What strange and, we dare say, very sad language uttered by one who is called “the Friend of God” (James 2:2323And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23)) and who is recorded as being the “father of all them that believe” (Rom. 4:1111And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (Romans 4:11)). Yet here, even dear, godly, faithful Abraham did not give good counsel to Lot (Gen. 13:8-98And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:8‑9)).
Believers are equally, infinitely loved of our blessed Lord, redeemed by His precious blood, and each one a dear child of God. We would do well to learn from the failure of this mighty Old Testament patriarch and saint, recorded by the Spirit of God. May it stir our hearts to be more diligent in “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Four times in John 17 the blessed Lord Jesus expresses His desire to the Father that His own might be one (John 17:11,21-2211And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11)
21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:21‑22)). Should that not be our desire too one that we constantly and earnestly, in faith, strive to enjoy with one another?
Faltering Faith
No doubt, the sad separation between Abram and Lot (his nephew) had its beginning when Abram’s faith faltered under severe trial. Jehovah had called him from family and home in Ur of the Chaldees to follow Him, by faith, to a land Abram hadn’t seen and wouldn’t possess in his lifetime. But it was there the Lord appeared to him with the promise, “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Gen. 12:77And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. (Genesis 12:7)).
As he journeyed through that good land, Abram built an altar to worship Jehovah whom he followed (vs. 8), and for a time he continued his evidently pleasant journey “going on still toward the south.” But the Lord saw fit to allow a grievous famine in the land to test dear Abram’s faith. Faltering, Abram looked to Egypt (a type of the world) to provide that which seemed lost to him in Canaan.
Let us be careful, when encountering difficulties in the pathway of faith, that we not look to the world and its ways as a source of relief or refuge from those trials God may allow to strengthen our trust in Himself.
Failing Fearfulness
Abram’s lack of faith began to assert its harmful influence even before he arrived in Egypt. Fear for his own life became Abram’s paramount concern and he begs his wife Sarai to disown their marriage union in order that he might live (vss. 11-13). “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Prov. 29:2525The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. (Proverbs 29:25)).
What a contrast we see here with our blessed Lord Jesus who came into this world (Egypt in type) in order to save His beloved bride, freely giving His own life that she might live. “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)).
The Egyptians immediately recognized Sarai’s beauty and spoke to Pharaoh, who took her into his house to be his wife (see verse 19 JND). During this time, Abram’s choice of going to Egypt seemed to bear the results he had desired. Evidently, through the good will of Pharaoh, he settled down and became very rich. But God graciously came in on behalf of his dear servant and, plaguing Pharaoh and his house, caused him to return Sarai to Abram.
Flawed Fortunes
God then lovingly turned Abram’s steps back from Egypt. (“Abram went up out of Egypt.”) When walking by sight rather than faith, we are morally going down (see Gen. 12:1010And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. (Genesis 12:10)). When the Lord restores the soul, He leads in “the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psa. 23:33He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:3)) and the direction of that blessed pathway is morally always up.
Both Abram and Lot returned from Egypt, having been made prosperous, wealthy men by the world (Gen. 13:1-2,51And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. (Genesis 13:1‑2)
5And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. (Genesis 13:5)). But that which seems gain as a consequence of walking by sight (rather than true riches resulting from walking in dependence on God) in the end proves to be the cause of a sad, unnecessary separation between these two brethren.
Ill-Fated Fruit
It is true that Abram’s lack of faith seemed to produce that which was, for the time being, quite desirable—riches and possessions. But that wealth caused strife and separation between brethren who ought to have dwelt together in unity (Gen. 13:69).
Do we with a true heart desire to walk in unity with each other as our blessed Lord Jesus desires for us? His mighty work accomplished at the cross was so that in the “dispensation of the fullness of times He [God] might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him” (Eph. 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10)). He tells us in John 10:1616And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16) that “other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold [ flock], and one shepherd.” How our God longs that we walk in and maintain (in whatever measure possible) the oneness and unity that the Lord Jesus has brought through His suffering and death.
Jew and Gentile seemed destined to conflict, separated from each other, but “He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Eph. 2:1414For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14)). Now “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:2828There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)).
Again we say, what sad words dear Abram had to utter to Lot: “Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
On the other hand, what sweet, precious words David uttered; may they be true of us: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments” (Psa. 133:12).
Oh! may it be the great desire of our hearts to seek to walk together in divine unity.
Ed.