God’s plan of blessing assailed by conflicts
For study leader: Gen 13 and 14 describe two types of conflicts, those between brothers and those with the world. The story about Abraham and Lot warns believers of conflicts, their cause, and how they rise to obstruct God’s blessing, but also how God works in the ones he redeemed to overcome this obstacle.
Warm-up: How do you react to conflict situations? (Emotionally, communication, reconciliation strategies…)
Read Genesis 13-14
1) vv1-4 (Gen 13): Does the story mention by which route Abraham returned from Egypt? Why?
- v3: “…at the beginning…”: The beginning of what?
- When believers stray from the path, what do they need once they come to their senses?
- How was Abraham’s path re-aligned with his faith? [Review how God intervened in the preceding chapter to preserve Abraham]
2) After Abraham learned this lesson of faith and was back on track, what happened next? => Why such quarreling and even war? Shouldn’t believers live in peace and harmony? cf Gen 14:13
- What was the root of the quarrel between Abraham and Lot? Gen 13:2.5-7; cf James 4:1-3
- How did this temptation endanger God’s plan of blessing for Abraham?
- Did God provide a solution to overcome the fall-out of such tensions?
- How? Gen 13:8-9,14-17.
- How did faith in God’s promise influence how Abraham acted towards his nephew?
3) Read Gen 14:2. How do you think was Abraham tempted when God’s judgment came on Sodom, and thereby also on Lot, and when he heard about it (Gen 14:13)?
- How did this temptation challenge the promise that God gave Abraham?
- How was Abraham capable to not hold a grudge against Lot?
- Hint: Why did Abraham return from Egypt to Bethel? What do you think he experienced there?
- Why is forgiveness (even to forgive a selfish brother) essential for God’s blessing to ‘flow’?
4) How was God’s plan of blessing endangered by the request of the king of Sodom? Gen 14:17.21
- How did God protect Abraham from this new danger? Gen 14:19.22-24
5) Personal and application
- If you believe in God’s promise to bless you and to make you a blessing, does that mean that he will spare you from conflicts? Why or why not?
- What effect do conflicts with other people have on your confidence in God’s promise of blessing?
- How does your confidence in God’s promise affect how you react to conflicts?
- In what regard do you find Abraham’s example inspiring how to handle conflict situations differently?
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