Parting Ways

Genesis 13:9

“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.”

There comes a time when we have to part company with others.  While in school, it might have been that destructive friend that seems to get into trouble. Or on the job, with that co-worker who always is bad mouthing the boss and the company.  Sometimes we even have that person who just seems to hang around sucking the life out of everything you do.  In every case those people need to go.  

Abram and Lot had been traveling together for quite some time now.  The Lord told Abram to go and Abram ‘brought’ Lot with him.  This, at the time, was not a big deal.  Lot and Abram got along great and everything was going smoothly.  After Egypt, they both acquired many things along the way and their possession grew so large that they could not stay together.  However, quarreling arose between Lot’s workers and Abram’s workers.  It is here that Abram told Lot they cannot stay together. He told Lot to choose where you want to go and he will go in the opposite direction. Lot looked around, choose the direction of what looked good to him, and he left.  

You might be in a similar spot.  You’re at a point with someone where a parting must happen.  Believe it or not, the Lord has orchestrated this moment for you.  It is a test if you will.  The people you are around or the situation you might find yourself in needs to change and the Lord is waiting for you to come to that spot where parting ways has to happen.  Verse 10 says that Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered.  The hard thing to do is go beyond what you see at this critical point.  Lot chose what looked good to him and he went.  What you see often times is not what you get. 

I am sure most of us have played the fool, purchasing something that looked good but in reality it was not.  Today, if you find yourself in this critical place, take a moment to stop and pray.  Ask the Lord to show you His path and to direct your eyes to see what the Lord has for you instead of what looks good.  The very next chapter in Genesis is titled, “Abram Rescues Lot.”  A telling cause and effect in choosing what looks good all the time.   Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way.”  Countless times we read of the Lord directing His people.  It may be time for you stop directing and start listening.  The Bible tells us to put on the full armor of God and we will be able to resist the devil Stop going around choosing things that look good and start standing firm on the direction of the Lord. You might need to part ways with a few people…