Chizkuni writes: ‘כי היה רכושם רב, “for their possessions were so vast.” The point the Torah is making is that, contrary to what could be expected, poverty leads to strife about sharing the little one owns, in this instance excessive wealth led to strife.’