The reign of peacemakers

Background

Genesis‬ ‭13:5-12, 14-17‬ ‭NKJV“

Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.

And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13:5-12, 14-17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

Seeking to make peace can be exhausting, as human as we are, we have all kinds of people with different characters, which can end up causing strife with one another. In the first verse of study, Abram later Abraham, chose peace leading him to make compromising decisions, our second verse demonstrates the character we ought to portray to be recognized as sons of God.Let’s get into the Word…

Dwelling with men

As read in the story of Lot and Abram, both men departing from a country as God had commanded, came into a place that would have costed their relationship. Before then, Abraham was the one the Lord had commanded to depart from Haron (Genesis 12), however he took with him Lot his brother’s son. Abraham had already received a promise from God, his departure from Haran by instruction came with a promise. Abraham demonstrates how obedience secures the fulfillment of the blessing. See, as believers, our mandate is to be as our Father in heaven, embody His character and seek to please Him. Abraham chose to dwell in harmony with his nephew Lot, even if it meant him having the least favorable land. As many people would have claimed being older and having the right to the good of the land, Abraham sought to please a higher power, than to lower himself to an earthly dispute.

As Paul commends in Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you live peaceably with all men. Paul is here not shifting the responsibility to another but towards ourselves. Seeking peace is not about pointing fingers at others but looking at our own impact, Abraham realized what was causing strive between his herdsmen and Lots’, made the decision to be the bigger person. Men without the indwelling presence of God can be excruciatingly wicked, men would do anything so long as it pleases their flesh. As Genesis 13:13 makes known that the people of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord, Jesus himself in John 2:24-25 did not commit Himself to men because He knew them and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. However our mandate is to strive for peace, be the light of the world and the salt of the earth( Mathew 5:13-16).

Flesh cannot please God

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭3:2-3 Paul shares a discourse on how he could not speak to the church in maturity because they still dwelled in the flesh;‬ I fed you with milk and not with solid food he said; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” As believers we are to walk in the Spirit, the deeds of flesh and Spirit are different, one strives against the other.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:6-9‬; “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” The man pleasing to God is one who walks by the principles of the Spirit and bears it’s fruits. For so long we obey the tendencies of the flesh we deceive ourselves thinking we walk in obedience. I call my mom the kindest woman, with a heart of gold, many times I would complain of how she stoops low for people but growing up today and seeing the fruits of her acts of kindness even when she was disregarded, I truly understand the phenomenon of living peacefully with all men.

The reward of righteousness

The true sons of God are them that seek peace even in adversity, making compromises that does not lead to sin nor disregarding Godly principles secures the promise. Due to Abraham’s obedience, and wisdom to choose peace, the Lord redirected his path to a much better and greater way. The Psalmist commends in ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:23-25, 29-31, 34; The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;”

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