For the first time in his life, Abram was, at last, separated from his father’s house. But moving to Canaan after Terah died is the only action Abram did to obey God. Choosing to live in peace, even though it cost him the best land, is the key that brought Abram into complete obedience to the instructions God gave him before he left Ur.

2 Corinthians 13:11 NAS95 (11) Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

What did Jesus say about peacemakers?

Matthew 5:9 NLT (9) God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

We know God had already accepted Abram as his child in Ur, because God’s spirit leads his children. We know Abram accepted salvation, because all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. But this was the first time Abram acted like a child of God when chose peace even though it cost him the best land.

Genesis 13:14-15 KJV (14)  And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: (15)  For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. (17)  Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

The first time God spoke to Abram in Canaan, the only one getting the land was Abram’s seed. This time God is talking to a believer who is in full compliance with the instructions he gave him in Ur and a proven peacemaker. This time God included him in the promises made to the seed and added to his knowledge.

Genesis 13:16 KJV (16) And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

From Abram’s day to this day, his flesh descendants through Isaac have never been as numerous as the dust of the earth; impossible to count. There are thirty-six instances of a census that numbered the people of Israel in the Bible. Israel’s population in 2021 is 9.45 million. There has never been a time their population was as dense as the dust of the earth.

The promise of becoming too numerous to count belongs to Jesus. The Seed/son of a virgin who had no earthly father, the second Adam who will bring a blessing on all families of the earth.

John 1:12 AMP (12) But to as many as did receive and welcome him, he gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) his name – (13)  who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth – they are born of God – spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].

Flesh and blood children do not get to pick their parents. Sometimes children do not like their parents. I did not like my parents. My Dad was an alcoholic and my mother the miserable wife of an alcoholic who took out her frustrations on her children. And there are parents who do not like one or more of their children.

In God’s family, you have a choice. But Abram does not know that yet, his knowledge of the gospel and what it means to have faith grew like our knowledge grows, one step at a time. He knew God would give one of his children the land. Then he learned those who obey God by pursuing peace will be included in the promises made to that child. Now he knows God will give the land to him, the seed, and a vast multitude too numerous to count.

God was not impressed with Abram’s half-hearted, partial obedience then, and he has not changed. Jesus warned us loving the things of God is not the same as loving God.

Matthew 7:21-23 (21) Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me on that day [when I judge them], Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in your name, and driven out demons in your name, and done many miracles in your name?

(23) And then I will declare to them publicly, I never knew you; depart from me [you are banished from my presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding my commands].

In context this warning was for believers to be aware that everyone in leadership is not to be trusted. Some are false prophets and teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing who follow their own desires. They are the reason that Jesus and his true followers get hurt in the church.

Saying Lord, Lord means nothing, if we used the gifts he gives us, and our calling to pursue our own desires. We must do the will of his Father in heaven. One day, some will wail and gnash their teeth when they learn that doing good things was not enough. Instead of being received with a joyful welcome, they will hear Jesus say, “I never knew you.”

Abram was not perfect, but with God’s help he eventually complied with God’s desire to separate from his father’s house and see the land God wanted to show him. Only then did God say this land now belongs to YOU and your seed. Then he gave Abram a new command to obey.

Genesis 13:14 KJV

And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.

Now that the land is Abram’s, he has a new job. Explore the land. God is giving Abram what he can SEE. If he can’t see it, how can he possess it.

But how does looking at land in the middle east apply to all the family of the earth? It applies because God’s kingdom is more than a place. God’s kingdom is wherever God is. He wants everyone to explore the boundaries of his love.

Ephesians 3:16-19 AMP

(16) May he grant you out of the riches of his glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through his Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, (18) be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of his love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; (19) and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God himself].

Abraham explored the north, south, east, and western boundaries of the land God gave to Abram and his seed. God wants everyone to explore the width, length, height, and depth of his love.

Paul’s prayers for the churches were never that they would grow numerically. He prayed that the saints understand the depths of his love for us.