Genesis 12-17: A Very Great Reward

Abram was living a comfortable life in Haran where he settled with his wife, Sarai, and nephew Lot.  Then when he is seventy-five years old, God tells him to get up and move.  So Abram, Sarai and Lot set out for the land of Canaan, with a side trip to Egypt to escape a severe famine.  During this time, Abram became very wealthy in livestock, silver and gold, but when they and traveled back toward Canaan, they found that the land could not support all of their livestock.  So, as they stood surveying the situation, Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” - Gen. 13:8-9 NIV

Lot chose the well-watered plain of the Jordan where he found himself in the midst of the sordid business of Sodom and Gomorrah and eventually was taken captive by the four kings who went against those two cities.  Abram, who was satisfied with the less attractive prospect, received God's promise that all the land he could see, from north and south, east and west, would become the land of his offspring forever.  Abram was beginning to walk by faith.  There would be many more misfires along the way, but Abram was beginning to take God at his word when he told him:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield
your very great reward” - Gen. 15: 1 NIV

If we chase after things that appear to hold great material promise, we may find ourselves caught up in all of the detritus as the promise disintegrates.  We cannot look at material possessions as a sign of God's blessing.  God's blessing is God himself. 

2010 Post - Gen. 12-17: A Blessing