Genesis 13

Wow, I loved this chapter.  It really hit home for me.  It is short but packed with a mighty punch.  In this chapter, Abraham and his nephew, Lot, are moving their families to where they are going to settle.  Both Abram and Lot are pretty powerful and wealthy men, so they have a lot of goods between the two of them.  They have so much, that they realize that they really cannot support both of their crews in the same area, so Abram knows that they will have to go their separate ways.

Verse:  Genesis 13:8-9  "So Abram said to Lot, 'Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.  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.'"
This is pretty big stuff.  Abraham was older than Lot and was his uncle, so technically he should have been the one to choose.  When Lot does choose, he does not show any deference to his uncle and chooses what seems to be the best land for himself. 

Abram doesn't even bat an eye.  He goes the opposite way, even though it doesn't seem to be that great.  He knows that the Lord will protect him and his family.  He is told that by the Lord later on in the chapter...God promises to give him great land and great numbers of offspring.  This isn't what struck me though...what struck me is Abram's selflessness.  He offers up the best to his nephew.  He puts his family first.  He knew that he could be facing potential conflict and chose to meet it head on and took the initiative to resolve it.  He didn't put himself first either, he put his nephew first.  It's a good reminder to me.  I need to be willing to work with those I care about, to not avoid things, but to meet them head on.  I also need to go in with a heart of humbleness and peace and to be willing to put myself last, even if it means I might get hurt or not get what I want.  It is a hard lesson for me to learn sometimes.  I think it can be human nature to want to put ourselves first...I need to learn to squelch that desire and look to the needs of my family and friends around me.  I need to be BOLD.  That is one of my biggest problems...I am always afraid to shake things up, or to be hurt myself.  I have to get past that and step out in FAITH.