Abraham's Life Detours Intro & Objectives A) Place Detour (Genesis 12;20) B) Person Detour (Genesis 13-14) C) Procedure Detour (Genesis 16-17) Assignment

The second detour that Abraham takes is uncovered in two different incidents, but it all revolved around being with someone God told him not to be. Have you ever been with those you shouldn't? This is a a person problem.

Many of Abram's problems developed because he brought Lot along. Genesis 12:1 told Abraham to, “Go ... from your relatives.”

But what do we find in Genesis 13:1,

“So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him; and Lot with him.”

Chapters 13 and 14 record two big hassles Abraham could have avoided had he obeyed the LORD. We should assume that there were many more not recorded.

#1) Abram and Lot's Workmen. (Genesis 13)

God instructed Abram so that he could avoid unnecessary trouble. If Abram carefully followed what God had said, he would have been spared from these two problems. Disobedience always has its consequences.

The first problem was over Abram and Lot's workmen. In verse 13:7 Abraham mentions that they were brothers and the real enemies were the Canaanite and the Perizzites. If they would argue, then they would become vulnerable to the enemy.

And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. (Genesis 13:6-7)

In the end, they just couldn't get along with each other. Lot and his men were attracted to the glamorous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (13:10), and his family suffered forever because of it. Abraham settled in Canaan. God has a way to bring his people back to His original purpose. May we never get off on these detours!

#2) Abram's Rescue of Lot (Genesis 14)

The second problem of having Lot nearby led to being involved in a risky fight. Once Lot was nearby, Abram was responsible for his safety and well-being. The evil one often uses this method to distract God's people from their main work.

Abram would not have had any of these concerns had he just left Lot back in Haran. Abram risked everything against great advantages to help rescue Lot. Sure Abraham showed his courage and concern. And God had helped them out so to defeat this coalition army. It was not Abram's cleverness, but God's grace that got him out of trouble.

Application: God clearly does not want us to associate with certain people.

• He doesn't want us to date or court non-Christians.

• He is not pleased when we marry people our parents do not approve of.

• He doesn't want us to hang around those given to anger.

• He doesn't want us to listen to gossiper and backbiters.

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Reflections

Abram was considered nice by bringing Lot along, but it got him into lots of trouble. Are you associating with people that you shouldn't?

C.) Procedure Detour (Genesis 16-17)