Genesis 13:5-9

Gen 13:5  And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
Gen 13:6  so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together,
Gen 13:7  and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.
Gen 13:8  Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.
Gen 13:9  Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

True leadership is servanthood. God is showing me that leadership is not about having all the power or say in a situation, but it is about being the foot washer. Often we think that by gaining control, others will follow, but it is actually the opposite. True humility and service is what compels people to follow your lead and example. People follow actions more than words. A call of leadership is a call to walk in ultimate humility and exalt the true leadership of God.

Mat 23:12  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. God really spoke to me through this story of Abram and Lot in Genesis 13. In this story, I see Abram walking in the same humility that our Lord Jesus did. Years before the Holy Spirit wrote Philippians, Abram walked in the truths that would be written for us.

Php 2:3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Php 2:4  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

In this story, I see Abram preferring Lot. I see him humbling himself for the sake of Lot and unity with Him. Abram could have done so many other things in this situation. But he choose the path of grace and the path of humility.

1. Abram could have manipulated Lot. Abram was a man who was clearly a natural leader and had a powerful voice. He could have manipulated Lot into doing what he wanted or picking the land Abram didn't want. But we don't see that here. We see Abram preferring Lot over himself.

2. He could have done nothing. Often when we do nothing we think we are doing everything. Often we think that we are keeping peace by keeping quiet, but Jesus wouldn't have said "Blessed are the peaceMAKERS if peace isn't something that has to be made." Abram could have walked in complacency and passivity, but we don't see that here. We see Abram being a peacemaker by fighting for unity.

3. He could have misused his authority, age and status. He could have told Lot which land he was choosing and cast him to the other. I see such a selflessness by allowing Lot the chance to choose. I am sure that Abram had a piece of land that he wanted to be on, but he surrendered that to God when he said to Lot "If you take the left land, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right land, then I will go to the left.” Abram could have controlled the situation and gotten exactly what he wanted and felt like he deserved. But we don't see that. We see Abram taking the form of a servant and surrendering the results into God's hands.

The lessons go on and on. The testimony of Abrams selflessness and leadership are still being used today to shape and mold people into the leaders that God desires. That is the power of testimony. Our lives will testify of something. What will my life testify of? What will your life testify of?

My prayer has been that every hardship, disappointment and trial will further mold me into the woman of God that He designed me to be. It has been that He will form and produce character in me through the circumstances that I can't see what He is doing in them. Nothing compares to the eternal weight of gory. Knowing Jesus is worth it all, and making His name known is the greatest and most beautiful calling.