Bible Studies

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I Will Guide You in Times of Conflict
Gen.13:5-18; Acts 15:36-41; . 2Tim.4:11



5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 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. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 9 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."
10 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.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.
14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."
18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.


Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41




Often certain things or people have to be removed from us before we can proceed into our Promised Land. Jonah’s in our boat will cause certain storms and upheavals. And we need to realize that it is because of the mercy of God that He allows those storms or tempests.
Abraham was compassionate and wanted to help his nephew so he took Lot along as he proceeded to the Promised Land, but that was not God’s will. Although Lot was blessed as long as Abraham was blessed it was not enough to head off the conflict. Soon there was a sharp disagreement between Lot’s servants and that of Abraham. Abraham was not only humble but wise to stop the feud by offering Lot the first choice of the Lands available. Lot looked to the well watered plain and ended up in Sodom.
It was after Lot had departed was Abraham able to enter into his Promised Land. It must have been painful for him to lose Lot, but Lot was a hindrance regardless of the family ties and affinity.
When Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement over Mark, God used the situation to establish Mark who later wrote the Gospel of Mark in fulfillment of his ministry. Paul himself acknowledged that he was ‘profitable for him for the ministry’. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 2Tim.4:11
Paul himself went on to write his 13 bestsellers of all time. Barnabas also fulfilled his ministry of encouragement of a saint that would have been sidelined because an earlier ‘slip.’
Is there a Jonah in your boat? Is there a Lot in your ship? And has your boat or ship stalled or undergoing a relentless bombardment? If so stop resisting and yield to God. Let Him have His way. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let go, to let God!

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