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Choice and Consequence

Choice and Consequence

Genesis 13:8 & 9b Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Separate yourself from me.

Maybe God’s initial call to Abram back in Genesis 12:1 to “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house” isn’t a sweeping command to leave all his extended family members behind, but I’ve always had the sneaking suspicion that Abram compromises by letting Lot accompany him. Genesis 12:4 reads: “So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him,” but it seems like it should read, “So Abram went, as the LORD had told him,” period. I think the addendum in the text represents an addendum in Abram’s obedience. After all, this is the same Abram who later lies to Pharaoh about his wife and who takes Sarah’s maid as his concubine. See, Abram obeys part of God’s call—‘go from your country’—while foregoing another—“go from your kindred’, and he’ll have to learn the hard way that compromises don’t just go away quietly.

Christian, what extra baggage are you carrying with you in your walk with God today? Let it go before it leads to unwanted strife.