Single lesson
Abram and Lot Choose Separate Paths
Genesis 13:1–18
In this lesson, children trace how Abram and Lot separated peacefully when their households became too large to stay together. They will notice Lot’s choice, God’s words to Abram, and Abram’s worship at the end of the passage.
Before you teach
Genesis 13:1–18 begins with Abram returning to the South and then to Bethel, where he called on Yahweh’s name. Abram and Lot both had many animals and possessions, and their herdsmen were quarrelling because the land could not support them together. The passage follows their separation, Yahweh’s words to Abram, and ends with Abram moving to Hebron and building an altar to Yahweh.
Students will be able to retell the sequence of Genesis 13:1–18, name the choices made by Abram and Lot, and describe what Yahweh promised Abram.
Welcome: Too much for one space
5 minShow two small piles of counters or blocks in one tray to picture the problem in the passage. Explain that Abram and Lot both had many animals, tents, and possessions, so the land could not support them living closely together. Tell the class they will listen for the problem, the choices, and what happened next.
Genesis 13:2, Genesis 13:5, Genesis 13:6
Read and explain: Abram suggests peace
7 minRead Genesis 13:1–9 aloud. Point out that Abram returned to the altar area and called on Yahweh’s name. Then explain the conflict: the herdsmen were in strife. Abram said there should be no strife between them because they were relatives, and he offered Lot the first choice of direction so they could separate.
Genesis 13:4, Genesis 13:7, Genesis 13:8, Genesis 13:9
Discuss: Lot chooses and Abram stays
6 minRead Genesis 13:10–13. Help children notice that Lot looked at the plain of the Jordan and saw that it was well-watered. He chose that area for himself, travelled east, and lived in the cities of the plain, moving his tent as far as Sodom. Abram remained in the land of Canaan. Also note the passage says the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
Genesis 13:10, Genesis 13:11, Genesis 13:12, Genesis 13:13
Make and respond: Path choices sequence strip
8 minChildren make a simple sequence strip with four boxes: too many possessions, Abram offers peace, Lot chooses the plain, Yahweh speaks to Abram. As they draw or label each box, remind them that after Lot separated, Yahweh told Abram to look in every direction and promised the land to Abram and his offspring.
Genesis 13:6, Genesis 13:9, Genesis 13:11, Genesis 13:14, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 13:16, Genesis 13:17
Closing: God speaks and Abram worships
4 minFinish by reading Genesis 13:14–18. Ask the class to say one thing Yahweh promised Abram and one thing Abram did at the end. Emphasise that the passage ends with Abram moving to Hebron and building an altar to Yahweh. Review the full sequence together in order using the children’s sequence strips.
Genesis 13:14, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 13:16, Genesis 13:17, Genesis 13:18
Questions to explore
Why did Abram and Lot need to separate instead of continuing to live together?
Look for the verses explaining that both had many possessions and the land was not able to bear them together, which led to strife among the herdsmen.
Genesis 13:5, Genesis 13:6, Genesis 13:7
What did Abram say to Lot that showed he wanted peace?
Read Abram’s own words carefully and notice that he asked for no strife and let Lot choose first between left and right.
Genesis 13:8, Genesis 13:9
What did Yahweh say to Abram after Lot separated from him?
Find the promises and instructions Yahweh gave: Abram was to look in every direction, walk through the land, and hear that the land would be given to him and his offspring.
Genesis 13:14, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 13:16, Genesis 13:17
Make, think or respond
Path Choices Sequence Strip
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils or crayons
- ruler or folded paper for boxes
- Bible
Try it together
- Fold a sheet of paper into four sections or draw four boxes.
- In box 1, draw or write the problem: Abram and Lot had so much that the land could not support them together.
- In box 2, draw or write Abram offering Lot the first choice so there would be no strife.
- In box 3, show Lot choosing the plain of the Jordan and separating from Abram.
- In box 4, show Yahweh speaking to Abram and Abram building an altar to Yahweh.
This activity helps children put Genesis 13:1–18 in order and connect the human choices in the passage with Yahweh’s words to Abram and Abram’s worship.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, provide the four sequence moments orally and let them draw one simple picture in each box instead of writing sentences.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add a short caption under each box using words from the passage such as strife, separate, chose, and altar.
An optional closing prayer
“Yahweh, please help us learn from Abram’s words of peace and remember what you said to him. Help us listen carefully to your word and respond with trust and worship.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 13
1 Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
3 He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
4 to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.
6 The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.
7 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.
8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives.
9 Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.
11 So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one another.
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
14 Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,
15 for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.
16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.
17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”
18 Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.