Genesis 13:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This embodiment of humility is truly admirable; let us not be troubled by grievances, even if those who offend us seem lesser, but rather, let us calm the tempers of others through our own gentleness and peace. Indeed, nothing is as powerful as this quality; it gifts our souls enduring tranquility, drawing us toward inner calm as if it were a safe harbor, serving as a source of all comfort. Therefore, Christ, in His divine wisdom, instructed us, “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). Truly, nothing imparts such peace to the soul as meekness and humility; for one who possesses these virtues finds them more valuable than any crown or earthly grandeur. What can be more blessed than one who enjoys peace within? While we engage with the outside world and seek favor from others, if within ourselves we harbor discord and turmoil, external serenity serves no purpose. It is akin to a city guarded by numerous walls, yet rife with treachery from within. Therefore, let us prioritize achieving serenity in our souls, bringing them to a state of peace and freeing ourselves from negative feelings, thus ensuring our own tranquility and fostering harmony with our neighbors. It is a hallmark of wisdom to be modest, gentle, forgiving, humble, and calm, steering clear of being driven by anger or other passions. Rather, we should harness our reason to conquer internal chaos and uphold our dignity, rather than allowing carelessness to degrade us to a base state.

To illustrate the profound power of meekness and humility, recall the exaltation of Moses, who was honored for this virtue, as it is written: “Moses was the meekest man of all men on earth” (Num. 12:3). This remarkable commendation ranks him among all humanity—if not above it. The same commendation is attributed to David: “Remember, O Lord, David and all his brokenness” (Psalm 131:1). Through this virtue of meekness, the patriarch Abraham also gained even greater favor from above; having earned divine approval through his actions, he was richly rewarded by the loving Lord. You will observe this as we explore the next part of yesterday’s message through the Scriptures. When the patriarch exhibited great gentleness by granting Lot the choice of the best land, willingly taking the lesser portion to end the conflict, observe the immediate reward he receives from God, who honors him generously in return. Such is the nature of our Lord: as soon as He witnesses our sacrifice, however small, He rewards it richly, bestowing a generosity unfathomable compared to our merits. Consider the story of the widow who offered two mites, a seemingly trivial amount, yet she is celebrated throughout history for this act (Luke 21:3). Moreover, even a simple gesture of giving a cup of cold water to someone in need is met with great reward in God’s eyes, for He values the intentions of the heart (Matt. 10:42). It is well-known that He responds similarly to sincere prayers. If He observes anyone approaching Him eagerly, He assures them, “They will still speak, and I will already hear” (Is. 65:24). When a person persists in prayer, God, in profound love and fervor, grants their requests with kindness and often praises them even before fulfilling their desires. Such was the case with the Canaanite woman, whose diligence and unwavering faith led to her being honored with praise and subsequently receiving her heartfelt request. “O woman, great is thy faith,” He said, “Let it be done unto thee according to thy desire” (Matthew 15:28). If we were to examine all examples in Holy Scripture, we would consistently find the remarkable generosity of the Lord evident. The patriarch, as you learned yesterday, was fully aware that yielding the lesser portion would result in receiving the greater, so he granted Lot the prime land while he took the poorer choice to avoid conflict and exemplify his virtue, thereby ensuring peace in his household.

Now let us reflect on the current reading to see what rewards the Lord bestowed upon him for his meekness. “And the Lord said to Abram,” as it is recorded, “after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up thine eyes, and from the place where thou art now, look northward and southward, and eastward and westward; for all the land which thou seest, I will give to thee, and to thy offspring forever.’” Observe how close God’s providence is, and how swiftly He rewards the righteous. The divine Scripture seeks to highlight the honor bestowed upon the patriarch by the merciful God for such profound humility. After detailing Lot’s departure to the land he chose, it swiftly adds, “And the Lord said unto Abram.” To further affirm the connection between God’s promise and Abram’s humility, the Scripture specifies, “And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him,” implying directly, “You, in great meekness, have allowed your nephew to acquire the best land, demonstrating the utmost humility, and you have so valued peace that you have undertaken every effort to avert strife between you: therefore, receive from Me a generous reward…”

Thus, when God promises this land to Abraham, He articulates that the wise and faithful individual possesses all that is necessary. Solomon reinforces this notion in Proverbs, stating, "He that is faithful has a whole world of riches." Consider how much earlier Solomon lived than Zeno, the teacher of the Stoics and founder of that philosophical school, or than Plato, often called the father of philosophy, and Pythagoras, who coined its name! Who embodies faithfulness if not the wise individual? The foolish person fluctuates like the moon (Sir 27:11), whereas the wise remain steadfast in their faith.

In contrast, the Lord reassures His faithful follower with the promise that all the land Abram traverses, a land in which he has “not an inheritance of one foot” (Acts 7:5), will ultimately belong to him and his descendants. “Look with thine eyes, and see from the place,” meaning from Bethel, where this promise was delivered, “where thou art now,” towards the north and south, east and west, specifically referencing the Mediterranean Sea as the western limit of the promised land. “That all the land which thou seest, I will give it unto thee, and unto thy seed forever.” It is likely that from Abram’s current location, he could not see the entirety of the land that would one day be inhabited by his offspring. It can be imagined that God miraculously revealed the entirety of the promised territory to Abram’s vision. Just as the devil was able to show the Lord Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” (Matt. 4:8) in an instant, it would be far easier for God’s omnipotence to grant Abram a vision of all the future possessions of his lineage from one vantage point. "I will give to thee and to thy seed." Though not directly, since he did not personally possess the promised land, the promise was fulfilled through his descendants. The knowledge that his offspring would inherit the land was just as gratifying to Abram as if he had owned it himself. "Forever." The everlasting possession of the land promised to Abram's descendants should be interpreted similarly to the way the Old Testament Passover is described as eternal (Exodus 12:14). God intended for the celebration of the Old Testament Passover to cease with the advent of the New Covenant, marked by the arrival of Christ the Savior, this New Testament Lamb, which reflects the Old Testament Passover. Its designation as eternal pertains only to its relationship with the Old Covenant, meaning it is to be observed throughout the era of that covenant. In parallel, the promise of the lasting possession of Canaan signifies that Abram's descendants will inhabit it for the duration of their independent political existence until “the prince of Judah shall be made poor.” When the chosen nation loses its autonomy and falls under foreign dominion, then the promised land will cease to be theirs.