Text: Gen.13:8-18.
“So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’ Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, ‘Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.’ So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.”
Theme: “For The Sake Of Peace!”
Last Sunday we were at the Palace of my fondom. One piece of caution that was given to us was that we should try as much as possible to avoid land disputes. It was noted that about 90% of complaints received by the traditional council is about land disputes.
While we may claim ownership of development projects, we cannot lay the same claims on land. We may claim to be landlords, but we are not the land God. Even if you bought a piece of land, the first person who settled on that land did not buy it.
A claim is often made that all land is government land, or the fon’s land when villages were seen as city states. The truth of it is that “the earth is the LORD’S” and everything in it thereof.
Back to the text: it is a rich text that can be tackled from many angles. We will limit our concern on amicable conflict resolution on land disputes by the two parties involved.
The lack of enough space to contain the herds and herders of Abram and his nephew led to quarrelling among their herders. As has bern said, “The king’s dog is the king of dogs.” We can begin to imagine how such quarrels generated superiority complex claims by Abram’s herders, thus forcing an inferiority complex on Lot’s herders.
We admire Abram’s method of resolving the conflict. We are not by this recommending it as a standard for resolving land disputes today. The contexts are quite different as land disputes today involve those who claim to be the rightful land owners. In the case of Abram and Lot, none of them owned the land. The land was “Papa’s land!”
Abram’s approach to resolving the conflict was through negotiation and compromise. By direct negotiation, Abram and Lot discussed the conflict and worked out a solution that addressed both their concerns. Compromise was also involved as the one sought a middle ground, ready to give up something and reach an agreement that satisfied both of them.
Mediation or/and arbitration is only necessary when we fail to communicate appropriately in such a way that we are able to resolve our differences amicably. We are not carved out of stone, that’s why we must be flexible, ready to give up something for the sake of peace.
When Paul prefers that we settle our differences in-house, he is stating the obvious that the courts follow legality, but among Christians, one is able to tamper justice with mercy.
We cannot conclude without pointing out that the privilege of first choice is not a guarantee of the best choice.
Lot made the first choice but lived to regret the consequences of his choice. Choices have consequences.
On the other hand, Abram, who took what Lot rejected, laughed last but laughed best!
Sadly though: “This very land that Abram took is the very reason why today’s Israel is harassing the Gentiles who are living there and who were there before Abram.
Lastly, remember your Creator wherever you find yourself.
As a child of God, pursue the path of negotiation and compromise. Sometimes, for the sake of peace, forfeit your rights, for that is a way to tamper justice with mercy!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help us daily to work towards resolving our differences with the readiness to sacrifice our interests in the pursuit of genuine peace that passes human understanding. Amen! Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
16/07/2025.
[Supporting Song: Google Sony Okosun’s song “Papa’s Land!”].