Happy Wednesday
January 21, 2026
In the last chapter Abraham left his family and followed God. Do you think we have to sometimes forget about the things in our family to let God make us. It takes an unlearning to learn new habits. Do you notice the writer of Genesis does not include how he feels or what he thinks. He focuses on telling us just what God says and what happens. He never gives us his opinion or how he thinks and feel. Secondly we dont really know Abraham’s thoughts and feelings but his actions speak. What he does says he loves God. He really wants what is right. Last but not least he trust God. If you remember Adam not listening to God changed his entire life.
We sing about the blessing of Abraham and it was a big blessing.
Abram and Lot Separate
13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev,with his wife and everything he had, and Lotwent with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
As he walks with God he grows in wealth. God told Adam to be fruitful and multiply. So your wealth grows with God. Things multiply.
3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
THEY TALK TO GOD. He built an alter at each unique place. Noah built an Altar too. They talk to God.
5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.
The first mention of the evil in the land. As the reader it is Lot that brings us to this place. He is going to live near it. We know evil keeps happening but the focus is not on the evil in the world. But God puts his energy into those who want to do right. We see God will love the world and sent prophets into evil places. But God does not like wickedness nor will he ever dwell in a wicked place. Evil will be at work but God takes no pleasure in it.
13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.
14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.
18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.
WHAT do they do at an Altar? Talk to God. But today it's different.
- Sacrifices & Offerings: Priests performed daily animal sacrifices (burnt offerings), presented grain offerings, and burned incense on the Copper Altar outside the Holy of Holies.
- Libations: Wine and water were poured out as liquid offerings
- Central Hub: The altar was the focal point for all divine service and major Temple rituals, symbolizing God's presence and atonement
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