13/01/2026
Lot, Abraham is not your mate!
In Genesis chapter 13 vs 5, the text points out something powerful—not just about Lot, but it pointed to his association with Abraham. How it brought him riches and honour, the scripture said, "and Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents."
Remember in Genesis chapter 12, when God called Abraham out, He made a covenant with him and in the covenant, He promised to bless him, make his name great and make him a blessing. We know God for sure for who He is: He cannot lie and He always fulfills His words. This is not my aim in this article, but the guy called Lot.
In Genesis 11, we have the genealogy of Abraham; his father was Terah, who begat Abraham, Nahor, and Haran, who was the father of Lot. Abraham was the firstborn, or first son so to speak; Haran was the last son of Terah. We can’t confidently say Lot was Haran’s firstborn (but first son), because Nahor (Haran’s elder brother, Terah’s second son as mentioned in their genealogy) took a wife for himself from Haran’s daughters (see Gen. 11:29). There is a tendency that Lot was Haran’s last born.
Fast forward: Haran died before their father (Terah), and later Terah died too. Afterward, God called Abraham into the work of ministry, to walk with Him, and He made a covenant with him. Then Abraham, when leaving, took Lot—his late brother’s son—along.
First, this lets us see that Abraham took the responsibility of fatherhood over Lot after his father and his grandfather (who was taking care of him) died. Out of love and care for the young man, even though the young man would be of help to his "father" Abraham, much more so Abraham would be of greater help to Lot.
Second, with the person of Abraham, he must have never maltreated Lot, but instead must have guided him and ensured he was a better man.
Now, come to Genesis chapter 13 vs 5: Lot also, which went with Abraham, had flocks, herds, and tents. There is no way Lot would have gotten those riches and that much business without the supervision and gifts of Abraham. Because he was the one who took this guy along; he took him along to go and answer the call of God upon his life. Fine, the scripture didn't tell or show us his age when he followed Abraham, but he must have been very young compared to Abraham.
See Gen 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. (KJV)
The scripture says "the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great." Is this true? No, the reason why they couldn't dwell together anymore was because of strife. Yes, strife!
And this is what happens when a student starts to succeed and the devil enters his heart: he will begin to see his teacher, master, leader, and pastor as his contemporary. He will begin to compete with the one who made him who he became. Some ungrateful souls say, "Nobody made me what I am today; it is God." Did that God come down from heaven and then—boom—transform you?
No, that is not even the way of God. His method is men. He equips some men to equip others, and the chain goes on like that. Our journey of becoming the man we became, or are still becoming, began with our parents (after the blessing of God in their matrimony), then to our elementary school teachers, secondary school, tertiary, bosses at our workplace, cell leaders, pastors, and every other respective person.
Lot wasn't smart enough to discern that he was the cause—that he caused the strife between him and his father figure, his master, and his pastor in God's plan and purpose. But the guy prided himself, and today the devil is helping a lot of servants, workers, students, and other persons to go against the men that made them and bite the fingers that once fed them, or that fed them throughout their lives.
Imagine, Abraham came to Lot and suggested that they should separate since, because of strife, they could no longer dwell together; he asked him to choose a land and move there. Don't forget Lot stepped out with Abraham from the first day; they came into the land of Canaan together, walked through Bethel, Hai, and the South, to Egypt and back to the land of Canaan. Lot had eyed the best part of the lands, and greed had entered him.
Gen 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed S***m and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. (KJV)
See Lot: in his mind, did he hit a jackpot or see a golden opportunity? But no, that was a bait. His choosing in the first place, and again choosing "all the plain of Jordan" (the fine cities of Jordan), was wrong. That is not the way of a grateful man, but that of an ingrate. Like I said, it was a bait, never a jackpot, because the men of S***m were wicked and sinners. So, what does a son of a righteous man have to do with sinful people? If not for the passion and greediness of the present time and age.
This whole event wasn't easy on Abraham; it was a betrayal and disloyalty such that God had to comfort him and renew His promise to him. Later, Lot was captured by enemies that came against S***m and Gomorrah, and it was the same Abraham whom he betrayed that went to rescue him. On Abraham's path, that is the love of fatherhood.
Today, there are lots of Lot's descendants and patterns in the church and everywhere—a set of betrayals and disloyal men. But this should never be the way of the believer. The scripture wasn't wrong when it included this story and others like it. They are for our learning and for gaining wisdom.
Remember Gehazi, the prodigal son, Demas, and Alexander. Don't let the passion and greediness of this present age ruin God's plan and purpose for your life and ministry. Let your loyalty and honour be as loud as your voice is becoming. Don't forget those who made you; don't despise them nor become their contemporary. A man's master is a man's master. Be loud about the labour of your leaders over your life.
God is helping us. Amen!
An excerpt from:
In The Beginning, series two, track one.
~ Akolade Nathaniel
Sahred: 13/01/2026
