An Article of Faith

The second important aspect of the first great patriarch of ancient Israel, Abraham, revolves around “The Famine and the Separation from Lot.” Because of a severe famine in the land of Canaan, Abraham moved to Egypt for a short time:
“At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, ‘Look, you are a very beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!” 13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.’
“And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone spoke of Sarai’s beauty. When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her – sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
“But the LORD sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. ‘What have you done to me?’ he demanded. ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, “She is my sister,” and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!’ Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions (Genesis 12:10-20 NLT).
Upon his return from Egypt, Abraham and his nephew, Lot, quarreled over pasturelands and went separate ways:
“So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned. (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.) ...
“Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. ...
“Finally Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left’ ” (Genesis 13:1-9 NLT).
After the separation, God reaffirmed His promise to Abraham:
“After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, ‘Look as far as you can see in every direction – north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.’ So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD” (Genesis 13:14-18 NLT).
Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.