A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 13:1-18
Lesson #26
THE BEGINNING STEPS OF A BACK-SLIDING CHRISTIAN
- Memory verse: Philippians 4:19
- Read Gen 13:1-4
- Abraham returns to Bethel (4)
- Remember that Bethel means = “house of God”. It is a place of re-dedication to God where one does his first works over again. (Rev 2:5)
- In our Christian walk, at times we realize we have fallen out of God’s perfect will.
- How do we know when we are out of God’s will?
- Sometimes we don’t know immediately because we are preoccupied with daily things. However, the Holy Spirit will not let us wander too far before it becomes apparent to us.
- Wandering out of God’s will is what happened to Abraham.
- When that happens to us, we should do as Abraham did.
- Go back to the place where we left God’s will and do our first works over again.
- How do we do our first works over?
- Examine the pattern of your life and determine where you left God’s perfect will and why.
- Repent
- Accept God’s forgiveness (1Joh 1:9)
- Re-dedicate your life to God
- Determine to persevere in your walk with God.
- Read Gen 13:5-9
- Another test of faith:
- Remember that Abraham, as well as lot, came out of Egypt with wealth they did not have before going there.
- God uses this worldly wealth to test the re-dedication of Abraham’s walk with the Lord.
- Remember that God always tests commitment.
- The conflict between Abraham and Lot was the test.
- Often in scripture, God puts 2 people together who contrast each other in a very significant way. For example: Cain and Abel. Abraham and Lot are such a contrast.
- Read Gen 13:10-13 Lot’s choice
- What are the differences between Abraham’s and Lot’s attitudes?
| Lot | Abraham |
| He had no concern for peace in their relationship | He desired peace (8) |
| He demonstrated no evidence of extending grace | He gives lot the choice (9) |
| He walks by sight (10) | He walks by faith (4) |
| He longed for the pleasures of Egypt (the world) (10) | He desired to please God (4) |
| He chose what appeared to be
The best land (11) |
He chose peace and God (12) |
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- What important things do you notice about Lot’s decision and his relationship to the Lord?
- We see Lot choose what by “sight” appeared to be the best land.
- At that time the area was evidently a green valley (10).
- After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, this area gradually became a desert and remains so today.
- Lot not only chose the best land, but made his home in a very sinful city in that land. (12)
- Lot exemplifies a back-sliding Christian:
- Back-sliding occurs in gradual steps over time.
- Lot was a believer (2Pet 2:7), but we see his first steps of back-sliding away from God:
- Step 1: One begins to walk by sight (10). Selfishness is often a part of the first step in a person’s spiritual decline.
- Step 2: One chooses worldliness (11)
- Step 3: One separates himself from stronger believers (11)
- Step 4: One begins to dwell among non-believers (12)
- Step 5: One begins to make his home (becomes comfortable) among sinners. (12)
- We will see other steps of back-sliding later.
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- Read Gen 13:14-18
- Abraham passed his test of faith which greatly pleased God.
- Because of Abraham’s faith, God reveals more of the Abrahamic Covenant to Abraham.
- This part includes the land. Abraham gave up the best looking land to Lot. God now gives him greater land (15) and says it will be for his descendants forever.
- Remember that Sarah is barren, so this is a promise not only for land but also for physical descendants.
- Abraham in the city of Hebron
- Hebron means = “friend” and represents faithfulness.
- God is not only his God but his friend.
- Hebron is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was a Canaanite city. It’s on the West Bank and part of the occupied territories won by Israel in 1967 (the 6 day war). Israel has currently designated it a city for Palestinian self rule.
- Examples in Hebron of faithfulness in scripture:
- When Sarah died, Abraham buried her here. She had been a faithful wife and friend.
- Hebron was a special blessing given to Caleb for his faithfulness under Joshua.
- Hebron was King David’s capital for 7 1/2 years. Because of David’s faithfulness over small things, God gave him a larger kingdom and Jerusalem became the capital.
- Summary:
- If Abraham is our example of faith, then what Christian actions do we find in chapter 13?
- Repentance for sin and seeking a new beginning (3) (Rev 2:5)
- Acting as a peacemaker (8) (Mat 5:9)
- Unselfishness (9) (Luk 6:38)
- Obedience to God (14) (2Cor 10:5)
- Not holding resentment toward others (14) (Heb 12:15)
- Active worship of God (18) (Joh 4:23)
- If Abraham is our example of faith, then what Christian actions do we find in chapter 13?
Homework
Genesis 14:1-24
- Application of Gen 13:1-18
- Examine your personal relationship to the Lord and the constancy of your walk with Him.
- Write a paragraph defining your constancy in light of Abraham’s example.
- What steps do you need to make to bring your walk with the Lord in conformity with Abraham’s example in chapter 13?
- Examine your personal relationship to the Lord and the constancy of your walk with Him.
- Preparation of Gen 14:1-24
- We are going to talk about Gen 14:18-20
- For background:
- Read Gen 14:1-24, Psa 110, Heb 7:1-4
- Make a list of what you know about Melchizedek
- Who do you think Melchizedek was?
- Read Gen 14:1-24, Psa 110, Heb 7:1-4
- Memory verse: Psalms 50:14
