Peacemaker

DEVOTION

GENESIS

PEACEMAKER

Gen 13:5-9

5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."

NIV

Not only did Abram become a wealthy man while sojourning in Egypt, but his nephew Lot did as well.They now have such a large clan with so many herds and hired hands it was well more than the land could provide for. There simply was not enough grass for grazing of all the herds. In addition we are told the clans of the Canaanites and Perizzites were also using that land for grazing of their herds. There was a lot of tension within the extended family of Abram. His herdsmen were quarreling with the herdsman of Lot. It was certain they were arguing about who had rights to graze which herd where. It seems when there is not room enough and family is in too close of quarters there might be opportunity for tension which can certainly lead to quarreling. Of course the herdsman were not really family, but that principal certainly applies. Too many people in too small a space may very well cause tension. Tension leads to quarreling, which can lead to anger and words that should not be spoken. These words bring not only hurt, but can cause an attitude of unforgiveness. But we are seeing Abram recognizing the problem and bringing a solution for it. Abram did not desire to have this quarreling between his family members which included their hired hands.

Matt 5:9

9 Blessed are the peacemakers , for they will be called sons of God.

NIV

Abram was in fact the peacemaker here. He could have told Lot to just go left, to leave the larger clan and strike out on his own as Abram was going to go right. But that is not what he did. He offered Lot the choice. He gave Lot the opportunity to pick his own path in life and Abram would go whichever way Lot did not pick. Abram placed Lot above himself. This is surely our lesson. Tension usually follows self-centeredness or selfishness. When we are always demanding our own way, it is certain we would be causing others some degree of tension, angst, bitterness, and even anger. Of course that might also be due to their self-centeredness as well. So then what exactly did Abram do as the peacemaker? He set the needs of Lot above his own. This was not of his humanity, but of his relationship with God. From the letter God inspired the Apostle James to pen, we can see this truth at work.

James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

NIV

There was indeed bitter envy and selfish ambition in the hearts of the herdsman of Lot and Abram, and perhaps family members as well. This kind of attitude does not come from God, it is worldly, unspiritual, of the devil. It produces disorder, quarreling as we see in this narrative regarding the herdsman of Lot and Abram. This is the narrative of our lives when we disregard our relationship with our Lord. When we are in fellowship with God, wisdom prevails and we are a peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere person. We see Abram’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. We see peacemakers who sow peace raise a harvest of righteousness. We need to be aware of our role as a peacemaker. Abram made peace with Lot, not by insisting his own way, but by having the wisdom from God, to love peace, be considerate of Lot, be full of mercy and even submissive to the choice of Lot. Abram was demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit, he was being impartial and sincere about not having any quarreling among family. This is our role, we need to always be aware of being the peacemaker. If all of us took on this role, getting rid of any self-centered, selfish attitudes, the peace of Christ would rule our homes and our community of believers. We cannot expect others to be the peacemaker, which would simply mean we are being self-centered and selfish. But if we all took that role of peacemaker, how blessed it would be.  Let us be the first to take this step, as Abram did. Let us be the peacemaker.