Hi There! I’m excited to continue our journey of faith by looking at the story of Abram and Lot in the promised land. There is so much to learn and discover about growing in faith. I pray we take an authentic approach as we delve deeper into becoming children who actually believe in their Father’s goodness. Let’s get started!
In the previous chapter (Genesis 12) God tells Abram to leave his home country to go onto a land He will eventually show him. Abram had no idea where the journey would cause him to end up. He simply stepped out in obedience to the word of God spoken to him. Now in chapter 13 we see God showing him the land and inviting Abram to see it, live in it and walk in it even before He gave it to him as a possession. Consider how God patiently and faithfully built faith in Abram’s heart to believe in Him and what He has purposed to do in Abram’s life. As we proceed through the account of Abram’s life in Genesis, we can see the evidence of God’s faithful leading of Abram through the journey of faith. God methodologically established faith in Abram and guided him to walk in faith. This is an important revelation to grab hold of: Faith in our hearts is a work of God. The book of Ephesians states that faith is a gift of God, and it is He who establishes it in our hearts so that we may fulfil His plans and purposes (Ephesians 2:8-10). It is not of our own strength and effort lest we boast in His presence rather it is the outworking of a life that is solely dependent upon God. Indeed, God is invested and committed to growing faith in our hearts towards Him. He partners with us in this journey and walks alongside us every step of the way until we fully trust in Him. Beloved you are not alone in your quest to believe in God and trust in His goodness. Your God is with you.
Abram found himself right back in Bethel after his testing in Egypt. After the seeming failure in Egypt where Abram feared for his life coming back to Bethel may have seemed like a regression in progress. He may have still been smarting from the sting of disappointment and embarrassment having lied about his wife and almost losing her simply because he didn’t trust God to protect him. Abram didn’t lose heart nor focus for he worshiped the Lord. He didn’t allow despair and disappointment to seep in; rather he kept his eyes on God and remained in the presence of God. It is when we are feeling low in spirit and confused of which path to take that we need God most. He is our strength in times of weakness. Sometimes we retreat into ourselves when things do not go as planned or hoped. We lose faith in God when faced with disappointment, but these are times when we need to recalibrate in God’s presence and declare His truth over our situation; the word He spoke before remains true in my disappointment therefore I will trust Him. Though the circumstance may say otherwise, a greater voice has spoken, and He cannot lie so I trust Him (Numbers 23:19). This truth was tested in my life when I faced a redundancy at my place of employment. The lord had spoken previously that He had given me this job but now several years later I was faced with the possibility of losing my only natural source of income. (I say natural because God is my true source!) My pastor said, “rejoice for the word of the Lord concerning you is sure.”So in obedience I began to thank God for my job, declaring His truth over my situation Phillipians 4:6-7. I watched God move me from a unit that offered no growth and placed me in a department with more opportunities for promotion. What the devil meant for bad God turned it around for my good! My job spoke a word of fear and lack but my God spoke a word of provision and faithfulness. My God cannot lie!
But I digress, let’s get back to our story. We meet upon a conflict situation: Lack of resources led to conflict between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen. The land was not enough to support all of them together. The situation brought about a separation between Lot and Abram. Notice how we have come full circle to God’s command in Genesis 12: 1 where God told Abram to leave his country and brethren behind. He carried his nephew Lot but eventually they met upon a situation that forced a separation. One might say, “God this is too hard to fulfill. What you’re asking me to do is painful!” But look at how their stories turned out. Think about it. If Abram had left Lot in Haran? There would be no wife turned into a pillar of salt, no Moabites and Ammonites, no war between these nations and the Israelites. Countless lives would have been spared. I say all of that to emphasize this point: God is good and every instruction He gives us is for our good. This is a confidence to trust Him and obey His word. Yes it may feel painful now to obey but obeying Him will bring joy in the morning. Having this example before us let us likewise press into the mark of the high calling of God Hebrews 12:1-4.
Abram hadn’t yet realised this so he still insisted on bringing Lot. Beloved, not everyone will be able to walk with you into the promises of God. There will come times when a stripping away needs to occur. Are the persons around you who you do life with encouraging you in your faith in God? Or are they contributing to your trusting in your own reason instead of God’s word? Faith comes by hearing God’s word. Are the people around you speaking life into you and encouraging you in your faith (Proverbs 18:21)? Or are they complaining and murmuring, failing to see and believe in God’s promises concerning you (1 Samuel 16:6-13, 17:28)? Who is influencing your faith or lack thereof in God? Remember Job’s wife? She told her husband to curse God and die Job 2:9! This statement seems jam packed with bitterness and resentment at her situation. So much so that she would urge her husband to die and sin against God rather than encourage Him in faith. Sometimes we can be surrounded with persons like that who will speak doubt and discouragement into us out of their own sense of disappointment.
Recently I was set to go and apply for a visa. If you’re a Jamaican you know what that process is like! This moment came after the Holy Spirit prompted my Pastor to prophecy over me. He said, “Anna, I see you with your visa. Go and apply!” Now immediately upon hearing those words I rejected them. You see I had been applying for several years now and each time I went up I was denied. Not once, Not twice! Each time was nerve wracking, embarrassing and disappointing. It felt like a wound and my face felt hot and tight, my body felt tense and numb and my heart raced and beat heavily in my chest. It was a whole ordeal! It was so bad that I told God “Lord, I’m not going back until you give an audible voice in the sky. Please don’t make me go back!” So I put it down for over five years and took my mind off of traveling. During those years I was not able to see my sister and my dad even at times in my life journey when I needed to be with them, I couldn’t. So when I heard the word spoken for me to go back and apply I knew the stakes were high. It would be extremely painful for me to have my hopes up and then dashed if I were to be denied. About a month passed and I was told to apply in another prophecy and this time I just said, “I’m going to obey”. There was a real possibility for a denial of my application but I decided I was going to trust and obey.
I submitted my application and that is when the anxiety stirred in my heart. It felt so overwhelming like I couldn’t breathe or function properly. In response I did two things; first I said “Lord, I need a word to stand on!” He gave me Jeremiah 32:42b “So will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.” I confessed this scripture every time I felt afraid or imagined the worst. It became the ground I stood upon. Second, I relied on the prayers and encouragement of my church family to strengthen me in my obedience to God’s word. Previously, I went without anyone knowing for fear of embarrassment but it only made me carry the burden of disappointment alone. There was no one there to help me face the difficult experience because I had not invited anyone to walk this journey with me. This time I had a group of people praying for me, believing God with me, petitioning on my behalf, encouraging me as I moved in obedience to God’s word. All too soon the date came for the interview and I queued in line with other hopeful applicants. One lady in particular gestured towards the building and said “That’s a place of disappointment and tears. A lot of people don’t get through with their applications there.” Like Job’s wife she spoke from a place of doubt and disappointment. In Faith, I whispered to myself “That’s a place of joy and answered prayers!” At the end of the interview I saw the dejected countenance upon that lady’s face outside the building and knew her application wasn’t approved. It became a powerful teaching moment for me: You will have what you say.
The bible notes that Abram returned unto Bethel rich. Abram had gold and silver and cattle to spare. Abram could have become satisfied with what God had already blessed him with. After all he was a very wealthy man and could lead a comfortable life providing for his family. Abram however remained committed to believing God for His promises concerning him. Here is an important encouragement to not settle for less than what God has promised us. The bible says that Abram looked for a city built by God Hebrews 11:10. He was not impressed by the glory of man, no, his heart was intent upon the will of GOD. Beloveds remain clear and steadfast in pursuing God’s will for your life. On the day of the interview I not only got a visa to see my sister but I got another visa to see my father. Two different countries said yes to my applications on the same day within minutes! The Lord gave me double for my trouble, Hallelujah! Let’s not settle beloved, Let’s press into the fullness of all that God has in store for us!
In the process of time there arose a strife and division between Abram and Lot’s herdsmen. Abram led the charge to seek peace and allowed Lot to choose where he wanted to go. Abram’s heart was more focused on maintaining the right relationship with Lot than securing his own income. Having a good relationship with others is important. There is a certain blessing that comes from living in righteousness and peace with your fellow man Psalm 133. Your heart remains in a place where God can trust you with more. Furthermore, Abram showed his faith in God by allowing Lot to choose. His actions showed that he could afford to be generous because he trusted God to provide for him. I believe He didn’t withhold or try to control out of a fear of not having enough. No, he was generous because he trusted God to provide and supply all his needs. Lack is such a prolific tester of our faith in God. If i’m honest i would tell you that I tend to try and figure things out on my own, withhold my resources from others whenever i perceive lack in my life. I can recall a moment when after meeting my monthly obligations I looked at my account balance and realised there was not enough to see me through to the next month.
I became so anxious and irritable trying to think “how can I make do with the little I have left just to survive?” The feeling was so overwhelming and wouldn’t budge no matter how many times I confessed Psalm 23 and rebuked the devil! I finally cried out to the Lord and said “Father, I’m scared. I don’t know what to do. I want to trust you to meet my needs but I’m so worried!” You see at that moment worry was a writhing presence in my body: my hands were cold, my legs felt weak, my chest felt heavy and my stomach cold and knotted my vision was blurry and my mouth dry. Fear was a real presence in my life. God met me there and like Abram my eyes were opened to see that God had already made provision for me that I didn’t know of! Did my situation change? Nope! My bank balance remained the same, but just as that encounter was real and worry was lifted off me like a sheet in the morning, even so His word was real to me. I just knew that there was provision waiting for me in the coming days and weeks. I kid you not even so individuals came and placed money in my hands, extra pay came in, groceries even! All I needed, my Father supplied it. I pray for us all that the spirit of lack be broken from our minds and hearts to believe in God’s providing love. Right now in the name of Jesus, I ask Father that every stronghold of lack be broken in Jesus name, from our minds and lives! Let our hearts cheerfully give, trusting in your goodness towards us!
Taking Abram up on his generous offer, Lot lifted his eyes and looked. Abram also lifted his eyes and looked. But there was a difference in motive and power, and a difference in the results, of their gaze. Lot looked from a motive and power of flesh, self-will, and pride. He was motivated by his own reasoning and at first it seemed prosperous and was good to him and his house but in the end, there was destruction. He never sought the counsel of God nor was he dependent on the leading of the Holy Spirit which is reminiscent of what Eve did in Genesis 3. She too looked and acted on her fleshy reasoning. Beloved there is a difference in how we look upon the promises of God! We look by faith not by sight. Let the word of the Lord be before you and let the Spirit of God guide you into all truth.
Notice that it is after Lot a symbolic representation of prideful reasoning left that God moved and spoke in Abram’s life (Isaiah 6). 1 Peter 5:6-7. Indeed the name Lot means Veil or Covering in Hebrew 1. God presented the promise to Abram for him to see and walk in even before it was given to him. God told Abram to look at the land and to walk in it. Why was it important for Abram to look? Why did God instruct him to lift up his eyes and look? We possess what we confess and we confess what we see. If our eyes are on our lack then we will walk in lack but if our eyes are on His abundant provision then we will be ready to receive the blessing of God. Keep the promise of God before your eyes and claim it even before you have received it. Abram obeyed and worshipped God. He did something in response to the word he heard. Faith requires an equal response of obedience. If God’s word is true, then I will act on it. If I truly believe He has given me the land, then I will go and dwell in it. If I truly believe He has called me to walk on water, then I will step out of the boat. If I truly believe He has given me that visa then I will apply. If I truly believe that He has made provision for me this month then I will rejoice and be glad. Also notice Abram worshipped on the mountain top in the promise of God and in his disappointment. His regard and esteem of God- remained constant irrespective of his circumstances. Effectively Abram said God you are trustworthy in every situation. God is good and I can trust Him. This is the key to faith: knowing that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. God is good and He shall surely perform His promises to you; Trust Him.
Kimree
December 16, 2025It was a really good read. I love the fact that you were vulnerable in sharing your personal testimony with God and the outcome of each journey. The way your experiences were linked to the events in the Bible, especially in the story of Abram and Lot, reminded me that these great biblical figures went through similar ordeals in their faith in God. I also learned so much about the relationship between Abram and God how disobeying God can cost a life, cause unnecessary drama, and even delay destiny. The meaning of Lot’s name was fascinating to learn as well.
Overall, this blog was both inspiring and thought-provoking, encouraging deeper reflection on faith, obedience, and trust in God.
huios
January 2, 2026Hi Kimree,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I am so grateful that you were encouraged by this post. My aim is to show that our heroes of faith grew in their trust in God and likewise we too can grow in our faith as we go about our everyday lives. I pray your own walk of faith is stirred to deeper depths as you read on!