Genesis 13:14-18. 14The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Abraham had to let Lot go, but God will never let Abraham go. Here in Genesis 13 the promise to Abraham isn’t just repeated, it is deepened. God’s declaration to Abraham comes when he needs it most. From an earthly perspective, Abraham just lost his offspring, Lot, and Lot took the best of the land. It must have felt like God’s promise was just a dream now. But then God speaks to Abraham again from out of his mercy and grace – Lift up your eyes and look. All the land is still yours. Yes, Lot has claimed his portion selfishly, but it’s actually all yours. And your descendants? Yes, Lot has moved on, but your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, Abraham.
Then God tells Abraham to respond. Respond to the promise. Arise, walk through the length and breadth of the land. Appropriate the promise, Abraham. Claim it. Experience it. Reckon it to be yours. Apply it to your life.
Abraham is learning one of the most important lessons of the Christian life – we cannot deprive ourselves of what God has promised. In his failure of faith, Abraham went to Egypt and almost lost it all. Nope. Abraham could never lose what God has promised. In his triumph of faith, Abraham released Lot and gave away the best of his land. Abraham has given it all away. Nope. Abraham could never give away what God has promised. The more Abraham gives, the more he will receive. Climb the mountain, Abraham. Look. It’s all yours. All the land. All the offspring. And all the blessing that comes with it.
And here’s what we know from the book of Hebrews: Abraham was not only looking with his physical eyes, he was looking with faith eyes. He wasn’t looking to receive something beyond an earthly blessing.
Hebrews 11:9-10. 9By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Abraham understood that there was even more. More to the promise than just real estate. Abraham walked the land, living in tents, rather than settling in the land permanently. As we’ve said before, the only permanent structure Abraham will build is an altar. No cities. No towers.
And so Abraham’s walking throughout the land becomes a picture for us of our walk in Christ. Jesus Christ is our land, our promise, our inheritance. Christian, lift up your eyes, your faith eyes, and see what God has promised to you in Christ. Is it not every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3)? So again, we must ask the question, are you walking in these blessings, appropriating them, actively trusting them, reckoning them as yours, applying them? Or are you settling? Settling for worldly cities and towers. Monuments to your own glory rather than living in the tent of God’s grace.
Yes, walking is a metaphor for living life, but to walk in Christ is about more than just living a godly life. It’s about living a godly life rooted in faith. Faith in the safety and security of living in the Promised Land of our union with Christ. Let’s look at how Paul uses the walk metaphor in the book of Ephesians to describe our life in Christ.
Ephesians 2:6. And [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Before we do any walking, we must know that we are seated securely in Christ in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
By faith, we walk the land of good works, Christ’s own good works prepared by God for us.
Ephesians 3:17-19. 17that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Just as Abraham walked the length and breadth of the land, we too must come to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love for us.
Ephesians 4:1. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.
By faith, we walk in the land of Christ worthy of our calling, the promise of eternal life and love.
Ephesians 4:17. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do.
By faith, we reject the walk of the world, it’s pleasures, addictions, selfishness, and corruption.
Ephesians 5:2. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.
By faith, we walk in the land of Christ’s love, living off the fruit of his sacrificial love on the cross.
Ephesians 5:8. Walk as children of light.
Finally, by faith we walk in the land of light, the truth and grace of God in Christ that drives out the darkness around us and reveals Christ to the world. Amen.
You: How would you describe your daily walk? Where are you walking? How are you walking?
You in Christ: Take a moment to lift up your eyes and see the land of Christ in which you have been placed by God. What blessings in Christ do you see with your faith eyes?
Christ in you: Where is the Christ in you leading you today in your walk? What good works is he taking you toward?
Prayer: Father, I can’t deprive myself of what you have promised me. Show me that no matter what I do, your promise is still intact. Amen.
To Live is Christ 