Following God Blindfolded

Read Genesis 13

Have you ever noticed how Egypt is never most desirable place in the Bible? I mean sure, if the land is in a famine and there’s no water in sight, then Egypt looks pretty tempting; but otherwise it’s never really the “place” to be. Today in Genesis 13 we find Abram coming out of Egypt and out of a period of, let’s face it, rather cowardly living.

“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.” (Genesis 13:3-4) Sometimes, after particularly low periods in our walk with God it’s good to go back to where we started to regain some perspective and this is exactly what Abram does. He goes back to the place he first worships God and calls out to him again. Now notice how God has already set Abram up for the next step of faith, and ironically, he does it by blessing him and Lot so much that they now have to separate and Abram has to make a choice in order to maintain peace between him and his nephew. Of course, as the oldest male leader of the family Abram has every right to take the best property, so why doesn’t he? Or maybe if we look at it another way, maybe Abram had already made his choice. He chose to do the will of God, and Lot chose to follow his own will. Where did it lead them? Lot chose the land that looked more fertile, the land that reminded him of Egypt and it lead him to settle down right into the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram in his choice to live in the desert receives God’s encouragement. The thing is though God encourages him to look up from where he is and around him, and he promises Abram he will receive something that he will never see. Abram could have easily relied on all that God had already given him, he could have easily settled like Lot in the plentiful land, but that was not God’s will. No, God’s will for Abram was wandering in the desert following him the rest of his life, but it was something that would fulfill God’s will, and ultimately it was the best thing for Abram. Notice that once Abram pitched his tents near Mamre the first thing he did was build and altar to the LORD. He didn’t return to the next best thing to Egypt like Lot .What does it all mean? Personally, it’s always meant I can’t take settling for the typical “American dream” for granted. It’s meant I have to remember and consider what kind of Egypt God has brought me out of and where he is leading. What is the Egypt in your life? Are you trying your best to get back to your Egypt? Are you open to where God is leading you? Ask God for the faith to trust him even when you feel like you don’t see where he is leading you.