Abraham's Optimism Rewarded

In the year 1943 B.C.E., Abraham moved from Haran, crossed the Euphrates River, and entered the land of Canaan. Abraham has been described  as "the father of all those having faith," and what a fine example he set! -Romans 4:11.

Abraham was accompanied by Lot, the orphaned son of Abraham's brother, and by Lot's family. Later, when a famine struck the land,, the two families  moved to Egypt and in due course they returned together.  By this time both Abraham and Lot had accumulated much wealth, as well as flocks and herds.  When quarreling broke out between their herdsmen, Abraham took the initiative and said:  "Please, do not  let any quarreling continue between me and you between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we men are brothers.  Is  not the whole land available to you?  Please separate from me. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right; but if you go to the right, then I will go to the left." -Genesis 13:8, 9. 

Abraham being the senior, could have directed matters to his own favor, and Lot, out of deference to his uncle, could have conceded the choice to Abraham. Instead, "Lot raise his eyes and saw the whole District of the Jordan, that all of it was a well-watered region before Jehovah brought Sodom and Gomorrah to ruin, like the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt as far as Zoar. then Lot chose for himself and the whole District of of the Jordan." With such a choice, Lot had every reason to be optimistic. but what of Abraham? -Genesis 13:10, 11. 

Was Abraham being foolhardy, putting the welfare  of his family at risk?  No. Abraham's positive attitude and generous spirit paid a rich dividend.  Jehovah said to Abraham: "Raise your eyes, please, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward  and westward, because all the land at which your are looking, to you and your seed I am going to give it until time indefinite."-Genesis 13:14, 15. 

Abraham's optimism had a sound basis. It was founded on God's promise that he would make a great nation out of Abraham so that "all the families of the ground [would] certainly bless themselves by means of [Abraham]." (Genesis 12:2-4, 7) We too have reason to be confident, knowing that "God makes all his  works cooperate together for the good of those who love God." -Romans 8:28.

Next time: Two Optimistic Spies

From the Watchtower magazine, 1998