Genesis 13  Abram, Sarai, and Lot returned from Egypt, back to Bethel.. to the same place that Abram had built an altar to the Lord.  Once again we are told, "there Abram called on the name of the Lord." 

Both Abram and Lot had acquired abundant possessions.. herds and flocks and tents.. They both had herdsmen that worked for them and the groups began to have some conflicts.  Abram graciously offered Lot whatever land he desired so that they could separate their belongings.  Lot chose to go toward the valley of Jordan.. an area that looked "like the garden of the Lord".  He traveled  eastward with all that he had and settled near Sodom.. which, we know, was a place filled with evil men. 

Abram settled in the land of Canaan.. and God once again promised him the land.. and descendants to fill the land.  "And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered." 

Abram once again searched out the land God was giving him and settled "by the oaks of Mamre" and built another altar there.  This became "home" for Abram. 

I'm struck again by the way that God separates one thing from another.. from the start He separated light from dark, day from night.. water from land.  Then, after the flood He separated the 3 sons of Noah and then separated the nations and languages.  Here, we see Him separate Lot from Abram.. He chose to bless this one man over all the others that were filling the earth.  We know that God is not done with separating.. One day He will separate the goats from the sheep.. the wheat from the chaff.. the believers from the world.. Our infinite and unchanging God is at work.. and we wait expectantly to see what He will do next!

Father in heaven, You are the God who is still blessing Abraham.. filling the earth with his descendants.  As Paul wrote in Romans that "not the children of the flesh.. but the children of the promise" who are regarded as descendants of Abraham.. And in Galatians he wrote.. " And if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."  We marvel at this blessing.. to be part of the Your promise given those many years ago..children of promise, Abraham's offspring.. because of Jesus Christ who is our Lord and King.  Sometimes we feel so few in number.. outnumbered by those of the world.. but Your promise is true and You are still separating out for Yourself a people to call upon Your Name... a people that are without number! Thank You Lord! amen.