Abraham Shared With Lot

Many lessons arise from the story of Abraham’s generosity to Lot found in Genesis 13. The Old Testament story of Abraham is filled with ups and downs and his relationship with Lot was no exception. Abraham and his nephew, Lot, had journeyed together from their ancestral home and made their way to Palestine. Upon reaching their new home, it eventually became necessary for Lot and Abraham to go separate ways: their cattle herds had grown so much that the land could not hold all of the cattle! As a result, conflict broke out between the workers keeping their herds. Rather than allow the conflict to continue, Abraham offered the best land to Lot, revealing Abraham’s generous spirit and his faith in the Lord. Although Lot was the younger man, Abraham forfeited his privilege of first-choice, thus demonstrating his long-standing faith in God. Abraham’s generosity reveals his confidence that God would fulfill His promise to bless Abraham and keep his family and cattle safe despite them not having the best land and resources. God’s promises are not dependent on the best circumstances. We can trust Him to do what He says in all circumstances. We can, therefore, be generous towards other people, rather than compete with others for the best circumstances. This story and the activities found below will help children understand that we need to keep a strong, confident faith in the promises and faithfulness of God.