Making Covenants
So, Abram and Lot split. And I have this picture of Abram sitting watching his nephew go, saying to himself, "Already things are off track. The land is now split between me and Lot. He's off to Sodom. What now?"
But thankfully, God speaks into the situation and reminds Abram that He is a God who makes covenants that nothing could break. We read "The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, 'Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.' So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD." (Genesis 13:14-17 NIV11)
God's Faithfulness Despite Human Failure
In spite of the compromise; in spite of the divide between them; in spite of Lot's own mess up; nothing was going to get in the way of God's plans. He had promised Abram the land for his people. He had promised him offspring more numerous than the dust. And He comes here to remind him: though it looks bleak I am still in control. I am not a promise-breaking God. I am a covenant-keeper.
You see, God promised to make a great nation and great blessing out of Abram's life. Genesis 12:2-3 says: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
The Fulfillment in Christ
Years later, Jesus came into the world. And in Matthew's Gospel he begins by tracing back Jesus' lineage all the way to Abraham, saying "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1 NIV11)
Friends, all those who have faith in Jesus are children of Abraham. Paul later wrote "Those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.'" (Galatians 3:7-8 NIV11)
So God offers blessings to all people on earth through Abraham because the son of Abraham, Jesus Christ, died and rose again, and ascended into heaven, took His place at the right hand of God the Father, and was given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Living in God's Unbreakable Promise
Here's the thing: No compromise, no division, no careless choices on our part can ever undo the faithfulness of our God the covenant keeper.
And yes, sometimes we look around at the world and it seems to be a mess. We look around and wonder if the enemy is winning. But our God cannot be stopped, even by broken and careless people like us.
God has given His people this world. He has reconciled people back to Himself, given them life through Jesus and redemption and power and dominion!
So I ask you today: are you a child of Abraham? Is your faith in Jesus, the seed of Abraham, allowing you to enjoy the covenant that God promised Abram?
If so, live like it. Stop making compromises, because even a little bit of sin messes up your life. Start making concessions with grace and love, because unity is worth more than pride. Stop making careless choices, and capture those thoughts before they lead you to Sodom. Keep the faith in the God whose covenant promises are to be trusted.
