January 09, 2004
Daily Bible - Keep Your Eye on the Ball
Today's reading is found in Genesis 18:1 to Genesis 20:18.
Now Sarah showed a lack of faith and even laughed off God's promise in his presence, then lied about it. But God is patient and wiser than I. I would be tempted to just step on the both of them and make a covenant with someone else. But I'm not God, am I? Besides, God is a covenant maker and a covenant keeper. If He says it is to be, that's enough for it to happen.
Anyway, God announced his intention to destroy the city of Sodom and all of the inhabitants for their wickedness. Abraham pleaded with Him not to do this. He actually bargained with God to spare the city if just ten righteous people could be found. So two angels went to the city into Lot's house and the men of the city called them out for sodomy (hence the term). Lot tried to protect them from the riot and they escaped. The angels then gave instructions to run for their lives without stopping or looking back. Lot's wife did look back and was turned to a pillar of salt. Why did she look back? Did she want to see the carnage? Did she miss her home? We may never know the answer to that question. We can learn from this, though. If God tells you that you are not where you need to be (figuratively or literally) then you need to run from there without looking back. Keep your eyes on Him at all times!
Am I the only one confused here? Abraham said he wanted Sarah to introduce him as her brother, rather than her husband because she was attractive and he didn't want to be killed (lack of faith here). So the king of Gerar found favor in Sarah, but God kept him from taking it any farther. And out of this, Abraham needed to pray for the King's sin to clear up a curse? In my opinion, Abraham started this fiasco. Or am I missing something?
by Doug McHone at 12:00 AM
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I always liked that Abe and Sarah named their son 'Laughter'... Most parents that age would choose a name on the opposite side of the spectrum.
The destruction of S&G is another place where most miss the open invitation of mercy, and grace. Not only in the last gasp chance of the angels in Lot's house, but also the effect of having Lot live there. Peter calls Lot a righteous man, so perhaps his very presence as a citizen was an opportunity for people to recognize their sin, and turn back to God.
[Reagan Voice]
There goes God again, trying to reconcile his people back to Him... tsk tsk...
The turning to salt, first image in my mind... Salt was used to preserve and purify things. Is there a hint of mercy in the quick judgement of God against his instructions. Sometimes the yank on the leash, yanks us right out of this world... is that what happened to Lot's wife?
Praying for another person's sin, is a theme in the OT. We miss it a lot in the NT, but it is there too. Abraham's disobedience was a stumbling block to another man. Have we been a stumbling block to someone, should we pray for forgiveness for their sin, that we might have induced.
Peace.
Posted by: Gator at January 9, 2004 08:54 AMI love what this passage has to say about praying with boldness and persistence -- and the heart of God. I think it is a good parallel passage to the persistent widow.
Abraham seems incredibly bold as he "bargains" God down to only 10 righteous men in the city. It feels amazing that God does not get angry and knock Abraham's head off for his brazen bargaining.
And yet what happens? God cannot find 10 righteous men in Sodom & Gemorrah -- he can only find one, Lot. Yet he saves Lot! Abraham may be unwilling to let 10 righteous men die along with the unrighteous, but God is unwilling to let even one righteous man die with them. God is more zealous than Abraham is.
We fall into thinking that praying with boldness and persistence is "banging on the closed doors of heaven" -- working hard and using any method available to get a callous God to care about what we care about. It is good to remember that if what we care about is good and righteous, God cares about it so much more than we do, and is dying to bring it about.
Cheers!