经过创世记十二章的经历以后，无论是亚伯拉罕或是我们都很容易说，“赞美主，我已经学了功课。”然而，仍需要一些试验来证明，我们是否真的学了功课。其中一个试验是弟兄之争（创十三5-13）。亚伯拉罕因试图出卖妻子成了富足，这些财富给他带来一些麻烦。他太富足了。罗得也得了财富，那地就不够容纳他们。十三章六节告诉我们：“那地容不下他们，因为他们的财物甚多，使他们不能同居。”因此亚伯拉罕的牧人和罗得的牧人相争（创十三7）。这成了亚伯拉罕的另一试炼。许多时候，第二次的试炼是出于第一次试炼的祝福。这是我们的经历。
创世记十三章指明亚伯拉罕已经学了功课。这一次他没有失败；他得胜了，因为他在第一次试炼里学了功课。这一次亚伯拉罕没有错，错是在罗得。亚伯拉罕学了功课，不为自己争，不为自己拣选，只信靠神的看顾。他知道他在神的手中，在神的看顾之下。你在十三章看不到亚伯拉罕这一方有甚么失败的迹象，他是完全的成功。“亚伯兰就对罗得说，你我不可相争，你的牧人和我的牧人也不可相争，因为我们是骨肉。遍地不都在你跟前么？请你离开我，你向左，我就向右，你向右，我就向左。”（创十三8-9）。
亚伯拉罕似乎告诉罗得说，“罗得，我们是希伯来弟兄，在这地上只有我们是希伯来人，其余都是外邦人。他们在看我们。我们之间不可相争，因为这会羞辱我们所信靠的神。罗得，请你看看这地，拣选你所喜欢的地方。我绝不争，也不选。”在亚伯拉罕的深处，他必定说，“我的拣选是在于神。我因着下埃及，已经学了功课。现在我知道我是在神的看顾之下，在祂底下一切都是我的。我不需要拣选。我要让罗得去拣选。”罗得拣选了，就离开亚伯拉罕，“渐渐挪移帐棚，直到所多玛，”并不在意所多玛的罪恶（创十三12-13）。
请享受诗歌 (点击诗歌名）
The Trial of the Called Ones – Strife Between Brothers (1) – Gen 12:16-17
After passing through the experience of Genesis chapter twelve, whether it is Abram or us, it is very easy to say, “Praise the Lord, I have learned the lesson”. However, some tests are still needed to prove whether we have truly learned the lesson. One of these tests was the strife between brothers (Gen. 13:5-13). Abram became wealthy because he attempted to sell his wife, and these riches brought him some trouble. He was too wealthy. Lot also obtained wealth, so the land was not sufficient to contain them. Chapter 13:6 tells us: “And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together.” Therefore, there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot (Gen. 13:7). This became another trial for Abram. Many times, the second trial comes out of the blessing of the first trial. This is our experience.
Genesis chapter thirteen indicates that Abram had learned the lesson. This time he did not fail; he overcame, because he had learned the lesson in the first trial. This time Abram was not at fault; the fault lay with Lot. Abram learned the lesson not to contend for himself, not to choose for himself, but only to trust in God’s care. He knew he was in God’s hand and under God’s care. You do not see any sign of failure on Abram’s side in chapter thirteen; he was a complete success. “And Abram said to Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife between you ad me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me ; if to the left, then I will go to the right, or if to the right, then I will to to the left.’” (Gen. 13:8-9).
Abram seemed to tell Lot, “Lot, we are Hebrew brothers. On this earth, only we are Hebrews; the rest are Gentiles. They are watching us. There must be no strife between us, because this would shame the God we trust. Lot, please look at this land and choose the place you like. I will absolutely not strive, nor will I choose”. Deep within Abram, he must have said, “My choice rests with God. I have learned a lesson through going down to Egypt. Now I know I am under God’s care, and under Him everything is mine. I do not need to choose. I will let Lot choose”. Lot chose and separated from Abram, “and moved his tent as far as Sodom,” not caring about the wickedness of Sodom (Gen. 13:12-13).