Thurs 20th Aug - #99. Frontline Awareness
As part of my morning routine (well most mornings!) I read a few pages of John Calvin’s commentary on Genesis. Yesterday I read Genesis 13 and noted the awareness that Abraham had of the people on his frontline.
After their Egyptian Experience, Abram, Sarai and Lot arrived back in the Promised Land and soon realized that the “land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together” (v6). This abundance of riches caused a little tension between Abram and Lot, and a lot of tension between their staff: “And quarrelling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s” (v7). Quarrelling is nothing new!
Abram knew that this quarreling was not a good thing and it would only get worse the longer it went on. Abram had been called to live at peace with people and to be a blessing to people; quarreling between him and his nephew, and more quarrelling between their staff did not make for peace. Furthermore, Abram was very aware that “The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time” (v7). The quarrelling between men of God would be a very bad witness to these unbelievers on the frontline all around them.
So Abram suggested a quite marvelous thing, “Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarrelling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are close relatives. 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’” (v8,9). Do you see what Abram did? In order to live a peaceful life of godly witness on his frontline (before the Canaanites and Perizzites) Abram was prepared to give another person the first choice of the best in the land. They parted company on good terms; peace was restored; Abram’s witness was intact.
Wow, that is some sacrifice because of frontline awareness!
Love from Paul
PS. Tomorrow we reach our 100th devotional! From next week onwards we will be sending them out twice a week, Myself on Tuesdays and Tim on Thursdays.