DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible - Flipbook - Page 35
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G enesis 13
another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.
9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
Abram and Sarai in Egypt
At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to
go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. 11 As he was approaching the
border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful
woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s
kill him; then we can have her!’ 13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then
they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”
14 And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sa
rai’s beauty. 15 When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to
Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. 16 Then Pharaoh
gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female
donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17 But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household
because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused
him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you
tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me
to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of
here!” 20 Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram
out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.
10
Abram and Lot Separate
So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with
his wife and Lot and all that they owned. 2 (Abram was very rich in
livestock, silver, and gold.) 3 From the Negev, they continued traveling by
stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai,
where they had camped before. 4 This was the same place where Abram had
built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.
5 Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with
flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. 6 But the land
could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living
so close together. 7 So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram
and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)
8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between
us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 The whole countryside
is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we
will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the
right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of
the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed
Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the
east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company
with his uncle Abram. 12 So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot
moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the
plain. 13 But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly
sinned against the Lord.
14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see
13
GENESIS 12:1-3
Our stories matter—
the stories God writes
with the ink of extravagant grace
on our hearts, our hopes,
our broken-made-beautiful lives.
No detail is overlooked,
no plot twist wasted.
Before our first breath he knows
how we will fit
into the story of his glory.
Then day by day,
moment by moment,
the adventure unfolds as we see
the genius of his creativity
and the gentleness
of his heart toward us.
Thank you, Lord, for the love and
grace you are pouring into the
unfolding story of this glorious
adventure called my life.
Read more about this topic on page 166.
