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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page89"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have a further account concerning Abram.
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I. In general, of his condition and behaviour in the land of promise,
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which was now the land of his pilgrimage.
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1. His removes,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:1,3,4,18">ver. 1, 3, 4, 18</A>.
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2. His riches,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:2">ver. 2</A>.
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3. His devotion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:4,18">ver. 4, 18</A>.
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II. A particular account of a quarrel that happened between him
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and Lot.
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1. The unhappy occasion of their strife
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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2. The parties concerned in the strife, with the aggravation of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:7">ver. 7</A>.
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III. The making up of the quarrel, by the prudence of
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Abram
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>.
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IV. Lot's departure from Abram to the plain
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of Sodom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:10-13">ver. 10-13</A>.
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V. God's appearance to Abram, to confirm
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the promise of the land of Canaan to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:14-18">ver. 14</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge13_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge13_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge13_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge13_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abram's Removal to Canaan.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1918.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Abram went up out of Egypt,
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he, and his wife, and all that
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he had, and Lot with him, into the
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south.
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2 And Abram <I>was</I> very rich
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in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
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3 And he went on his journeys from
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the south even to Beth-el, unto the
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place where his tent had been at the
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beginning, between Beth-el and Hai;
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4 Unto the place of the altar, which
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he had made there at the first: and
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there Abram called on the name of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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I. Here is Abram's return out of Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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He came himself and brought all his
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with him back again to Canaan. Note,
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Though there may be occasion to go sometimes
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into places of temptation, yet we must
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hasten out of them as soon as possible. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ru+1:6">Ruth i. 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. His wealth: <I>He was very rich,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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He was very <I>heavy,</I> so the Hebrew word signifies;
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for <I>riches are a burden,</I> and those
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that <I>will be rich do but load themselves with
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thick clay,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:6">Hab. ii. 6</A>.
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There is a burden
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<A NAME="Page90"> </A>
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of care in getting them, fear in keeping
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them, temptation in using them, guilt in
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abusing them, sorrow in losing them, and
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a burden of account, at last, to be given up
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concerning them. Great possessions do but
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make men heavy and unwieldy. Abram was
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not only rich in faith and good works, and
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in the promises, but he was <I>rich in
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cattle, and in silver and gold.</I> Note,
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1. God, in his
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providence, sometimes makes good men rich
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men, and teaches them how to abound, as
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well as how to suffer want.
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2. The riches
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of good men are the fruits of God's blessing.
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God has said to Abram, <I>I will bless thee;</I>
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and that blessing made him rich without
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sorrow,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:22">Prov. x. 22</A>.
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3. True piety will very
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well consist with great prosperity. Though
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it is hard for a rich man to get to heaven,
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yet it is not impossible,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:23,24">Mark x. 23, 24</A>.
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Abram was very rich and yet very religious.
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Nay, as piety is a friend to outward prosperity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:8">1 Tim. iv. 8</A>),
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so outward prosperity,
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if well-managed, is an ornament to piety,
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and furnishes an opportunity of doing so
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much the more good.</P>
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<P>
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III. His removal to Beth-el,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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Thither
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he went, not only because there he had formerly
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had his tent, and he was willing to go
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among his old acquaintance, but because
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there he had formerly had his altar: and,
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though the altar was gone (probably he
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himself having taken it down, when he left
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the place, lest it should be polluted by the
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idolatrous Canaanites), yet he <I>came to the
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place of the altar,</I> either to revive the remembrance
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of the sweet communion he had
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had with God in that place, or perhaps to
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pay the vows he had there made to God when
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he undertook his journey into Egypt. Long
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afterwards God sent Jacob to this same place
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on that errand
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+35:1"><I>ch.</I> xxxv. 1</A>),
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<I>Go up to Beth-el,
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where thou vowedst the vow.</I> We have
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need to be reminded, and should take all occasions
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to remind ourselves, of our solemn
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vows; and perhaps the place where they were
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made may help to bring them afresh to mind,
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and it may therefore do us good to visit it.</P>
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<P>
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IV. His devotion there. His altar was
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gone, so that he could not offer sacrifice;
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but <I>he called on the name of the Lord,</I> as
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he had done,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+12:8"><I>ch.</I> xii. 8</A>.
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Note, 1. All God's
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people are praying people. You may as soon
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find a living man without breath as a living
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Christian without prayer.
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2. Those that
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would approve themselves upright with
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their God must be constant and persevering
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in the services of religion. Abram did not
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leave his religion behind him in Egypt, as
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many do in their travels.
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3. When we cannot
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do <I>what we would</I> we must make conscience
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of doing <I>what we can</I> in the acts of
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devotion. When we want an altar, let us
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not be wanting in prayer, but, wherever we
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are, call on the name of the Lord.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge13_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge13_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge13_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge13_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge13_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Lot's Separation from Abram.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1917.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 And Lot also, which went with
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Abram, had flocks, and herds, and
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tents.
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6 And the land was not
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able to bear them, that they might
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dwell together: for their substance
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was great, so that they could not
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dwell together.
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7 And there was a
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strife between the herdmen of Abram's
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cattle and the herdmen of Lot's
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cattle: and the Canaanite and the
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Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
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8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let
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there be no strife, I pray thee, between
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me and thee, and between my
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herdmen and thy herdmen; for we <I>be</I>
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brethren.
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9 <I>Is</I> not the whole land
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before thee? separate thyself, I pray
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thee, from me: if <I>thou wilt take</I> the
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left hand, then I will go to the right;
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or if <I>thou depart</I> to the right hand,
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then I will go to the left.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an unhappy falling out
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between Abram and Lot, who had hitherto
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been inseparable companions (see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>,
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and
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+12:4"><I>ch.</I> xii. 4</A>),
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but now parted.</P>
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<P>
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I. The occasion of their quarrel was their
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riches. We read
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>)
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how rich Abram was;
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now here we are told
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>)
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that <I>Lot, who
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went with Abram,</I> was rich too; and therefore
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God blessed him with riches because he
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went with Abram. Note,
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1. It is good being
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in good company, and going with those with
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whom God is,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>.
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2. Those that
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are partners with God's people in their obedience
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and sufferings shall be sharers with
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them in their joys and comforts,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:10">Isa. lxvi. 10</A>.
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Now, they both being very rich, <I>the
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land was not able to bear them, that they
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might dwell</I> comfortably and peaceably together.
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So that their riches may be considered,
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(1.) As setting them at a distance
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one from another. Because the place was
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too strait for them, and they had not room
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for their stock, it was necessary they should
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live asunder. Note, Every comfort in this
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world has its cross attending it. Business is
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a comfort; but it has this inconvenience in
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it, that it allows us not the society of those
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we love, so often, nor so long, as we could
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wish.
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(2.) As setting them at variance one
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with another. Note, Riches are often an
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occasion of strife and contention among relations
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and neighbours. This is one of those
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<I>foolish and hurtful lusts which those that will
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be rich fall into,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:9">1 Tim. vi. 9</A>.
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Riches not
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only afford matter for contention, and are
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the things most commonly striven about,
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but they also stir up a spirit of contention,
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by making people proud and covetous. <I>Meum</I>
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and <I>tuum--Mine</I> and <I>thine,</I> are the great
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make-bates of the world. Poverty and travail,
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wants and wanderings, could not separate
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between Abram and Lot; but riches
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did. Friends are soon lost; but God is a
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<A NAME="Page91"> </A>
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friend from whose love neither the height of
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prosperity nor the depth of adversity shall
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separate us.</P>
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<P>
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II. The immediate instruments of the
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quarrel were their servants. The strife began
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between <I>the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and
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the herdsmen of Lot's cattle,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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They
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strove, it is probable, which should have the
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better pasture or the better water; and both
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interested their masters in the quarrel. Note,
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Bad servants often make a great deal of mischief
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|
in families, by the pride and passion,
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|
their lying slandering, and tale-bearing. It
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|
is a very wicked thing for servants to do ill
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offices between relations and neighbours, and
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to sow discord; those that do so are the devil's
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agents and their masters' worst enemies.</P>
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<P>
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III. The aggravation of the quarrel was
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that <I>the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then
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in the land;</I> this made the quarrel,
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1. Very dangerous. If Abram and Lot cannot agree
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to feed their flocks together, it is well if the
|
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common enemy do not come upon them and
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plunder them both. Note, The division of
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families and churches often proves the ruin
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of them.
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2. Very scandalous. No doubt
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the eyes of all the neighbours were upon
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them, especially because of the singularity of
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their religion, and the extraordinary sanctity
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they professed; and notice would soon be
|
|
taken of this quarrel, and improvement made
|
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of it, to their reproach, by the Canaanites and
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Perizzites. Note, The quarrels of professors
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|
are the reproach of profession, and give occasion,
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as much as any thing, to the enemies
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of the Lord to blaspheme.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The making up of this quarrel was
|
|
very happy. It is best to preserve the peace,
|
|
that it be not broken; but the next best is,
|
|
if differences do happen, with all speed to
|
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accommodate them, and quench the fire that
|
|
has broken out. The motion for staying this
|
|
strife was made by Abram, though he was
|
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the senior and superior relation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
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1. His petition for peace was very affectionate:
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<I>Let there be not strife, I pray thee.</I>
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Abram here shows himself to be a man,
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|
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(1.) Of a cool spirit, that had the command of his
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|
passion, and knew how to turn away wrath
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|
with a soft answer. Those that would keep
|
|
the peace must never render railing for railing.
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(2.) Of a condescending spirit; he was
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|
willing to beseech even his inferior to be at
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|
peace, and made the first overture of reconciliation.
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|
Conquerors reckon it their glory
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|
to give peace by power; and it is no less so
|
|
to give peace by the meekness of wisdom.
|
|
Note, The people of God should always approve
|
|
themselves a peaceable people; whatever
|
|
others are for, they must be for peace.</P>
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<P>
|
|
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2. His plea for peace was very cogent.
|
|
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(1.) "Let there be no strife <I>between me and
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|
thee.</I> Let the Canaanites and Perizzites contend
|
|
about trifles; but let not thee and me
|
|
fall out, who know better things, and look
|
|
for a better country." Note, Professors of
|
|
religion should, of all others, be careful to
|
|
avoid contention. <I>You shall not be so,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:26">Luke xxii. 26</A>.
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|
<I>We have no such custom,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+11:16">1 Cor. xi. 16</A>.
|
|
"Let there be no strife <I>between me and
|
|
thee,</I> who have lived together and loved one
|
|
another so long." Note, The remembrance
|
|
of old friendships should quickly put an end
|
|
to new quarrels which at any time happen.
|
|
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|
(2.) Let it be remembered that <I>we are brethren,</I>
|
|
Heb. <I>we are men brethren;</I> a double argument.
|
|
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|
[1.] We are men; and, as men, we are
|
|
mortal creatures--we may die to-morrow,
|
|
and are concerned to be found in peace. We
|
|
are rational creatures, and should be ruled
|
|
by reason. We are men, and not brutes,
|
|
men, and not children; we are sociable creatures,
|
|
let us be so to the uttermost.
|
|
|
|
[2.] We are brethren. Men of the same nature,
|
|
of the same kindred and family, of the same
|
|
religion, companions in obedience, companions
|
|
in patience. Note, The consideration
|
|
of our relation to each other, as brethren, should
|
|
always prevail to moderate our passions, and
|
|
either to prevent or put an end to our contentions.
|
|
Brethren should love as brethren.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. His proposal for peace was very fair.
|
|
Many who profess to be for peace yet will
|
|
do nothing towards it; but Abram hereby
|
|
approved himself a real friend to peace that
|
|
he proposed an unexceptionable expedient
|
|
for the preserving of it: <I>Is not the whole land
|
|
before thee?</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
As if he had said, "Why
|
|
should we quarrel for room, while there is
|
|
room enough for us both?"
|
|
|
|
(1.) He concludes
|
|
that they must part, and is very
|
|
desirous that they should part friends: <I>Separate
|
|
thyself, I pray thee, from me.</I> What
|
|
could be expressed more affectionately? He
|
|
does not expel him, and force him away, but
|
|
advises that he should separate himself. Nor
|
|
does he charge him to depart, but humbly
|
|
desires him to withdraw. Note, Those that
|
|
have power to command, yet sometimes, for
|
|
love's sake, and peace' sake, should rather
|
|
beseech as Paul besought Philemon,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Philemon+1:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
|
|
When the great God condescends to
|
|
beseech us, we may well afford to beseech
|
|
one another, to <I>be reconciled,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:20">2 Cor. v. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He offers him a sufficient share of the
|
|
land they were in. Though God had promised
|
|
Abram to give this land to his seed
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+12:7"><I>ch.</I> xii. 7</A>),
|
|
and it does not appear that ever
|
|
any such promise was made to Lot, which
|
|
Abram might have insisted on, to the total
|
|
exclusion of Lot, yet he allows him to come
|
|
in partner with him, and tenders an equal
|
|
share to one that had not an equal right, and
|
|
will not make God's promise to patronise his
|
|
quarrel, nor, under the protection of that, put
|
|
any hardship on his kinsman.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He gives
|
|
him his choice, and offers to take up with his
|
|
leavings: <I>If thou wilt take the left hand, I will
|
|
go to the right.</I> There was all the reason in
|
|
the world that Abram should choose first; yet
|
|
he recedes from his right. Note, It is a
|
|
noble conquest to be willing to yield for
|
|
peace' sake; it is the conquest of ourselves,
|
|
and our own pride and passion,
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page92"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:39,40">Matt. v. 39, 40</A>.
|
|
It is not only the punctilios of honour,
|
|
but even interest itself, that in many cases
|
|
must be sacrificed to peace.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_13"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Lot's Removal to Sodom.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1917.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and
|
|
beheld all the plain of Jordan, that
|
|
it <I>was</I> well watered every where, before
|
|
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> destroyed Sodom and
|
|
Gomorrah, <I>even</I> as the garden of the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, like the land of Egypt, as
|
|
thou comest unto Zoar.
|
|
11 Then
|
|
Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan;
|
|
and Lot journeyed east: and they
|
|
separated themselves the one from
|
|
the other.
|
|
12 Abram dwelled in the
|
|
land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in
|
|
the cities of the plain, and pitched <I>his</I>
|
|
tent toward Sodom.
|
|
13 But the men
|
|
of Sodom <I>were</I> wicked and sinners
|
|
before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> exceedingly.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the choice that Lot made
|
|
when he parted from Abram. Upon this
|
|
occasion, one would have expected,
|
|
|
|
1. That
|
|
he should have expressed an unwillingness
|
|
to part from Abram, and that, at least, he
|
|
should have done it with reluctancy.
|
|
|
|
2. That he should have been so civil as to have
|
|
remitted the choice back again to Abram.
|
|
But we find not any instance of deference
|
|
or respect to his uncle in the whole management.
|
|
Abram having offered him the choice,
|
|
without compliment he accepted it, and made
|
|
his election. Passion and selfishness make
|
|
men rude. Now, in the choice which Lot
|
|
made, we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How much he had an eye to the goodness
|
|
of the land. He <I>beheld all the plain of
|
|
Jordan,</I> the flat country in which Sodom
|
|
stood, that it was admirably <I>well watered every
|
|
where</I> (and perhaps the strife had been about
|
|
water, which made him particularly fond of
|
|
that convenience), and so <I>Lot chose all that
|
|
plain,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
|
|
That valley, which was like
|
|
the garden of Eden itself, now yielded him
|
|
a most pleasant prospect. It was, in his eye,
|
|
beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole
|
|
earth; and therefore he doubted not but that
|
|
it would yield him a comfortable settlement,
|
|
and that in such a fruitful soil he should certainly
|
|
thrive, and grow very rich: and this
|
|
was all he looked at. But what came of it?
|
|
Why, the next news we hear of him is that
|
|
he is in the briars among them, he and his
|
|
carried captive. While he lived among them,
|
|
he vexed his righteous soul with their conversation,
|
|
and never had a good day with
|
|
them, till, at last, God fired the town over his
|
|
head, and forced him to the mountain for
|
|
safety who chose the plain for wealth and
|
|
pleasure. Note, Sensual choices are sinful
|
|
choices, and seldom speed well. Those who
|
|
in choosing relations, callings, dwellings, or
|
|
settlements are guided and governed by the
|
|
lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, or the
|
|
pride of life, and consult not the interests of
|
|
their souls and their religion, cannot expect
|
|
God's presence with them, nor his blessing
|
|
upon them, but are commonly disappointed
|
|
even in that which they principally aimed at,
|
|
and miss of that which they promised themselves
|
|
satisfaction in. In all our choices this
|
|
principle should overrule us, That that is
|
|
best for us which is best for our souls.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. How little he considered the wickedness
|
|
of the inhabitants: <I>But the men of Sodom
|
|
were wicked,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
1. Though all are
|
|
sinners, yet some are greater sinners than
|
|
others. The men of Sodom were sinners of
|
|
the first magnitude, <I>sinners before the Lord,</I>
|
|
that is, impudent daring sinners; they were
|
|
so to a proverb. Hence we read of those
|
|
that <I>declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it
|
|
not,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+3:9">Isa. iii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. That some sinners are the
|
|
worse for living in a good land. So the
|
|
Sodomites were: for this was the iniquity of
|
|
Sodom, <I>pride, fulness of bread, and abundance
|
|
of idleness;</I> and all these were supported by
|
|
the great plenty their country afforded,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:49">Ezek. xvi. 49</A>.
|
|
Thus <I>the prosperity of fools destroys
|
|
them.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. That God often gives great plenty
|
|
to great sinners. Filthy Sodomites dwell in
|
|
a city, in a fruitful plain, while faithful
|
|
Abram and his pious family dwell in tents
|
|
upon the barren mountains.
|
|
|
|
4. When wickedness
|
|
has come to the height, ruin is not far
|
|
off. Abounding sins are sure presages of
|
|
approaching judgments. Now Lot's coming
|
|
to dwell among the Sodomites may be considered,
|
|
|
|
(1.) As a great mercy to them, and
|
|
a likely means of bringing them to repentance;
|
|
for now they had a prophet among them and
|
|
a preacher of righteousness, and, if they had
|
|
hearkened to him, they might have been reformed,
|
|
and the ruin prevented. Note, God
|
|
sends preachers, before he sends destroyers;
|
|
for he is not <I>willing that any should perish.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) As a great affliction to Lot, who was not
|
|
only grieved to see their wickedness
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:7,8">2 Pet. ii. 7, 8</A>),
|
|
but was molested and persecuted by
|
|
them, because he would not do as they did.
|
|
Note, It has often been the vexatious lot of
|
|
good men to live among wicked neighbours,
|
|
to <I>sojourn in Mesech</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:5">Ps. cxx. 5</A>),
|
|
and it cannot
|
|
but be the more grievous, if, as Lot here,
|
|
they have brought it upon themselves by an
|
|
unadvised choice.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge13_18"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God Confirms His Promise to Abram.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1917.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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:
|
|
15 For all the land
|
|
which thou seest, to thee will I give
|
|
it, and to thy seed for ever.
|
|
16 And
|
|
I will make thy seed as the dust of
|
|
the earth: so that if a man can number
|
|
the dust of the earth, <I>then</I> shall
|
|
thy seed also be numbered.
|
|
17 Arise,
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page93"> </A>
|
|
|
|
walk through the land in the length
|
|
of it and in the breadth of it; for I
|
|
will give it unto thee.
|
|
18 Then
|
|
Abram removed <I>his</I> tent, and came
|
|
and dwelt in the plain of Mamre,
|
|
which <I>is</I> in Hebron, and built there
|
|
an altar unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here an account of a gracious
|
|
visit which God paid to Abram, to confirm
|
|
the promise to him and his. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. When it was that God renewed and
|
|
ratified the promise: <I>After that Lot was
|
|
separated from him,</I> that is,
|
|
|
|
1. After the
|
|
quarrel was over; for those are best prepared
|
|
for the visits of divine grace whose spirits
|
|
are calm and sedate, and not ruffled with any
|
|
passion.
|
|
|
|
2. After Abram's humble self-denying
|
|
condescensions to Lot for the preserving
|
|
of peace. It was then that God came
|
|
to him with this token of his favour. Note,
|
|
God will abundantly make up in spiritual peace
|
|
what we lose for the preservation of neighbourly
|
|
peace. When Abram had willingly
|
|
offered Lot one-half of his right, God came,
|
|
and confirmed the whole to him.
|
|
|
|
3. After
|
|
he had lost the comfortable society of his
|
|
kinsman, by whose departure his hands were
|
|
weakened and his heart was saddened, then
|
|
God came to him with these good words and
|
|
comfortable words. Note, Communion with
|
|
God may, at any time, serve to make up the
|
|
want of conversation with our friends; when
|
|
our relations are separated from us, yet God
|
|
is not.
|
|
|
|
4. After Lot had chosen that pleasant
|
|
fruitful vale, and had gone to take possession
|
|
of it, lest Abram should be tempted
|
|
to envy him and to repent that he had given
|
|
him the choice, God comes to him, and
|
|
assures him that what he had should remain
|
|
to him and <I>his heirs for ever;</I> so that, though
|
|
Lot perhaps had the better land, yet Abram
|
|
had the better <I>title.</I> Lot had the paradise,
|
|
such as it was, but Abram had the promise;
|
|
and the event soon made it appear that, however
|
|
it seemed now, Abram had really the
|
|
better part. See
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+22:20">Job xxii. 20</A>.
|
|
God owned
|
|
Abram after his strife with Lot, as the
|
|
churches owned Paul after his strife with
|
|
Barnabas,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+15:39,40">Acts xv. 39, 40</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The promises themselves with which
|
|
God now comforted and enriched Abram.
|
|
Two things he assures him of--a good land,
|
|
and a numerous issue to enjoy it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Here is the grant of a good land, a land
|
|
famous above all lands, for it was to be the
|
|
holy land, and Immanuel's land; this is the
|
|
land here spoken of.
|
|
|
|
(1.) God here shows
|
|
Abram the land, as he had promised
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+12:1"><I>ch.</I> xii. 1</A>),
|
|
and afterwards he showed it to Moses
|
|
from the top of Pisgah. <I>Lot had lifted up
|
|
his eyes and beheld the plain of Jordan</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
and he had gone to enjoy what he saw:
|
|
"Come," says God to Abram, "<I>now lift thou
|
|
up thy eyes, and look, and see thy own.</I>" Note,
|
|
That which God has to show us is infinitely
|
|
better and more desirable than any thing
|
|
that the world has to offer our view. The
|
|
prospects of an eye of faith are much more
|
|
rich and beautiful than those of an eye of
|
|
sense. Those for whom the heavenly Canaan
|
|
is designed in the other world have sometimes,
|
|
by faith, a comfortable prospect of it
|
|
in their present state; for we look at the
|
|
<I>things that are not seen,</I> as real, though
|
|
distant.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He secures this land to him
|
|
and his seed for ever
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
<I>To thee will I
|
|
give it;</I> and again
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>)
|
|
<I>I will give it unto
|
|
thee;</I> every repetition of the promise is a
|
|
ratification of it. <I>To thee and thy seed,</I> not
|
|
to Lot and his seed; they were not to have
|
|
their inheritance in this land, and therefore
|
|
Providence so ordered it that Lot should be
|
|
separated from Abram first, and then the
|
|
grant should be confirmed to him and
|
|
his seed. Thus God often brings good out
|
|
of evil, and makes men's sins and follies
|
|
subservient to his own wise and holy counsels.
|
|
<I>To thee and thy seed</I>--to thee to sojourn in as
|
|
a stranger, to thy seed to dwell and rule in
|
|
as proprietors. <I>To thee,</I> that is, <I>to thy seed.</I>
|
|
The granting of it to him and his for ever
|
|
intimates that it was typical of the heavenly
|
|
Canaan, which is given to the spiritual seed
|
|
of Abram for ever,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:14">Heb. xi. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He
|
|
gives him livery and seisin of it, though it
|
|
was a reversion: "<I>Arise, walk through the
|
|
land,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
Enter, and take possession,
|
|
survey the parcels, and it will appear better
|
|
than upon a distant prospect." Note, God
|
|
is willing more abundantly to show to the
|
|
heirs of promise the immutability of his covenant,
|
|
and the inestimable worth of covenant
|
|
blessings. <I>Go, walk about Sion,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+48:12">Ps. xlviii. 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Here is the promise of a numerous
|
|
issue to replenish this good land, so that it
|
|
should never be lost for want of heirs
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
<I>I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth,</I>
|
|
that is, "They shall increase incredibly, and,
|
|
take them altogether, they shall be such a
|
|
great multitude as no man can number."
|
|
They were so in Solomon's time,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+4:20">1 Kings iv. 20</A>,
|
|
<I>Judah and Israel were many as the sand
|
|
which is by the sea in multitude.</I> This God
|
|
here gives him the promise of. Note, The
|
|
same God that provides the inheritance provides
|
|
the heirs. He that has prepared the
|
|
holy land prepares the holy seed; he that gives
|
|
glory gives grace to make meet for glory.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> We are told what Abram did when
|
|
God had thus confirmed the promise to him,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. He <I>removed his tent.</I> God bade
|
|
him <I>walk through the land,</I> that is, "Do not
|
|
think of fixing in it, but expect to be always
|
|
unsettled, and walking through it to a better
|
|
Canaan:" in compliance with God's will
|
|
herein, <I>he removes his tent,</I> confirming himself
|
|
to the condition of a pilgrim.
|
|
|
|
2. He
|
|
<I>built there an altar,</I> in token of his thankfulness
|
|
to God for the kind visit he had paid
|
|
him. Note, When God meets us with gracious
|
|
promises, he expects that we should
|
|
attend him with our humble praises.</P>
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