Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Lot and Abram Divide the Land

Genesis 13:1-18


So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came  to Bethel, to the  place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had  first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.  Now Lot, who was moving about  with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.  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.”  Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar.   (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)  So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east.  The two men parted company:  Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.  Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.  The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes  from where you are and look north and south, east and west.  All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.  I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.  Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”  So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of  Mamre at Hebron, where he built an  altar to the LORD.

Discussion Questions


  • Why did Lot and Abram have to divide the land?  Their families and possession had grown so much there wasn’t enough space.
  • Where did Abram go to live?  Canaan
  • Where did Lot go to live?  Jordon
  • God wants us all to get along, be fair and share.  Did Abram and Lot make a good choice to go separate ways? Yes



Prayer

Dear God,
Thank you for teaching us about obeying.  We pray that we do our very best to listen and obey each day.
Amen.


Bible Verse for October

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” 
Proverbs 3:5


Outdoor Family Fun

Ask your child to help you think of a kind deed you can do for a neighbor or sick friend.  Ask your child, “What would you like someone to do for you?”  Pick a day this week to deliver cookies or a card together or lend a helping hand to someone you know.  Doing a kind deed is a way to get along with others and create good relationships.  You might also call a nursing home or senior center nearby to ask if you can come visit and bring a gift.


Homespun idea


Help your child make two sheep puppets from paper lunch bags.  To make the puppets, draw two eyes and a nose on the bottom of each bag.  Draw the mouth so that it extends from the folded—over bottom to the side of the bag.  Help your child glue cotton balls on the puppets.  You and your child can then use the paper-bag sheep to dramatize how Abram and Lot split their possessions.



Daily Challenge


This week, your child learned that God wants us to get along.  Encourage your child to  commit to one of the following  challenges to keep our eyes and hearts focused on God.  Help your child weave faith into life this week and follow through on the challenges.

  • Pick a toy to share all week long with your brother or sister.
  • Invite a friend over to enjoy a snack with you.  Let your friend choose his or her part of the snack first.
  • Let your brother or sister choose which television show or movie to watch.