Abram attempted to do God’s will his way.  God did not negate this promise but neither did He stop the trouble Ishmael caused Abraham nor Ishmael’s descendants to Abram’s descendants.

This is the 3rd time God reiterates the promise. This time it is with a blood sacrifice, a vision, and an expansion.

Abraham gives the first tithe recorded in Scripture to Melchizedek (cf. Heb. 7:1-15) as a faith/thanks offering to God. This is the real motive for giving.

Lot is captured, and Abram, in faith, went out to fight.  Today we are often between fighting reflexively or being passive.  Abraham did not pray but acted in the direction of faith already taken.

The Lord knows our weakness and re-promises for our sakes. Here He renews His promise to Abram because Abram has been through a lot.

Lot pitched his tent (life) toward Sodom because it was attractive at many levels.  This led to disaster.  Abraham pitched his life in the land of promise – a pattern of faith.

Suffering can come for many reasons.  None of those reasons are beyond the reach of Rom. 8:28.  Many “disasters” in Scripture are, in fact, providence.