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Submitted by Clare.Elevique on Thu, 06/01/2011 - 4:23pm
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God is still In the business of doing wonders

Today our first born son became 21 years old. We give glory to God that, through the know how He gave to medical science in IVF, our son came into our lives 21 years ago today.
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Florence Emore

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The choices we make

Thu, 06/01/2011
Genesis Chapters 19 to 20

GENESIS 19

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

Commentary

Reading through chapters 19 and 20 present some challenging questions as to how we live in today’s world.  At the beginning of chapter 19 we find Lot sitting at the entrance into the city. What is he doing there?  According to Jewish tradition, the civic leaders are the ones who sit at the gates into the city. Does this mean Lot is a civic leader in Sodom and Gomorrah?  If he is, then he must be presiding over a cesspit of evil.  This could imply that Lot had so lost his way, from the days when he lived with Abraham.  He had compromised in the bid to ‘fit in’ for initially, he had pitched his tent towards Sodom (Genesis 13:12) now he lives in Sodom.


However, when we consider that the bible describes Lot as righteous (2 Peter 2:7), then maybe there was another intention in Lot’s mind for sitting at the gate.  Could it be that he’s intention was to prevent evil from befalling unsuspecting strangers? The offer of his daughters seems to support this train of thought.  

Either way, I could not stop thinking back to the choice he made in Genesis 13:10 - 12 when faced with the choice of where to go, he chose the lush well watered plain of Jordan.  Lot seemed to be led by sight and not by God. Could Lot have been spared the losses by seeking God first before making his choice?  We are encouraged not to be led by sight but by the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16 - 25).  

Train up the Children
Lot and his family, wife and two daughters plus two sons-in-law, were offered the opportunity to be delivered and yet only Lot and his daughters made it through.  Even those who made it through resorted to other means to preserve the family line. What went wrong?  Could compromise have affected the way Lot lived so that he had little impact on those around him including his family? Or was the society so evil that there was nothing he could do? The testimony of Lot’s family is so different from that of Abraham given in Genesis 18:19:

“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”

Would this be our testimony?

Today’s world
In Matthew 10, our Lord Jesus Christ sent the disciples out to preach in the cities (just as he has sent us today).  But he says something that puts the chills in me. Talking about the rejection of the gospel, He says:

“Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

The bible describes the men of Sodom and Gomorrah as “exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD” (Genesis 13:13), yet Jesus says it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for those who reject the Gospel!  When we review the evidence in chapter 19 where all the men, young and old gather outside Lot’s house intending to have intercourse with two male strangers, it may seem impossible to us or we may think that it does not apply to us because we are “born again”.  But let us examine ourselves - Are we compromising?  Are we tolerating or turning a blind eye to sin in the bid to fit in? Is our focus on material things, fame and fortune?  Are we rejecting the Gospel in other ways? Could we find ourselves in Lot’s shoes?

Fear not, help is available.
Wherever we evaluate ourselves to be, we must take comfort in the truth that Jesus has not left us alone. He has loaded the bases in our favour in the person of the Holy Spirit who helps us to overcome even in today’s world. There is no need to fear for just as God did for Abraham when Abimelech took Sarah as his wife, He will also do for those who put their trust in Him. Or perhaps, we have followed Lot in compromise; God is mighty to deliver because He loves us.  

As we continue on our journey through life, let us be careful to:

  • Avoid compromising God’s way
  • Avoid association with evil company
  • Leave a Godly legacy to our children
  • Be led by the Spirit and not by what we see around us
  • To trust in God and not be afraid

PROVERBS 1:7

 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Georgina Blackwood

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