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separation from his "father's house" was not yet attained. When obedience is not
voluntary, the Lord sometimes allows His children to pass through painful experience, so
that what they have not done freely they shall do after being taught by afflictions:--
"Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold" (Gen. 13: 2).
Famine had found a weak spot in Abraham's faith (Gen. 12: 10), and now riches and
plenty are going to complete the rather bitter lesson that he needed:--
"Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was
not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their inheritance was great, so
that they could not dwell together. And there was strife" (Gen. 13: 5-7).
Abraham, had he insisted upon his rights, could have reminded Lot that the land
belonged to him by the promise of God, and that he, Lot, was an intruder. Abraham,
however, does no such thing. He appears to have gained some insight into comparative
values, and realizes that to get free from Lot even at a great sacrifice to himself would be
worth while. Consequently, although the whole land was Abraham's, he stands aside and
allows his nephew first choice. "And Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan." To follow
the history of Lot and to mark its lessons is not our present purpose. We leave him where
his choice had taken him, and return to Abraham to see what results follow:--
"And the Lord said unto Abram, AFTER THAT LOT WAS SEPARATED from him,
Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward,
and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and
to thy seed for ever" (Gen. 13: 14, 15).
Here at last, and for the first time, the promise of Gen. 12: 1 is fulfilled. In
Gen. 12: 1 the Lord had spoken of separation from country, kindred, and father's house,
and of a land "that I will show thee". Here, in Gen. 13:, when the last act of separation
has taken place--for Lot was a part of his "father's house"--the Lord shows Abraham
the land. Not only did he see it, but he also received the command:--
"Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it: for I will give
it unto thee" (Gen. 13: 17).
Here, surely, is a lesson for us all. Not until there is separation can there be any real
appreciation of the extent of our blessings. We cannot "lift up our eyes" neither can we
"arise and walk through the land" while Lot is with us. How many times are we met with
the remark, "I do not see it". Sometimes, of course, the inability to see may be due to our
faulty presentation, but sometimes we are fairly certain that the one who confesses
inability to see the high calling of Ephesians, is hindered by some spiritual Lot. The
Church equivalent of Abraham's separation from Lot is found in Eph. 1: 17, 18.
The apostle prays not only that the believer may have the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him but, as the margin reads, "for the acknowledgment of
Him". This granted, the eyes are opened and the believer knows what is the hope of His
calling and the riches of His inheritance. He is shown the land, and he arises and walks