The Separation and Reconciliation of Lot

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
October 16, 2010

Genesis 13:7-8, Moreover, quarreling arose between Avram's and Lot's herdsmen. The Kena'ani and the P'rizi were then living in the land. 8 Avram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have quarreling between me and you, or between my herdsmen and yours, since we're kinsmen.”

The Hebrew word for kinsmen is achim which means brothers or brethren. God’s greatest testimony is the love we have for each other as well as our harmony, oneness and unity in the Body of Messiah. How we fall short! Our Lord Yeshua Himself prayed in John 17:21-23, “that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one -- 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.” This oneness will outdo anything the secular world has to offer.

Our adversary knows that when we live in this kind of unity; the unity that only the Holy Spirit can bring, that the world will know the Love of our Lord! So he counters us with discord because it discredits us and our testimony.

Notice in the passage above that the Kena’ani and the P’rizi were living in the land; peacefully and without conflict. It was Lot and Avram who were quarreling!

Genesis 13:9-12, “Isn't the whole land there in front of you? Please separate yourself from me - if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left." 10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Yarden was well watered everywhere, before ADONAI destroyed S'dom and 'Amora, like the garden of ADONAI, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Tzo'ar. 11 So Lot chose all the plain of the Yarden for himself, and Lot traveled eastward; thus they separated themselves from each other. 12 Avram lived in the land of Kena'an; and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent near S'dom.”

Avram was “not I-but Messiah” oriented and Lot was “I-not Messiah” oriented. Lot chose the territory by what he thought he’d get for himself and Avram trusted the Lord for what Lot didn’t take. When Lot was taken captive, Avram could have easily said he got what he deserved, but Avram armed his people and went to get Lot out of the mess he had gotten into.

What opportunity do I have to behave like Avram; to show the same grace to rescue someone who has failed? Or have I been rescued like Lot by my kinsmen in Messiah who showed me grace when I had fallen short?
Do we cover and build each other up? Are we quick to judge or do we easily recognize that “it could have been me”?

2Peter 2:7-8, “but he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was distressed by the debauchery of those unprincipled people; 8 for the wicked deeds which that righteous man saw and heard, as he lived among them, tormented his righteous heart day after day.”

Notice the description of Lot in the passage! Three times Lot is referred to as righteous!

Our Lord restores what we have messed up. Can He not mend our bad choices? The answer is YES as we seek Him and go after Him.

An evidence that we belong to Him is that when we do fail (and we will and do), that we are convicted and return to Him.

Proverbs 24:16, “For though he falls seven times, he will get up again; it's the wicked who fail under stress.” and 1John 2:1-2, “My children, I am writing you these things so that you won't sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins - and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”

Our righteousness comes from Him. He is over covering, our kapparah, and we are made holy through His grace.

Conversely, the unrighteous sin without remorse, but the righteous can’t get away with sin (at least not for very long) because like David, the Holy Spirit is in our hearts. See Psalm 73.

So how do we live in the oneness of Messiah? How can we be more like Avram? By putting our flesh on the altar! Avram sacrificed his desires and put his faith in the Lord to provide. His humility and testimony outweighed his preference and prosperity.

Proverbs 22:4, “The reward for humility is fear of ADONAI, along with wealth, honor and life.” Avram operated in God’s economy that as we decrease, He will increase. It should also be noted that if we increase in our own strength, He shall cause us to decrease!

Genesis 15:1-6, “Some time later the word of ADONAI came to Avram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Avram. I am your protector; your reward will be very great." 2 Avram replied, "ADONAI, God, what good will your gifts be to me if I continue childless; and Eli'ezer from Dammesek inherits my possessions? 3 You haven't given me a child," Avram continued, "so someone born in my house will be my heir." 4 But the word of ADONAI came to him: "This man will not be your heir. No, your heir will be a child from your own body." 5 Then he brought him outside and said, "Look up at the sky, and count the stars - if you can count them! Your descendants will be that many!" 6 He believed in ADONAI, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

The Hebrew word for ‘look’ is ‘nabat’ which means to gaze, look, pay attention, show regard to, but it also means ‘look down upon’. Avram was dwelling on childlessness, his circumstance and that maybe it was too late for him. The Lord interrupted him and said ‘not so’ Avram! The Lord invited him to see from His perspective, to look at the stars from His viewpoint with eyes that are eternal rather than temporal. When Avram took to heart the Lord’s viewpoint after gazing at the stars and hearing the promise that his descendants would be that many, Avram believed G-d! He put his trust in Him and it was at that point when he rested in G-d’s Faithfulness that it was counted or ‘chashab’ to him as righteousness.

This week, may we have an eternal view like Avram, trusting the Lord and dreaming with Him. His dream for Avram was overwhelming and His dreams for us can be as well. Lord help us be overwhelmed by what we can believe You for!

Further reading: 1Samuel 18:1-4, 20:17, Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, and 16:19, John 12:24, Matthew 16:25, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 2:3-4, Romans 8:16, Psalm 37:24, Matthew 5:9, Hebrews 12:14, 13:1, Colossians 1:20-21, James 4:10, Isaiah 56:11, 1Corinthians 10:24.