Genesis Chapter 13: “Let There Be No Strife Between You and Me”
1. Return to the Land and to Worship
“So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had… to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 13:1–4)
After his sojourn in Egypt — marked by fear and weakness — Abraham returns to the land of promise and to prayer.
He returns not only geographically but spiritually.
St. John Chrysostom observes:
“He returns to the place of the altar, for the righteous man, after falling, hastens again to the worship of God.” (Homilies on Genesis XXXIII.1)
Repentance is not a retreat in shame but a homecoming to grace.
Abraham’s journey teaches that faith may falter, but the faithful always find their way back to the altar.
2. The Blessing That Brings Strain
“Now Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold… and Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.” (Genesis 13:2, 5)
God’s blessings have multiplied, but abundance brings conflict.
The land cannot sustain both herds together; the shepherds quarrel.
This tension reveals an eternal truth: wealth tests virtue as much as poverty.
St. Ambrose writes:
“When prosperity increases, charity must grow with it; otherwise, abundance divides where want once united.” (On Abraham I.6.28)
Riches are not evil, but they can strain relationships if not governed by generosity.
God often allows such trials to purify our hearts from attachment and pride.
3. The Spirit of Peace
“Then Abram said to Lot, ‘Let there be no strife between you and me, for we are kinsmen.’” (Genesis 13:8)
Abraham speaks with the voice of peace.
He refuses to let property destroy fraternity.
The man of faith yields his rights for the sake of harmony.
St. John Chrysostom comments:
“See the meekness of the just man! Though elder and called of God, he gives choice to the younger, preferring peace to possession.” (Homilies on Genesis XXXIII.2)
In Abraham, we see the beatitude of the peacemaker:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
This humility foreshadows Christ Himself, who, though Lord of all, yielded His rights for our reconciliation.
4. Lot’s Choice and the Eye of Flesh
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord… so Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley.” (Genesis 13:10–11)
Lot chooses by sight; Abraham waits by faith.
Lot looks upon the plain — rich, fertile, worldly — but near Sodom.
Abraham looks toward heaven.
St. Ambrose says:
“Lot chose the valley of pleasure; Abraham chose the height of virtue.” (On Abraham I.7.33)
Lot’s choice is not evil in itself, but short-sighted. He sees temporal advantage and overlooks moral danger.
Thus the Scripture notes, “The men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners before the Lord.”
This contrast between Lot and Abraham mirrors the contrast between sight and faith, self-interest and trust, the city of man and the city of God.
5. The Vision of the Lord
“The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are… for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever.’” (Genesis 13:14–15)
Only after separation does God renew His promise.
Abraham’s detachment makes room for divine vision.
St. Augustine reflects:
“When Abraham was parted from Lot, his eyes were opened to see what God prepared. For the heart must be emptied of earthly desire before it can contain heavenly promise.” (City of God XVI.12)
In Scripture, vision follows renunciation.
Those who cling to comfort see little of God’s plan; those who yield everything gain a wider horizon of grace.
6. The Promise Expanded
“I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted.” (Genesis 13:16)
Here the Lord expands His earlier promise: from a personal blessing to a multitude of nations.
This foreshadows the universality of the Church — the countless children of Abraham by faith (Galatians 3:29).
St. Irenaeus writes:
“The multitude of Abraham’s seed is not according to the flesh but according to faith, for in every nation those who believe are his children.” (Against Heresies IV.21.3)
Thus, even the dust of the earth becomes sacred — every believer, humble and hidden, part of God’s promise fulfilled in Christ.
7. The Pilgrim of Faith
“So Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre… and there he built an altar to the Lord.” (Genesis 13:18)
Abraham remains a pilgrim, though heir of the land.
He lives in tents, not fortresses.
He builds altars, not monuments.
St. John Chrysostom remarks:
“He possessed the land by promise, not by conquest; therefore he built an altar, not a city.” (Homilies on Genesis XXXIII.4)
Mamre becomes a place of fellowship and worship — later the site of his hospitality to the three angelic visitors (Genesis 18).
Everywhere Abraham goes, he leaves a mark of peace and faith.
8. The Theology of Detachment
The Fathers read Genesis 13 as a lesson in spiritual detachment:
Lot clings to visible good; Abraham trusts invisible grace.
Lot moves toward the city of sin; Abraham moves toward the altar of the Lord.
Lot seeks what pleases the eyes; Abraham waits for what God will show.
St. Augustine sums it up:
“The one sought to possess; the other was content to hope. And the promise belongs not to those who grasp, but to those who believe.” (City of God XVI.19)
This is why Abraham remains in peace. Detachment frees the soul to receive what is eternal.
9. Moral and Spiritual Lessons
Peace is greater than possession. Strife among the faithful wounds the image of God more than loss of property ever could.
Detachment opens the eyes of faith. Only when Lot departs does God show Abraham the full scope of His promise.
Choose by faith, not by sight. What appears fertile may be spiritually barren.
Return to the altar. After every failure or distraction, go back to prayer — the true homeland of the soul.
Live as a pilgrim. Tents and altars, not towers and palaces, mark the life of faith.
10. Christ the Prince of Peace
Abraham’s meekness foreshadows the humility of Christ:
Abraham yields his rights; Christ “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7).
Abraham seeks peace with Lot; Christ reconciles heaven and earth.
Abraham’s promise embraces all nations; Christ fulfills that promise on the Cross.
St. Ambrose writes:
“Abraham yielded to Lot and gained the world; Christ yielded to sinners and gained the nations.” (On Abraham I.7.35)
The Beatitudes find their first living expression in Abraham — “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
11. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Return to altar | Repentance restores communion with God |
| Conflict over riches | Wealth tests charity and humility |
| Abraham’s meekness | Peace preferred to rights |
| Lot’s choice | Worldly attraction leads to danger |
| God’s renewed promise | Faith opens the eyes to grace |
| Altar at Mamre | Worship is the sign of belonging |
St. Augustine captures the spirit of this chapter:
“Abraham’s tent and altar signify the pilgrim Church — passing through the world, worshipping God, waiting for the eternal homeland.” (City of God XVI.21)
12. Closing Prayer
God of peace and promise,
You taught our father Abraham to seek peace above possession
and to trust Your promise rather than his own advantage.
Teach us to live as pilgrims in this world,
generous in heart and meek in spirit.
May we build altars of thanksgiving wherever You lead us,
and may our lives bring blessing to others,
through Jesus Christ, the true Prince of Peace. Amen.
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