Amen. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Our great and merciful Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening giving thanks to you, for you alone are worthy to receive all thanks and praise. We thank you, Heavenly Father, that you, having given to us through those who were carried about by your Spirit, the inerrant and infallible Word of God, Lord, which you in your kind providence have preserved throughout the ages, and so with integrity we would be able to hear and read and to study these things this evening. I ask, O Father and God, that by your Spirit, O Lord, that you would come and make the hearing effectual, that we may truly understand, that we may truly delight, and we may truly walk with you for Jesus' sake. Amen. If you have your copy of God's Word with you this evening, if you'll please turn with me to Genesis chapter 13. We'll be reading the entirety of the chapter. It's found on page nine of your ESVP Bible. Yes, we are continuing from Genesis. In Genesis, we haven't been there a few months, but I figure we'll just finish the whole thing. So, I was telling Ashley this afternoon that it'll probably be about another year or so. By the time we're done with John, we might be done here, too. But nevertheless, let us encourage you to keep your Bibles open this evening. We have a lot of things that we will be looking at again, and besides that, it is the Word of God. It is inerrant and infallible. Let us hear it with great reverence. Lay these truths upon our hearts as we seek to practice them in our lives with exceeding great joy. So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that they had, and got with him into the Negev. Now Abram was very rich in livestock and silver and gold, and he journeyed on from the Negev as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 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. Then Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife between you and me and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. is not the whole land before you. Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right. If you take the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zoar. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley. and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, lift up your eyes and look. From the place where you are northward, southward, eastward, and westward, for all the land that you see, I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust on the earth, so that if One can count the dust of the earth, your offspring can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I will give it to you." So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there built an altar to the Lord. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever. You may be seated. Failure is not the end, but it can be if you do not deal rightly with it. That is one of my children's daddy's proverbs that they heard growing up. Thankfully not so much anymore. But I say that because on the one hand, yes, that is something that I regularly said to my children that something bad happens. If you want to roll yourself up in your failure, you probably will fail again. But let us understand that this is also to a certain extent what we saw last week in Chapter 12 with Abram. fled the land of promise. And as he was going to Egypt, he encouraged his wife to collude with his lie, which humanly speaking put the promise of the seed which God had put before him in jeopardy, as she was taken into Pharaoh's house." And I want you to note that because this passage left us all, lastly, wondering how Abram was going to respond to this. Because the whole ordeal has left him, in a sense, really humiliated. I want you to think about that for a minute, because if we could imagine here, even before he returned to the surrounding regions, where everyone already knew Abram, the one who had received the great promise from the great God, that they find out that he's been kicked out of Egypt. There's a lot of talking that most likely would have already been going on, and he would have already known that. And I want you to note that, because most of what we see here, if it is in the situation we would, or most of us, if we were in this situation, we would want to hide ourselves from God and others, and possibly go somewhere far, far, far away, start over, acting as if this never happened. And I want you to see that, because in verse two, we are told that Abram is rich with livestock, silver, and gold, means it would have been easy for him to go off the grid and begin again. And in a sense, we kind of see him doing that thing. From verse one, we're told, so Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that they had and lot with him in Tuth and Negev. And I want you to see that because here, what he's doing, yes, he does begin again, but it's by returning to the place where the problem began. And I want you to see that because Abram is, on this occasion, dealing with the problem rightly. that the failure of his faith is not going to be something that he hopefully runs back into again. But notice here, by simply believing the promise and returning to the Lord and to the land that has been promised to him, that is associated with God and His blessing, we see that he is returning to Him. But I also want you to see here that returning with Him are all those who left, not only Sarai, his wife, but also his nephew Lot. Well, I think that's a very interesting thing because we can imagine, and one of the things that's going to play into our passage tonight is that as Abram grew very rich while they were in Egypt, that so did Lot. That by virtue of the fact that he is part of the covenant community, here it's only really three people and some servants and a lot of other people who work for Abram, but we see that the blessing would have been coming to him as well. And I want you to note that because it's been a while since we've seen Lot. He was first mentioned back in chapter 12 where he left Ur of the Chaldees with his uncle Abram. But here we note that he's been with him the entire time. And the reason why I single out Lot here today, aside from the fact that he just kind of pops in and we haven't really thought about him much for a while, understand this because he will be a significant part of what we look at in the chapters over the next few weeks. And the purpose that he will serve is by being a contrast to Abram. that he will serve as a stark contrast. And I want you to think about that, because it's important for us to remember, because both Abram and Lot are believers. And we're going to see this contrast with that. For instance, if you remember in 2 Peter 2, that here the Apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, refers to Lot as righteous Lot. He is one who believes the promise. He is one who is justified by faith. In fact, if he were in our church, we would classify him as a believer. But tonight, as we make this contrast, I wanted to note that this passage is going to give us a glimpse into what can be the inevitable end of those, even believers, who walk by faith, and those who walk by sight. Those who, on the one hand, cling to and live in Christ and in His Word, and on the other hand, trust in themselves and what they see before them in the world. So we'll begin this evening by looking at Abraham, that Abram walks by faith. And how do we know this? Again, he's back in the land. the place of the promise, the place of blessing. And in verse three, we see that he journeys on from the Negev. He is a semi-nomadic individual who depends greatly upon availing himself a pasturage for, or available pasturage for livestock that he has. But notice that factoring into this, it means that he will always be seeking to return back to Bethel. We're going to see that again and again, that he is on this rotation, but he is always going back to the same place. And that's important because it's not just another station on his route, but his intent, as we hear in the second half of verse three, is that it's to the place where his tent had been in the beginning between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made the altar at first. Let's note that this marks what we see in our passage tonight, a full return to the Lord and to the worship that He had had when He first came to the land of promise. And I do want us to note that, because what we find within our passage this evening, as far as the way we're going to understand things, is that the way Moses contrasts the spiritual condition of Abram and Lot in this passage is by where they are and where they are going spatially. That's not me saying special in a funny way, but spatially in where they are in the world at the time, where they are going. and that is manifest in their walk or the life that they live. In fact, we just sang that a few moments ago in Psalm 1, that blessed is the man who walks not according to the counsel of the wicked. being in their presence and taking from them what they have, nor standing in the way of sinners, nor sitting in the seat of scoffers." That here we see that spatial element that they are in the midst of these individuals, but notice that spiritually speaking here, but that his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. Meaning that what we're going to see is that the physical in this passage shows us something of the spiritual. And that's confirmed when he arrives back in Bethel in verse 4, and we're told that Abram calls upon the name of the Lord. Now, we may be asking ourselves, well, in chapter 12, is Abram, yes, believed? Notice that he was quick to deceive people, tried to save his own hide, but now that he has returned, the question for us is, is will his faith hold when it is shaken, Is this return just to restore his credibility with those who had heard about what took place in Egypt? Let us understand that that's exactly what we find, or we find the answer to this in verses 5-7 where we see that Abram again in his faith is tested. And notice that what we find here in these three verses is a situation very similar to what we have seen before. Notice that the first thing that we find here is that the land cannot support both Abram and Lot dwelling in the same area. Now mind you, it's not a famine like it was before, but let us understand that it is just not feasible to have this many people and this many animals in the same place. It's just too many. The land, no place can support this. And that's proven as secondly it leads to this internal problem. Notice in verse 7 that we're told, pardon me, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock." The idea of this strife that is being spoken of here, that there is a dissent. We see a bit of hostility beginning to brew, anger towards the different groups of who worked for whom here. But notice that this descent thirdly leads to the possibility of an external threat. Now, we may not think much of what we hear in this very short portion of the second half of verse 7, at that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. Well, let us understand that these are individuals who control the water rights and the grazing rights of this area. And seeing the tension that is taking place here, This provides an opportunity for those pagans who see these others set apart with a lot of livestock. It gives them the opportunity to easily take advantage of that dissent, perhaps sway lots men to them and for them to kill Abram. And I want you to see that because this is the point where Abram before would have given into fear. of what was, of what might be. But contrary to what we saw at the end of chapter 12, here we see that he trusts in the Lord and that he acts in accordance with faith in what God has promised. We hear in verse eight, then Abram said to Lot, let there be no strife between you and me, between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. I want you to hear that, because we hear Him bringing them back together, reminding Him that we are the same people, we should be united in this. But I also want us to take into account that Abraham, being the leader of a clan, is in a position to get what he wants in this situation. But we note in verse 9 that here he initiates a separation even though he has a right to choose, and that he humbly defers to lot. We hear in verse nine that we're told that if you take the left hand, I will go to the right. If you take the right hand, then I will go to the left. And I want you to note that because here, in the face of fear, of someone taking what is probably more advantageous for them to take Here we see that Abram responds by faith, a faith that clings to the fact that the Lord is in control, a faith that clings to the promise that God will do good to His people. This is what he allows Abram to see within the situation, which allows him to be calm and sacrificial and generous, that he understands that he has the advantage, but he does not need to avail himself of it. And I think that's a Christian principle that is good for us to understand because, yes, it is in other places that we're not always to take the advantage when it is advantageous to do so. And that's particularly so what we find in 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul calls for the same attitude to be present with the weaker brother in his conscience. We don't need to be enslaved by the weaker brother, but we can defer to the one who is the weaker brother. And why is that? Because ultimately, that is what we see in our Lord Jesus Christ. And I think that's important for us to note, because in the beginning of our passage, the original hearers would have been wondering if this is really the man that God chose to be the one through whom the seed would come. But here at this point, as they see Him handing over what belongs to him to give someone else the advantage, humbling himself. Here, they're able to say, I hope this is the one through whom the Savior will come. Because we see in Abram's character at this moment something of Christ as he concedes to the sinful and foolish like us and to Abraham. And though he is a great individual, He takes the position of a servant that we may have what is good. Dear friends, this is one who is faithful and walks by faith. And what we see in Abram on this occasion, unlike last week, is what points us to the Lord Jesus Christ. But by contrast, secondly this evening, I'd like for us to note how Lot walks by sight. Lot walks by sight. This portion of our passage is a little bit quicker, but I think it's full of very great importance that we need to consider, because as we're told at the beginning of verse 10, and Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered. Now, I think it's important for us to note that twice in our passage this evening, we see the idea of he saw. in this passage. In fact, it's one of those things that we just can't get away from, but notice here that what we see with Lot as he saw the Jordan Valley, that it was well watered, perfect for him to take his multitude of livestock, no one else is there, that we see with Lot something of his own character in how he responds, that by looking at what is here, Lot bases his decision on only his physical inspection of the place. Now I think that's interesting because if you're aware of geography, the reason that Bethel is about 2,800 feet above sea level, which gives you a very good view of the left and the right on this occasion. And because of that, he makes his decision entirely accord with what he could see. He believed that this, because I can see it, is the best option for uninterrupted prosperity and rest. And here we find that he is convinced, and he immediately decides, and he goes. It's almost like he is taking off. That's what we see with this in verse 11. It seems like there's a degree of finality here. So Lot chose for himself the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. They separated from each other. It's kind of like, I want that. We'll see you later. We're on our way. And I think that's an important thing for us to understand, because while it is a difficult thing, let us understand on this occasion that, yes, separation at times can be necessary. It's not something we like, but it is also something we need to enter into with a certain degree of caution. The last time I preached this passage was back in 2019. It was right after General Assembly. We had had a couple little wins that year, which was unusual for us. But nevertheless, there were many in the denomination who were wondering, where do we go? What do we do? The progressives are still taking over. They're pushing us toward more of a revoice kind of thing. But let us understand, one of the things that prevailed in that whole discussion was the remembrance that we are still united to Christ, we are all those who still hold to the faith once delivered to the saints. But while, nevertheless, there were divisions over very strong distinctives that we had, that at times, brothers and sisters, as we have seen within church history, that for the sake of the unity of the body of Christ and the witness of the world, because we desire to be a blessing, we believe at times might find it right to separate. But let us also note that there's a certain degree of danger in that, particularly when that separation is found within the context of separating from those who do not walk by faith. those who concede to the world and to worldliness. And I want you to note that because here's what we see with Lot. Notice that there's two characteristics that we find in verse 11 of his separation, of him going to have his freedom and ability to be able to enjoy what he desires, what he has seen, without really thinking or praying about this. And the first of those things that we see with Lot is he is selfish. Notice that the wording here is that Lot chose for himself the Jordan Valley. I'm gonna take the big cookie. I'm gonna take the thing that is most prized over anything else. There is absolutely no humility in this man as we see him speaking with Abram. He believes that his uncle has made a tactical error and he is quick to take advantage of it. Well, let us understand that it's also something that is spontaneous. That's only because impulsive doesn't start with an S. But the reason for that is, is because what we see in verse 10, that the area surrounding the Jordan was lush. In fact, Moses here compares it not only to the Garden of Eden, but he's saying it has a striking resemblance to Egypt, that which was the breadbasket of the ancient Near East. And I want you to see that it was closer to four cities to where he would be able to have contacts that he could make. Location, location, location, all play into the fact that this appeared to be ideal. But the problem that we see with the selfish spontaneity of his decisions is that they are inconsistent with a walk by faith, and they lack serious considerations for the future. Meaning that he is able to see, or his ability to see is not the same as having an eternal perspective on things. He's looking and living in the here and now. This is where he is walking. It's almost like being in a circle, that I'm living in my own little world. Everything will be fine. And I want you to note that because this is why Lot fails to see the obvious spiritual danger that is here. In fact, there are certain tip-offs in this passage that the original readers would have known. The first would have been that he compares this to Egypt. Yes, there were rich natural resources, but with Egypt, it was a spiritual wasteland. The same was true with the reference to Zoar, which is one of the cities that is there, along with Sodom and Gomorrah, that here we see that this is going to figure prominently in Lot's later spiritual compromise, because it sits on the border, in a sense, quite literally, of the land of promise and the world. meaning that, spatially speaking, the appeal is that he can have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world, that he can have the best of both worlds when, in truth, he doesn't see that this is not going to work out the way he thought. This is a fruitful land, but it will be where he and his family spiritually starve. Brothers and sisters, do we take into account the words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He says, no one can have two masters? You will either hate one or you will love the other, you will love one or you will hate the other. It's not going to work out the way you think. And I want you to see that because this contrast of walking by faith and walking by sight finally leads us to anticipate the inevitable ends. In verse 12, we are told, Abram settled in the land of Canaan. I think this, again, reflects a significant contrast that we see Abram and Lot spatially and spiritually are going in completely different directions. And the path that those who walk by faith and those who walk by sight, really we see that they'll never intersect, that they're in completely different orbits. But let us understand that the end is never the same, and that's what we begin to see with Lot. We continue in verse 12, we're told that while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. And I want you to hear that because as we are making our way through the life of Abraham and considering this, being only in chapter 13, notice that chapter 19's coming. And that's the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. But what we find in this passage as we know what's there looming in the future, this is his first step in a very disastrous progression. What Moses is telling us here is it's not immediate that he recognizes the danger. It all seems well and good, but here also in verse 10 it hints at the inevitable. That we're told again in that parentheses that this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. That he thinks that prosperity is going to come to him, but that prosperity will come to nothing. The place is ripe for judgment, and he's walking right towards it. But I also want to see, because in what we find in verse 13, that now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. I think it's very interesting here, early enough to where we can begin to consider this, that the perversity is so extreme that Moses believes it's necessary to tell us so that we will be ready for what we're going to hear in chapter 19. He is having us prepare ourselves in advance for who they were and tips us off on the inevitable end that we all know is coming. And I want you to note that because it's kind of a sad and interesting fact all at the same time, is that Lot already knows this. Everyone in the region knew Sodom and Gomorrah. Everyone knew. It was not a secret, but nevertheless, he chose to go because of what he saw on the surface and to stay there. In fact, as we'll see next week in chapter 14, even when he's given opportunity to turn away from where he is, he doesn't because he's still walking by sight. He still thinks he can handle this. Now, ask us this evening, what ways do we concede to the world, the flesh, and the devil because we continue to walk by sight? But also, I think it's important for us to consider, is it possible that Lot's actions, yes, they were as a result of him walking by sight, but is it possible that Lot's actions were influenced by what he saw last week with Abraham's choice. Chapter 12, we see Abram humiliated, but he's rich. And I think that's an important thing because how many people do we see who have shamed themselves in movies, television, or just in life in general who have become wealthy in doing so? And I want you to note that because we need to ask ourselves, do we consider the effects of our weak faith upon others? And do we positively seek out outward repentance and begin again with our Lord? And again, I think this is a wonderful thing. I've mentioned it on several occasions that times when we have sinned or when we have done something that is very obvious is against the Lord's will, do we even repent to our children, asking their forgiveness and having them give that forgiveness? Because brothers and sisters, I want you to hear that because this turning back to the Lord, this repentance is what led to the inevitable end of Abram. And that's what we note in verse 14, then on that occasion, after Lot has taken all of his stuff, as he is making his way to the place where there will prove to be a terrible humiliation, that the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, lift up your eyes and look to the place where you are going. Again, it's not Lot saying to himself, see what's before me, but rather, It's the Lord saying, look with your own eyes from the place where you are northward and southward and eastward and westward. He's saying, As he stands at this crossroads that is Bethel, he's saying, look and see with what you have learned and considering these things, looking through eyes of faith, see what is taking place here. And I want you to note that it's not even to a particular place. He wants him to see everything that is here. And why is that? Because one of the things that he understands that his sight is terribly, terribly limited. The note here with Lot, he looked only to what he thought would please him, while faith, understand, is something that is broad and vast and sees far beyond what we can see. Abram receives by faith what God was pleased to give him, which includes portions that at that time belong not only to the Canaanites and the Perizzites, but also will belong to Lot. And I think we need to consider that, because here, it gives us very good understanding of what Jesus tells us in Matthew 13, when He says, for the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Here, as believers, we need to apply this and consider this for ourselves, because understand that even at times when the blessing that God has promised to us is delayed, that it nevertheless is something that is inevitable. It is something, because He has said it will be, that will be. And why do we know this? Because as we hear in verse 15, he says, for all the land that you see, I will give to you and to your offspring forever. The Lord reminds Abram of two tangible parts of the promise that he will fill to encourage him to further trust that he will be faithful to his promise. And I want you to note that because this is where the blessing, or where we see the blessing of walking by faith. And there are two aspects of it this evening. The first, for those who walk by faith that the promise is affirmed. They don't yet have it within their hands, but much like what we hear in Hebrews 11 and 1, that is the evidence of things unseen. And so here, with this promise affirmed, not only from what we hear in verse 16, that I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Now it's an obvious hyperbole that he's speaking of here, but understand that as he has his feet in that dust, each of these individual granules, as it is blowing in the wind, that here we see that Abram begins more and more to grasp the immensity of the promise that God has given to him, just as we see that he does in verse 17, when he is told to arise and walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you. He's like a king who is on an inspection tour of everything that he owns. And notice that the Lord here commands him to see these things so that he will be encouraged to believe the promise. Brothers and sisters, we may not have all that we desire at this moment, but let us understand, isn't that what we see when we come to the Lord's table? It reaffirms the promise for us that we are to taste and see that the Lord's good. It's what we find when baptism, that we see that it is a picture and a sign of a promise that God has made. For adults who have come to faith as they baptize their children, they are able to understand that as God has washed me from my sin, he has cleansed me of my unrighteousness, he has made me a part of his household, allows me to call him my father. and that he will give me all good things, that that is something that we are able to apply to our own children as we pray, and it thrusts us towards praying for them. It affirms that promise. But also, secondly, for those who walk by faith, that the presence of God is enjoyed. In verse 18, we are told, so Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord. Notice that while Abram's faith may have been questionable before, here we're able to put that to rest as we find him at rest on only six to seven acres of land. far less than He has been promised, but He is at rest. And I say at rest because this is the exact same place we find Him next week in chapter 14, verse 13, where He is enjoying a measure of peace when others come to Him. And I want you to know that it's not because he never again will struggle with the promise. He will, and it's going to be some frightful things, but let us note that those who walk by faith generally will continue to walk by faith. meaning that there's a habitual pattern of repentance and returning back to the Lord again and again and again, that we break the habit of sin by turning back to the Lord and following Him and having Him cleanse us of our sin. And why is that? Because while we don't have and we don't see what was promised to us, that like Abram, who desired to have a better country that is a heavenly one, that ultimately that's the very same thing that we're waiting on. And isn't that what we hear in the promise in verse 15? For all the land that you see, I will give to you and to your offspring forever. Note that what we desire is not something in this world that can be seen. It's not something that can be touched. And isn't that the same promise that we receive in Galatians 3.29, that if you are Christ's, then you are Abram's offsprings, heirs of the promise, that you are an inheritor not only of the land, as we hear in Psalm 37, that the meek will inherit the land, but as we hear it with our Lord Jesus Christ in the Beatitudes, he says that we are those who will inherit the earth. And I want you to hear that, because the world is a very, very alluring place, and our sinful nature plays that up greatly with our inclination to walk by sight. But let us hear the warning of Lot, and let us take hope in the promise by faith, and keep before us what will be. Well, that's what Peter tells us as we close out this evening. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while. If necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is the blessing of those who walk by faith. So this evening, brothers and sisters, as those who walk by faith, let us know that in all things we are always walking with Christ and to Christ. Let us go to him in prayer. Our Father in heaven, we come before you this evening giving you thanks that you are a God who speaks to us clearly in your word. And even as we hear in the Apostle Paul that these things were set down in scripture So we, O Lord, may learn from them so that we may be wise, and know, O Lord, that very subtle things, even from believers who, yes, would be saved as lot as in heaven now, that, Lord, we would finish well, and that we would seek in all things, through our lives, to bring honor to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.