Written By Ben Dankaka
Meditation – Genesis 15:3
When God asked Abraham to leave his country and go to a land He will show him, Abraham complied, but he didn’t do exactly what God asked him to do. God had said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Indeed, Abraham left his country but he didn’t completely separate himself from his people because Lot went with him. Why did he do that? Possibly, Abraham knew exactly what he was doing when he allowed Lot, his nephew to accompany him. Recall that when God called Abraham, he didn’t have a child of his own. Although he was wealthy, he didn’t have an heir. So, Abraham might have carried Lot along with him because he needed to feel safe that his wealth wasn’t going to be inherited by a stranger if he eventually died without a child.
Abraham was concerned about an heir even though he trusted God. Once, during a conversation with God, Abraham said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” At the time, Abraham had been separated from Lot. But God knew what was in Abraham’s heart. He knew the man was troubled that his separation from his nephew meant he might end up giving his wealth to a servant. Most likely, it was for this reason that God had to reassure Abraham. Immediately Lot left for Sodom, God had comforted Abraham that He would make his “offspring like the dust of the earth.” Obviously, Lot had been Abraham’s back up plan – a strategy intended to make him feel secure. Lot was Abraham’s half bread. Like Abraham, are you trusting God and at the same time worried that He might fail you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, increase my faith. Amen.
REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 13:1-18
Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.