Genesis 13

Genesis 13: Walking by Faith into Unfamiliar Land

As we step into Genesis 13, we find ourselves once again traveling with Abram and Sarai, along with their extended family and Lot. They move from the Negev back toward Bethel, retracing steps to a place where Abram had once pitched his tent and built an altar. This detail matters. Abram doesn’t just wander aimlessly—he returns to worship. He calls on the name of the Lord in a land that is rocky, dry, and uncertain.

What strikes us is how different this journey is from the way we navigate life today. We rely on maps, forecasts, and guarantees. Abram had none of that. God’s call required blind trust—obedience without knowing the outcome. And it wasn’t easy. Abram had left behind comfort, wealth, and familiarity. Now he was living in tents, navigating conflict, and learning that following God does not always mean immediate ease or visible blessing.

Still, Abram keeps going. He believes God is faithful even when the land feels harsh and the road feels long. That kind of faith challenges us to ask whether we trust God only when things feel comfortable—or even when they don’t.

Choosing Peace and Letting Things Settle

As Abram’s and Lot’s households grow, conflict becomes unavoidable. There simply isn’t enough land for everyone to coexist peacefully. What happens next reveals Abram’s character. Though he has every right as the patriarch to choose first, Abram chooses peace instead. He invites Lot to choose which land he wants, trusting that God will take care of the rest.

This moment teaches us something profound about discernment. Abram doesn’t rush to defend his rights or assert his authority. He allows the situation to settle. Like a shaken jar that eventually becomes clear, truth often emerges over time. We don’t always need to react immediately, even when we feel justified. Sometimes silence, patience, and trust in God allow clarity to rise to the surface.

We’ve all been there—misunderstood, misrepresented, or tempted to defend ourselves. Genesis 13 reminds us that faith sometimes looks like restraint. It looks like trusting God to sort things out rather than forcing our own outcome.

The Land That Looks Good and the Faith That Looks Up

Lot chooses based on what he sees. The land near Sodom looks lush and well-watered—like the garden of the Lord. But Scripture intentionally echoes Genesis 3 here: Lot “looks” and “sees,” just as Eve did in the garden. What appears desirable to the eyes is not always good for the soul. Lot pitches his tents near Sodom, placing his family close to influences that will eventually shape them more than he shapes the culture around him.

This forces us to reflect on our own choices. What voices are forming us? What environments are shaping our families? Proximity matters. Formation happens whether we’re intentional about it or not.

After Lot departs, God speaks again to Abram—and this time, God tells him to look up. God reaffirms the promise, expanding Abram’s vision in every direction. What Abram surrendered in humility, God multiplies in blessing. This is the first time Abram is invited to see the land not through fear or scarcity, but through promise.

The New Testament later points to Abram as a model of faith—faith defined as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Abram wasn’t perfect, but he kept trusting. He kept listening. He kept responding.

So we’re left with a question worth sitting with: what in our lives currently requires faith? Where is God inviting us into uncharted territory, asking us to trust His character rather than what our eyes can see?

Genesis 13 reminds us that the easy route is not always the faithful one—but the faithful path always leads us deeper into the goodness of God.