Unfair

Genesis 12-13; 1 Chronicles 9; John 4:46-54; James 4:13-17; Psalm 9: Have you ever been treated unfairly? Has there been a time you were working with someone and you felt as though they had taken advantage of you? Have you ever come to the end of a meal and were preparing for dessert and there only be 2 pieces left of something you. really liked and the other person took the bigger piece? Today’s reading includes a story where someone was taken advantage of in a life changing decision and the other person chose the better portion, but unlike us when we feel treated unfairly, this character believed God that He would make what he got the better portion and the greater choice. You may know the story, it is the story of Abraham and Lott his nephew. Both men had traveled many miles together from their homeland. Both had gone though some hard times, but also some times of great blessing because God’s hand was on them. Now they had many flocks and many servants to care for those flocks and the land they were in was just not big enough for all of them and quarreling was breaking out. Abraham came to Lott and determined the best course of action was to split ways and one take one part of land and the other another. Separation would prevent conflict. Lott chose the more lush land of the Jordan valley and Abraham was left with the more desert area. Looking at it from afar it looks like Abraham got the worse end of the deal, but God was with Abraham because Abraham was faithful and God promised him not just the desert land, but all that was north, south, east and west of him. God’s promises came true because Abraham was faithful even when treated unfairly by this nephew.
Some big lessons to learn from this part of the story:
* Choose faithfulness to God no matter what comes your way
* Family is a blessing but when too close conflict can arise
* If and when conflict arises sit down together and talk it out. Even if you get the wrong end of the choices God will honor your faithfulness to Him and bless you.
* Separation sometimes is the only answer to conflict when it comes to possessions. Relationships don’t always have to end just because physical separation occurs..
We will read later in the story that Abraham continued to be close at heart with Lott and saved him several times. Your love for those you find yourself in conflict with does not have to go away. Even in our unfair times God is still at work and will bring good out of bad.

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