August 24, 2026; Genesis 13

Daily Dose of Hope August 24, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 13   Prayer:   Lord, How we need you.  Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus.  So far, Genesis has been filled with lots of truth and lots of drama.  Let's see what today holds.   The reading for today is Genesis 13.  Abram, Sarai, Lot, and all their herdsmen and animals came back from Egypt.  The two men are so wealthy now that the land where they previously lived just couldn't sustain both households.  Plus, their herdsmen were bickering.  So Abram comes up with a plan to separate the two households.  He gives Lot the option which land to take, and he would go in the other direction.  Lot goes to the plain of Jordan and Abram heads to Canaan.   Let's just say Abram handles this situation really well.  He deals with conflict in a very selfless way.  The crowded land and the arguing herdsmen could have ended up with a much different ending.  But Abram doesn't hold on tight to anything; he lets Lot take the best land for himself.  He is not greedy and he trusts God to make sure he and his own household are taken care of.   Possibly as a result of Abram's wisdom and selflessness, God reinforces the covenant he made with Abram.  These are the words he uses, which are pretty powerful, Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted. Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you."   God is a God who keeps his promises.  He is going to build a people through Abram.  Are we beginning to see a new and different Abram that has grown in maturity and trust?  I hope so.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki