Sermon Study Guide

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Making God the Most Important Thing “Illuminate: Learning to Trust and Surrender Through the Life of Abraham.” Genesis 13:1-8

October 28, 2018 BIG IDEA Because Abraham trusted God, he didn’t need to grab at things. He trusted God for his future. Because he could let go of his own needs, he could put God first. As Ridgewood Church looks forward to our future and a quest for deepening relationships with God through generosity, we can learn from Abraham. We can learn how to be free from the bondage of selfishness, fear, and control. We’ll learn that our love for God will grow deep when we learn to make him the most important thing.

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: Abraham (Abram) and Lot were wealthy men. They were blessed with livestock, silver, and gold. But the land couldn’t support their herds so a decision had to be made. They would split up. Abraham was the uncle and he should’ve gotten first choice. But he believed in God’s promise of land, so he let Lot choose first. Abraham had realized that trusting God’s promises frees us to serve others and make God our most important thing. Genesis 13:1-18 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. 2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

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Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. 14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

DISCUSSION & APPLICATION 1. Abraham Knew That He Could Trust God Genesis 13:1-4 – So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. 2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. Abram sacrificed to the Lord and prayed. He knew that God was with him. Though Abraham was a flawed man, within this portion of the narrative he shines. He trusts in God’s promises. He could unselfishly give up first choice, all along trusting that God would be faithful to him. a. Who is the most “committed” person you know? To what are they committed?

b. What does commitment mean to you? To what are you committed?

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c. When has commitment cost you or caused you to rearrange your priorities?

2. Circumstances Forced Abraham to Make a Decision Genesis 13:5-7 – And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. In the ancient world, wealth was measured by the size of one’s herds, as well as the possession of gold and other jewels. By this measure, both Lot and Abraham were wealthy men. They’d both prospered greatly. But that prosperity presented a problem: The land couldn’t sustain them both. They would need to split up. a. Can you think of times in your life when circumstances forced a decision? How did God speak to you?

b. Are circumstances random? How do you think God interacts with events?

c. What is God ultimately trying to accomplish through circumstances?

3. Abraham Deferred to Lot Genesis 13:8-9 – Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

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Now, in the most extreme test of faith in his life to date, Abraham had to trust that God would give him the Promised Land even if Lot chose the best portion. It was about total trust. It was an “all in” call for faith. And he did it! Abraham deferred to Lot. Knowing that God’s promise was genuine, Abraham didn’t have to live or die with what Lot would choose. A person who believes the promises of God doesn’t have to cling to things. God was the most important thing to Abraham! a. Lot clearly had different priorities than Abraham. Could you describe them?

b. God made a promise of land to Abraham. He believed that promise. In what ways does generosity require this kind of faith?

c. In order for Abraham to be the generous man he was in this situation, he had to stay committed to following the ways of God. Do you feel you are committed to following the ways of God in terms of generosity? In what ways are you weak, uncommitted, or wavering?

4. Abraham Chose God Above Himself and Received a Reward Genesis 13:10-18 – And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. 14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

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Abraham waited, trusted, acted in faith, and got the best land according to an eternal promise. God invited Abraham to see the extent of the Promised Land, and literally walk through it. God rewards faith. It might not be obvious and it might not be immediate. God rewarded Abraham’s faith. He will reward your faith. a.

As you think about the priority of your generosity to God’s Kingdom, do you feel you are committed to generosity above your other financial priorities? Another way to put this might be, does your level of spending control your level of giving, or does your level of giving control your level of spending? Be as honest as you possibly can.

b. Read 2 Corinthians 9:10-15. 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 – He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! What rewards for generosity are described in the above passage?

c. Spend a moment and ask God: Are you my number one priority?

PRAY Lord, help me to trust you with all of my heart. Help me to stop clinging to my stuff. Help me to make you my most important thing. Amen.

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DIG DEEPER For further study this week:  

Redeeming Money: How God Reveals and Reorients Our Hearts – a book from Paul David Tripp Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity In Christ – a book from John MacArthur

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA “Illuminate” – Surrender to Him (Genesis 22:2-18)

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