Genesis 13

As I read our chapter for today, I can’t help thinking about one of my favourite quotes from Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince. It goes like this:

One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.

Although it relates to only one of the many lessons we can learn from the chapter, it does seem to be the most striking one. Before that, however, let’s just read the relatively short chapter and see what it has to do with seeing as well as believing.

Bible Passage:  Genesis 13

What you see is not what you get

Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. […]  (Gen 13:6-7)

And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east.  […]  (Gen 13:10-11)

Very often in our lives, we tend to think that what we see is what we get. What is good is good and what is bad is bad. But are things really so simple? Is it really true that what we see is what we get?

If we were to look deeper into the events of this chapter, it is rather evident that this is not true at all.

The first thing that seems good but in fact turned out to be a source of bitterness was the great possessions of Abram and his nephew. Where did these great possessions come from? We can deduce that it was actually gifted to them during their stay in Egypt because there was no mention of them being very rich when they left Haran. In the same chapter, it was recorded that Pharaoh treated Abram well for Sarai’s sake and gave him sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys and camels (Gen 12:16). Seems good doesn’t it?

However, this ‘good’ thing first caused Lot to separate from Abram and later was the cause of another familial dispute (Sarai and Hagar). Thus we can see that the ‘good’ things of the world are not what we should be pursuing and fixing our eyes on for the wise Solomon says

The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it. (Prov 10:22)

Besides ‘good’ things, ‘good’ places are also another point we have to be wary of. We see how Lot, because he saw the fertile and well-watered plain of Jordan, chose to move there; taking his first step towards sin. The attraction of Sodom was so great that six chapters later, he’s longer living in tents anymore but has a house in the city.

Have you any place that you are considering going to? Does it seem ‘fertile’ and ‘well-watered’ to you? It may be an exciting university course, a country you’re considering settling down in, a lucrative job offer or business opportunity.

Before we start moving our tents however, let’s think if by moving to this seemingly good place, are we moving nearer to or further away from God? No matter how good a place may appear, it’s not good for us if God is not there. Conversely, no matter how bleak and dry a place may seem, there’s no place better if God if there.

Therefore, let us remember to walk by faith and not by sight; disregarding what seems good to the world but fixing our hearts, minds and souls on that which we cannot see but is far better than the transient benefits of the world.