Beware of greener pastures sermon image showing two paths, a city in the distance, and a shepherd with sheep representing Genesis 13

Beware of Greener Pastures | Choose Faith Instead of Sight

Posted on by Harvest Church

Genesis 13 warns us that not every green pasture is God’s provision—choose faith over sight, return to the altar, and trust the Shepherd who alone restores your soul.

VFS

Pastor Scott Girlie

Returning to the Altar Where It All Began (Genesis 13:1–4)

Genesis 13 opens with Abram returning from Egypt to Bethel—the place where his journey with God first began. Though Abram left Egypt rich in livestock, silver, and gold, his greatest wealth was not material; it was his relationship with God. Scripture tells us that Abram returned to the altar and “called on the name of the Lord.” Sometimes God brings us back, not to shame us, but to remind us how far He has brought us. The altar represents surrender, worship, and dependence. When our journey begins—and returns—at the altar, God remains faithful through every season.

Choosing by Faith or Choosing by Sight (Genesis 13:5–11)

As Abram and Lot increased in blessing, the land could no longer sustain them together. Strife arose, not from lack, but from abundance. Abram, though he had authority, promise, and seniority, chose peace over position. Lot, however, lifted his eyes and chose the well-watered plains of the Jordan. He chose by sight, not by prayer. Scripture never records Lot seeking God’s direction—only what looked good. This moment reveals a timeless truth: opportunity does not always equal obedience. What appears to be greener may be spiritually dangerous.

The Danger of Greener Pastures (Genesis 13:12–13; Genesis 19)

Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, while Abram built an altar to the Lord. One focused on location; the other focused on worship. Greener pastures led Lot closer to compromise, eventually placing him inside a city marked by extreme wickedness. In Genesis 19, we see how deeply compromise had affected Lot—he negotiated with sin rather than standing firmly in righteousness. Greener pastures that are disconnected from God often cost more than they promise.

God Is Our Refuge and Shepherd (Psalm 46; Psalm 23)

Scripture reminds us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46). We do not need to chase greener pastures when the Lord Himself is our Shepherd. Psalm 23 declares that He makes us lie down in green pastures and restores our soul. True provision, peace, and restoration are found not in chasing “more,” but in trusting the Shepherd and remaining in His presence.

Key Sermon Points

  • Greener Pastures will take you to places you don’t want to go
  • Greener Pastures will cause you to compromise w/ the enemy
  • Quit looking for greener pastures

Points for “Beware of Greener Pastures”

  • Not every opportunity that looks good is ordered by God
  • Abram chose peace and faith; Lot chose sight and self
  • Blessing can bring strife if discernment is missing
  • Greener pastures without God lead to compromise
  • Altars sustain faith; tents only provide shelter
  • When God is your refuge, you don’t need to chase provision
  • The Shepherd provides green pastures in His timing and will

 

 

Reference Scriptures:

Genesis 13:1-13, 18

13 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey 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 first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.

8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.

18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.

Genesis 19:4-5, 8

4 Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”

8 See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

Psalms 46:1-4

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

Psalms 23: 1-6

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.