The Blessing of The Lord

Written on 01/03/2020
Ps. Ivan Jonathan


Read: Gen. 13:1-18

The word 'Blessing' is a very famous word in Christianity.
Most of them believe in it.
Some of them teach/preach about it.
Some of them can also have wrong mindset about it by spoiling themselves - not working at all.

Q. What is the blessing of the Lord?
Q. Is it only about financial? Or promotion?
Q. How do you measure the Blessing?
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Abram & Lot were very rich/wealthy men.

They had so many asset that were livestock, sheep, goats, cattle, silver/gold & also houses.
The Bible shows in V.6 that the land could not support their asset, because they were so many.
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Yet, there are 5 things that we can learn from this story:

1. (V. 8) Relationship comes before all possessions

Abram chose to have a peaceful relationship rather than success with lots of conflict.
Peaceful doesn't mean you need to make an effort to hang out all the times.
Peaceful can also be less-talking (Prov. 10:19).

Read: Ps. 133:1-3
Keep it in a good relationship!
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2. (V. 9-13) What you see can be deceiving

Being no.1 to choose/get chosen doesn't always guarantee get benefit at the end.

Don't misled by what you see, because everything you see physically changes over time.
Don't follow easily with the current trend.

Lot saw that the land he chose was so beautiful, but he didn't know that the land he chose would be ended in disaster (Sodom & Gomorrah).

Maybe you see the opportunity in other city or in other company is away better that here. Or maybe you see other profession is better than what you have right now.

Be careful to not get easily deceived by what you see!
Don't follow someone's else path!
You already have your own path that God already designed before you were born.
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3. (V. 14-17) God's blessing is everlasting

Lot got the land, Abram also got the land, and what made them different is the blessing of the Lord.

When Lot got the land, God did not say anything to him, but when Abram got the land, God blessed it, not only for him & his family, but to his descendants as a permanent possession.

You can be successful in your study/carrier/business, but what make them special is God's blessing!

It is not only for you, but also for your next generations.
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4. >>>....

Q. When did God speak in this story (Gen. Chp. 13)?
(V. 14) = After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram...

Q. Did God give Abram the idea to ask Lot to choose the land? No.
Q. Did God say to Abram to tell Lot to choose first? No.

Q. Did God show a sign to Abram which land he should pick? No.
Q. Did God show a sign to Abram which direction he should go? No.
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Maybe most of us right now, are like Abram in the story.
You need to move on somewhere in your life, but you don't know where to go.

Maybe you are asking God to show you the direction (in the carrier, looking for a job, your soulmate), but nothing happen.

Maybe you have been praying for your needs, but there is no answer yet from the Lord; and you are afraid to make a move, because you don't get any confirmation/direction from the Lord.

> Please listen to this carefully! (No. 4) = In the story here, the Lord spoke AFTER Abram decided with his decision.

God can show you a direction/sign before you make a move.
But, there are times that you need to decide first and God will bless the decision you made.
Read: Ps. 1:1-3 (NIV); Prov. 16:9 (MSG)
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5. >>>....

From what Abram received, maybe he though he just got the leftover one, not the best one; somebody just took it; I missed the chance; It's too late...it's already gone, etc.

> Please listen to this carefully! (No. 5) = the Blessing of the Lord was NOT on the land, but it was in Abram.

The Blessing of the Lord doesn't stay on "the things" you have, but it lives in you.

The Blessing of the Lord doesn't stay on the products/achievement you make, but it stays on the person.
 
You are not chasing the Blessing.
The Blessing is chasing you.

Deuteronomy 11:24 = Wherever you set foot, that land will be yours...
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Read: Ps. 23