Genesis 13:1-13, (10)
 
What does it mean in having blurred vision? Blurred vision is the deficiency of sharpness of visual perception, causing objects to show up cloudy or out of focus. The essential drivers of obscured vision are refractive issues – myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (imperfection in the curvature of the eye), or presbyopia (gradual loss of seeing close things clearly). Blurred vision can likewise be an indication of a more significant issue.

Today we read about someone who just might have had a vision problem. There is an old saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” The meaning of this phrase is that whenever somebody is not happy with their own general situation in life, and consistently assume that there are better things in different areas. This figure of speech typifies the human nature of continuously wanting something else than what you currently have. It communicates the possibility that individuals frequently figure an alternate situation would give them more noteworthy pleasure. Notwithstanding, the expression is regularly utilized with regards to reminding individuals that this is not typically the situation.
I believe that this fits the situation here.
 
Here we see Abram and his nephew Lot traveling together, with all their goods. They came upon the plain of Jordan. They had to come to an agreement to see who would settle where. Abram was the oldest and had the right to make the first choice. In this instance, Abram set an example in how to respond with a family situation. So, to keep from a possible family argument, he gave Lot the first choice. He let Lot have the best option, although it implied not getting what he wanted. Abram put family harmony before his own wants. Sometimes we may need to act in this way to keep the peace.
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• Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
• Hebrews 12:14, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

 
Abram and Lot’s herders could have worked together. They were surrounded by people that were not so friendly, downright hostile. But what did they do? They let trivial issues come between them. It is ironic how similar situations occur today. Christians will argue and bicker amongst themselves, and all the while the devil is working all around them, stirring up the embers.

Disagreements and arguments among Christians can harm cooperative attitude, trust, and harmony, which are the basis for good human relations. They can hamper progress toward significant objectives. They can likewise make us narcissistic, self-centered, as opposed to operating with love in our hearts. Jesus prayed for His followers in His final prayer. He asked God the Father that we all be one (John 17:20-26).
 
But how did Lot respond? How would we respond in a comparable situation?
 
We should look deeper than what is on the surface.
Lot saw only the material attraction. He looked at the immediate and alternate attraction. Lot saw only himself and his selfish interests. He put himself before others. Greed and covetousness were his motivating factors.
 
We should look at what we fail to see.
Lot looked toward Sodom (see verse 10). He pitched his tent toward Sodom (see verse 12). He failed to see the sinfulness of Sodom (see verse 13). He failed to see the downward pull of sin, and then he lived in Sodom (see chapter 14).

Lot’s character was shown by the choices he made. He took the best though it meant living near a city of sin. He became greedy and did not do what would have been fair. Do we choose what we think is best and give no thought for others? Have we stopped making choices in the direction of God, and only make choices for ourselves? Have we not learned that our choices, without God, leads in the wrong direction?

Over in Genesis 19:15-29, key verse twenty-six, we learn that God sent two angels to rescue Lot. But there was a price paid by someone who looked back at the sinful way of living.
 
We should be careful not to lose our spiritual vision.
Lot failed to have his vision checked (values). Uncorrected worldly involvements lead to spiritual blurriness or spiritual blindness. Slipping into ungodly values may not come immediately, it comes gradually. Lot lost his spiritual vision. He became blind to genuine happiness. He became blind to his character. He became willing to give up his daughter. He became blind to the truth of God’s Word. He was warned, he lingered, and then he was forced to leave. He became blind to human decency.
 
We should get a spiritual vision check-up.
The following are a few passages of Scripture in regard to seeking (looking for) God.
Trying to do good (actions, self, traditions) can lead to spiritually bad vision. We need to continually seek the guidance and direction from the spiritual eye doctor.

• 1 Corinthians 2:9, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
• Isaiah 64:4, For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

 
If we seek the LORD (that means to look for God), then we shall find him.

• 1 Chronicles 16:11, Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.
• Deuteronomy 4:29, But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
• Jeremiah 29:13, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
• Proverbs 8:17, I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
• Isaiah 55:6-7, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

 
When we seek unto God and commit unto him, great and marvelous things happen.

• Job 5:8-9, I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

 
The Lord does not forsake those who seek him, nor will they lack any good thing.

• Psalms 9:10, And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
• Psalms 14:2, The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
• Psalms 34:10, The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

 
Those that seek the Lord will rejoice and be glad.

• Psalms 40:16, Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

 
If we are thirsty, we should seek the Lord.

• Psalms 63:1, O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

 
We are blessed when we seek the Lord with our whole heart.

• Psalms 119:2, Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
• Psalms 119:10, With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

 
The Lord is good to them that seek him.

• Lamentations 3:25, The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

 
We are to seek God first in all things (Matthew 6:33), and when we seek, we shall find (Matthew 7:7-8). That means to continually pursue God. Many often give up after a few attempts of searching and looking. To know God takes focus, it takes faith, and it means that we are to follow-through with our search.

God rewards those who diligently seek him.

• Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

• 2 Chronicles 7:14, (If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land).

Genesis 3:1-10
 
Why are we hiding ourselves from God or the world?
 
Hiding behind inabilities:

• Exodus 3:10, Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

 
Do we hide due to our fears and thoughts of our inabilities?  Do we think that we cannot do or perform certain tasks?  Philippians 4:19, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God does not ask for or seek for our abilities or lack thereof, He looks for our availability. 
 
Hiding because of fear of failure:

• Matthew 17:20, And Jesus said unto them, Because or your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

 
Are we afraid of failing, that we may not have the strength, that we may not succeed in our path? 

• Isaiah 41:10, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 
We do not need to fear; (I am with thee) God’s is with us, (I am thy God) we have a relationship with God, and (I will uphold thee) His strength, His help, and His victory is ever with us.
 
Hiding our light for God:

• Matthew 5:14, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

 
A city that is on top of a hill cannot be hid because its light shines in the darkness.  At night its light can be seen for miles.  even from the sky above you can see the light in the night.  As we live for Christ, His light will shine through us into a dark world.  Our light is hid  if we are quiet when we should speak, if we blend in with the world, if we deny God’s light, if we let sin into our lives, or if we do not explain the light of Christ to others.  We should be as a lighthouse, shining the light of Christ to the world. 

• Philippians 2:15, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

 
Hiding our faith:

• John 12:42, Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.

 
Many refuse to believe, but many that believe refuse to admit it.  If we do this, then we must be afraid of ridicule and rejection.  There were Jewish leaders that would not proclaim faith in Jesus because they feared being barred from the synagogues and lose their illustrious positions in society. 

• Matthew 10:32-33, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

 
We should be more concerned with God’s acceptance in us than the temporary, unpredictable, capricious praise of man.
 
Hiding because of fear of man:

• Proverbs 29:25, The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

 
Fear of man can hamper all that you attempt to do.  It can cause you to feel reluctant to leave your home.  Why fear individuals who can do no harm to your eternal soul?  God can transform the damage proposed by others into good for the individuals who trust Him. 

• Proverbs 16:7, When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

It is our nature to need others to like us, and at times we will.  God instructs us to place our vitality into satisfying Him.  Our push to be peacemakers will for the most part make us progressively appealing to everyone around us, even our foes.  Regardless of whether it doesn't, we haven't lost anything.  We should still strive to satisfying God, the only One that matters.
 
How can we stop ourselves from hiding?
 
Trust in the Lord:

• Jeremiah 17:7, Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

 
The upright place their trust in God.  At the point when we start our Christian life, our insight into God is halfway and deficient. As we believe Him day by day, we experience how great He is. 

• Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

We should trust in Him totally in each decision we make.  Try not to discard cautious thinking, yet we ought not confide in our own thoughts or be astute in our own eyes.  Take your decisions to God, utilize the Bible as your guide and follow God's guidance.
 
Meditate on God’s Word:

• Psalm 1:2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 
Meditating means investing energy reading the Bible and considering what you have read.  Ask yourself how you should change so you're living as God says.  Knowing and thinking about God's Word are the initial moves toward applying it to your regular day to day existence.  If you desire to know God more intently, you should recognize what He says.  The more we are aware of the entire extent of God's Word, the more assets we will have for our day to day choices. 

• 2 Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 
We must study.  We must know God’s Word.  That way we will understand what it says and means.
 
God’s voice of assurance is stronger than our conscience:

• 1 John 3:20, For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

 
How would we get away from the biting allegations of our heart?  Not by overlooking or attempting to legitimize our inner voice.  We must set our hearts to rest in God's adoration.  We ought to remind ourselves that God knows our hearts and what we do.  When we are in Christ, He does not condemn us.

• Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 
If that inner voice condemns us in known sin, or the disregard of known obligation, God does so as well.  Let that still, small voice be very much educated, be heard, and tenaciously attended to.
 
Rely on God’s power to overcome:

• 1 John 5:4-5, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 
Jesus never guaranteed that obeying Him would be simple.  Difficult work can be fulfilling if we appreciate its outcomes.  Hard work and self-control of serving Christ is no burden to the individuals who love Him.  In the event that our load becomes too heavy, we should trust in Christ to assist us with bearing it. 

• Matthew 11:28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.​