Abram came up out of Egypt and returned to Bethel. He came to the place where he had previously built an altar and there he called on the name of the Lord. Strife between his herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot brought a division between the two men. Lot chose the well-watered plains of Sodom. After Lot departed, God renewed His promise of land to Abram and told him to walk up and down in it.

What Does It Say?

1. Abram was very rich in _________, in silver, and in _________.
2. Of the flocks and herds of Lot and Abram, we are told that the land was not able to ________ them, that they might dwell ____________.
3. When the two men separated, Lot chose him all the plain of ___________ and journeyed _________.
4. But the men of Sodom were ___________ and sinners before the LORD _____________.
5. God promised to make Abram’s seed as the __________ of the earth 

What Does It Mean?

1. The plain of Jordan before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was said to be “even as the garden of the LORD” (v.10). What does this mean? How does this compare with Isaiah 51:3For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
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2. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look...” (v.14). This verse is followed by the final section of the chapter where God restates and expands on the promise of land to Abram. Why does God wait until Lot is gone to show the land to Abram? How does Genesis 12:1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
   See All... fit into this timing?
3. Look at a map of the Bible lands and follow the travels of Abram after he left Haran (Genesis 12:5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
   See All...). He traveled to Sichem (Genesis 12:6), which is another name for Shechem, to Bethel (Genesis 12:8), and on south (Genesis 12:9) to Egypt (Genesis 12:10); then back to Bethel (Genesis 13:3), and (after Lot went to the plain of Jordan – Genesis 13:10) to Hebron (Genesis 13:18). Why do you think Abraham is called a stranger (a foreigner) and a pilgrim (one who passes through the land) in Hebrews 11:13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
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What Does It Mean to Me?

1.  In Genesis 12:8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
   See All..., Abram stopped at Bethel, built an altar, and called on the name of the Lord. Later in the chapter, he went down to Egypt and lied about Sarai. Most Bible students see this as an act of backsliding. He did not trust in the Lord during the time of famine and the Bible often uses Egypt as a type of the world, even warning against going down to Egypt for help (Isaiah 31:1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
   See All...). When Abram left Egypt, he returned to Bethel where he had built the altar “at the first” and again “called on the name of the LORD” (Genesis 13:4Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
   See All...). In what ways is this a picture of returning to the Lord? What is the significance of Abram returning to the place where he had been at the first? How can you apply this to the times you fall away from the Lord?
2. When the herdsmen of Lot fought with the herdsmen of Abram (v.7), Abram told Lot, “Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me” (Genesis 13:9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
   See All...). They separated in order to avoid strife. In Romans 12:18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
   See All..., Paul commanded, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” How does this verse apply to the story in Genesis 13? How can you apply this teaching to your own life? Can you give an example of a time when this worked for you?

Suggested Memory Verses

Genesis 13:4Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
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