Gen 13: 1 – 12
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. From the Negev, he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD. Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarrelling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarrelling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 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.” Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom –
Conversations
1) What is this passage all about?
2) Who are the characters mentioned in the passage? What do we know about them?
3) Why do think there was a quarrel between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot? What do you think about this? How did this affect the relationship between Abraham and Lot?
Creatively, re-tell this story about the conflict over resources.
4) The quarrel was between Abraham’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. Why do you think Abraham got involved? Does it take courage to face a conflict situation? What are the challenges involved in facing conflict?
5) Abraham and Lot parted company. However, Abraham gave Lot the first advantage. And this despite being older and responsible for making Lot richer. Do you (dis)agree with his decision? Why? What do you think Abraham’s herdsmen felt about this?
6) Why do you think Lot listened to Abraham? Why do you think Lot did not choose to stay with Abraham? What did Lot’s servants feel about this?
7) Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. Lot chose the best. How did Abraham feel about this? Why do you think Abraham remained calm and was less worried?
8) What is God telling me through the passage? What am I going to do in response to God’s word to me?
Bible Study Design
Session 1 – Plenary (10 minutes)
Ask 2 or 3 people to read the passage and invite the group to listen to the reading of the passage. Ask the group to respond to the question.
Q1: What is this passage about?
Session – 2: Discussion in Small Groups (20 minutes)
Q2: Who are the characters mentioned in the passage? What do we know about them?
Q 3: Why do think there was a quarrel between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot? What do you think about this? How did this affect their relationship? Creatively, re-tell this story about the conflict over resources.
Session – 3: Presentation in Groups (15 minutes)
Ask the group/s to prepare a presentation
Session – 4: Discussion in small groups (15 Minutes)
Q.4: The quarrel was between Abraham’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. Why do you think Abraham got involved? Does it take courage to face a conflict situation? What are the challenges involved in facing conflict?
(Have one person in the group record the discussion and be ready to present it)
Session – 5: Presentation in Groups (15 minutes)
Have the groups present their discussion to the larger group. Highlight/comment on significant points of view in the discussion. You may ask counter questions to bring alive the discussion between groups.
Session – 6: Discussion in Small groups
Q5. Abraham and Lot parted company. However, Abraham gave Lot the first advantage. And this despite being older and responsible for making Lot richer. Do you (dis)agree with his decision? Why? What do you think Abraham’s herdsmen felt about this?
Q6. Why do you think Lot listened to Abraham? Why do you think Lot did not choose to stay with Abraham? What did Lot’s servants feel about this?
Session – 7: Presentation in Groups (15 Minutes)
Have the groups present their discussion to the larger group. Highlight/comment on significant points of view in the discussion. You may ask counter questions to bring alive the discussion between groups.
Session – 8: Discussion in Small groups (15 minutes)
Q7: Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. Lot chose the best. How did Abraham feel about this? Why do you think Abraham remained calm and was less worried?
Session – 9: Presentation in Groups (15 Minutes)
Have the groups present their discussion to the larger group. Highlight/comment on significant points of view in the discussion. You may ask counter questions to bring alive the discussion between groups.
Session – 10: Plenary (15 minutes)
Q.8 What is God telling you through the passage? What are you going to do in response to God’s Word?
Ask the group to share one/two things they have learnt through the study.
Close with prayer: This is part of the Learning In Fellowship Together (LIFT) Bible Study Series. It is best for youth and young professionals.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
This is part of Learning In Fellowship Together (LIFT) Bible Study Series. It is best for youth and young professionals.
