Blessed Are the Peacemakers

"Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you."

Genesis 13:17

Earlier in Genesis 13, Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen quarreled because there wasn't enough land to support their flocks. So Abram did a surprising thing and allowed his nephew Lot to take the best land for himself. Abram settled for land that was less ideal for ranching.

But that's not the end of the story. In the following verses, God blessed Abram, reaffirming the promises he had made earlier (Gen. 12:1-3) and specifically giving the whole land to Abram and his descendants. The flow of the narrative suggests that this was a reward for Abram's peacemaking effort with Lot, which, on the surface, involved considerable sacrifice. Thus Abram illustrates what Jesus would one day teach in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matt. 5:9, NRSV). Abram was indeed blessed by God through his effort to make peace with Lot.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever done anything like Abram, giving up something that was rightfully yours for the sake of peace in a key relationship? What were the results? Did you experience God's blessing in your own life? Is God calling you to be a peacemaker today? Will you do the right thing and trust the Lord to bless you in his way and his time?

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, thank you for blessing Abram so generously, and for communicating this blessing after Abram gave up so much to make peace with Lot. This story encourages us to do what's right in our relationships, even to give up our own advantage for the sake of relational wholeness. We recognize that your blessing doesn't always come in kind. Yet if we are faithful to you, if we seek to be peacemakers, we will receive your blessing. Help us to trust you in all things, to do what's right in our relationships at work and at home. May we imitate the peacemaking effort of Abram so that we might live as your children, for your glory! Amen.