Genesis 12:6: “Genesis 12:6: “Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.”
There was a vital trade route between Mesopotamia and Egypt. Mesopotamian flax, oil and cloths were traded in return for Egyptian timbers, wine, precious metals and stones.
Previously, Abram and Lot had joined a caravan of merchants. Presently they travelled alongside the Jabbok River. Soon they would cross the Jordan to enter Canaan. Egypt had an important trading colony in this area. Lot had just begun to warm up to the idea of being a travelling merchant. “This isn’t as bad as I thought it would be”, he said to his uncle. “So far we have had lucrative stops at a number of cities along the way. We are making a real good profit.” Abram smiled, even though his nephew’s remark left a sour taste in his mouth. Lot did not seem to rally around the idea that God stood behind their journey.
Heading further west alongside the Wadi Fatah, they reached the surrounding desert highlands of the city Shechem. Near the city gates the caravan began to set camp. The following night, as Abram sat alone by the campfire, the Lord revealed Himself to him and said [Genesis 12:7]:
“To your offspring I will give this land.”
Abram was stunned. “What is it about Canaan that You love so much, and what is so special about me that You want my offspring to inhabit this land?” he prayed. Then he got up and selected a few boulders which he carried to a nearby place. Under the great tree of Moreh he built an altar to the Lord, worshipped Him and said: “Lord, You are so wonderful! You have big plans that I don’t understand, but here I am – I built You an altar to show my gratitude and to commemorate this sacred moment.”
Inspired by God’s revelation in Shechem, Abram decided to veer from the commercial caravan route to further check out Canaan, the Promised Land. He turned south, towards the Negev Desert. However, Lot didn’t like the new direction they were going. “We need water for our flocks and herds”, he said. “We have no business out here in the desert.”
To make matters worse, a severe drought plagued the land, and in the end Lot won the argument. They joined another caravan heading to Egypt. Still, the words of the Lord continued to echo in Abram’s heart: “I will give this land to your offspring.”
Returning to the commercial trading route His wife looked puzzled and asked Abram, “Why are we leaving the Promised Land?” He hesitated and finally admitted, “I’m not happy about this either. In all honesty, Sarai, I’m afraid I would have lost Lot had I insisted on staying in Canaan.” Sarai said nothing more. She knew that her husband was very attached to Lot; and since she couldn’t give him any children she understood why Abram treated Lot like the son he never had.
The moment the two family tribes entered the populous areas by the Nile River Lot was in his element again, while Abram felt increasingly uneasy. He observed how strangers looked over his beautiful wife like one would study a fattened calf before purchasing it. He recognized them as Pharaoh’s servants. Rumor had it that they would steal beautiful women for his harem. They would go as far as killing the husband if a beautiful woman was already given in marriage. Abram began to see the writing on the wall and before they entered Egypt he advised his wife to pretend that she was his sister.
As expected, the Egyptians approached Abram regarding Sarai and before long she was added to Pharaoh’s harem. In return Abram was given cattle, man servants, woman servants, donkeys and camels. But he felt terrible. “Lord”, he prayed. “Help us. Please protect my wife.” And the Lord fought for him and Sarai. He struck Pharaoh and his household with a severe illness. As a result, everybody in the palace was sick – all, except Sarai. When Pharaoh learnt that Sarai was actually Abram’s wife he put two and two together and summoned Abram at once. “What is wrong with you?!” he exclaimed, “And why didn’t you tell me she is your wife? Look around you: Everybody is sick on account of you. Now take your wife and leave!”
Thus Abram and Sarai were expelled from Egypt. From then on, Abram steered clear from the populated trails and favored the remote desert routes – to Lot’s chagrin. The mood among their herdsmen began to shift. Almost daily they quarreled about where to feed their cattle. One day the ongoing bickering between the herdsmen turned into a full-blown fight. Then Abram realized that they could no longer stay together. With a heavy heart he met with his nephew and proposed to go separate ways.
“If you go south I will go north. If you go north I will go south”, Abram said. It didn’t take very long for Lot to come to a conclusion: “I will go east”, he said. “The Jordan River plains will have plenty of feeding ground. In fact, why don’t you come with us? The fertile valley can easily feed the two of us.” Abram shook his head. With the Egypt-experience still fresh on his mind it was easy to see that the local cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were of bad influence. He had no intentions to repeat a mistake. And so they said their goodbyes and each went on their own way. Lot moved to the Jordan Valley while Abram pitched his tents near Hebron, by the trees of Mamre.