Does Family Get on Your Nerves?

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Genesis 13:5-11

Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together, and there was strife between the herders of Abram’s livestock and the herders of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; thus they separated from each other.

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You can go your own way.

"Go Your Own Way" written by Lindsey Buckingham recorded by Fleetwood Mac from "Rumours"

If the video for this version of the song means one thing, it means that separation is painful and time can heal all wounds. Lindsey Buckingham, lead guitar and in this song lead vocalist of Fleetwood Mac wrote this song about breaking up with his long-time girl friend Stevie Nicks, the background singer on this song. Lindsey and Stevie had been together long before they joined Fleetwood Mac, but things happen.

The original video for this song, you can see it from this link, it's pretty easy to see that Stevie isn't pleased with singing back up on a break up song about her. The first ten seconds of that link will show what I mean. The version above was about 20 years later, during that time, it seems they were able to come an accord.

Lot and Abram traveled together. The Nephew left his father's house when the Uncle left for the Land God Promised. They left with all their possessions, everything that belonged to them. They weren't planning on going back. But all of their stuff got in the way. The Abram's and Lot's herdsmen were not of one accord. They had to fight for their time on the field and at the well. It must have been a scene as the men fought for scarce resources. Everyone was getting on everyone else's nerves! Something had to be done!

Abram decided the only way was for them to split. Abram made the offer, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me."

You take what's yours--your livestock, your men, your family, your stuff and make a choice. You go one way and I'll go the other. This is how they made the peace. Since scripture says nothing about them ever meeting again, it seems peaceably. For their progeny that is not so. The children of Abram became the Israelites, the children of Lot became the Moabites and the Ammonites. Not so good.

Families split. Families reunite. Sometimes there is drama and sometimes it works out. In this case, it worked well early and not so well later. How we react when family gets on our nerves says a lot about how we live our lives because let's face it, family gets on your nerves.

Sin separated us from God our father. Jesus Christ his only son is the one who reconciled us while we were still sinful. Now there's a model to follow.