Genesis 18-19

So, things have been abnormally busy, and I am sooo far behind, but I’ve decided that I just need to focus on being consistent instead of trying to “catch up”. So, I hope everyone’s having a great holiday season, here’s what I have thus far…

Genesis 18-19: Abraham is visited by three visitors, who are representatives of God, and he and Sarah are told that they will have a child this time next year. She laughs at them, and God says (my favorite line for right now) “Is there any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Gen 18:14). Abraham also pleads for Sodom and Gomorrah because he knows that God is planning to destroy them. They bargain and God decides that if he can find TEN righteous people that he will not destroy the city…game over Sodom. God can’t find TEN righteous people.

Chapter 19 was kind of weird. Two angels go to take a peek around Sodom. Lot begs them to stay at his house, and then the MEN of the city are beating down Lot’s door because they want to have sex with these MALE angels! NOT Good. At all.  So, they tell Lot and he tells his family that the city will be destroyed the next morning. His son-in-laws don’t believe him. Sad times for Lot’s son-in-laws. Lot, his wife, and their two daughters make it out, but his wife turns back and gets turned to a pillar of salt. He and his daughters go to the mountains.

Well, in an act of weird desperation, his daughters decide that they will get their father drunk and have sex with him so that their lineage, or race, is preserved. Gross.

This reading was disturbing. But I’ve heard of incest, homosexuality, and lots of things in between. So I had to ask myself, “why is it so disturbing now”? I guess because it’s in The Bible. We’re dealing with the same things, and probably in a more intense way than in biblical times, but God hasn’t destroyed our cities. I definitely have to thank God for the grace and mercy. Also, I thank God for the righteous who were living by God’s laws and commandments when I wasn’t, because those people were the ones to intercede on our behalf.

Every time I heard this story, I thought Lot’s wife turned around for a quick second and then BAM! She’s now salt. And I thought that was a little mean of God, but I looked at some commentary in my Bible and one person suggested that she “ ‘looked back’ to where her heart’s interests were…lingered behind; and [was] probably overtaken by the fire and brimstone”. The part that stuck out to me was “her heart’s desire”.

How many times have we had a desire in our hearts that was contrary to God’s will? And how many times have we been reluctant to give it up? I know this has definitely happened to me. Whether it was a financial decision, a job, a relationship, or other, God has our best interest in mind.  I am so thankful that my indecision during these times did not lead to my ultimate demise or separation from God, but now I know that it’s not worth the risk.

When God tells us to do something, or to remove something (or someone) from our lives, just do it. Don’t linger, don’t let your heart linger either. The lingering could be the difference between living a life full of victory and prosperity (in Christ) and self-destruction. We don’t know WHAT God may be protecting us from, He actually told Lot’s family that they would be consumed if they stop or look back, but that didn’t stop his wife.

Let’s all make a point today to listen. Listen to what God is asking of us, as let’s make a point to just do it. It will work out in our favor anyway. He made us, and he wants to see us win!

Let's Move Foward with Christ...Here's one of my favorite songs by Israel Houghton.

"I'm not going back, I'm moving ahead. Here to declare to you, my past is over in you. Things are made new. Surrender my life to Christ. I'm moving FORWARD..."