Genesis 19
Bible Passage: Genesis 19
A tale of two cities.
No.. I ain’t talking about any Charles Dickens novel.
But it is about two cities. And not exactly a tale, but a real life event.
We all have heard of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two infamous cities at the time (and in history as a matter of fact), known for being sinful places. It’s no wonder there is a word in the dictionary which describes something sinful that is derived from one of the cities (I think it is derived from it at least..).
As Christians in the true church, we shouldn’t, in our right mind, even try to linger around those places, less we place ourselves in greater danger… Right?
Well, Lot, as we know, dwelt in Sodom. And we know that Lot was a righteous man (though as thechosen had mentioned, he and his household might not be that righteous to some of us).
…and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, torment his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)…
2 Peter 6: 8
Makes you wonder why Lot went to dwell there.. Why “torment” himself by even being there, let alone live there? If it weren’t for the mercy of God, he probably would’ve been destroyed along with the rest of them.
I don’t really know of any places today that are exactly like Sodom and Gomorrah, sin for sin. But then again, this entire world is a place full of sin lurking around every corner. Sodom and Gomorrah is, in a way, all around..
But are we like Lot, who drew close to these kind of places? Or rather, do we actually torment ourselves by drawing near to the sins of this world, or the things/actions/places that could cause us to sin? Do we draw near to or do we flee from such things? If you ask me, doing the former is tantamount to suicide, especially if you’re not careful..
Therefore, we have flee from youthful lusts,but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2: 22-23
Even when Lot was told to escape to the mountains, I just wonder why did he asked to flee to the nearby city of Zoar instead? Was it really because he didn’t have the stamina to make it all the way to the mountain? Or it just the simple reason that he didn’t have enough faith to fully follow the instructions from God?
What do you think?
And then there’s Lot’s wife… Well it’s a pity… Lot could’ve used the extra salt on his fries… (sarcastic drum beats… followed by long eerie silence…)
Why do you think she looked back?
Did she hear someone call her name? Did she trip and fall with head facing back?
Well… Perhaps… But more realistically, think of it this way in today’s context that would suit us better.
Remember when we first believed in the Lord.. When we first made that decision to pursue after a life of building up our faith.. A live of spiritual nurture, going away from the old life that is of the world.
This walk towards salvation can be likened to us going away from Sodom and Gomorrah, where we lived out our former lives. We are escaping from the sins of the world. And we need to maintain a heart and mind dedicated to fleeing from these evil things and towards safety.
But, let us reflect.. Are there times when we recall the ol’ days, the days when we didn’t really know God? Did we have those little thoughts that you missed what you used to do, or you sort of missed the old life? Do we have a compelling desire to look back and “miss” or “long for” those old times? Probably this was what was going through Lot’s wife’s mind..
We are already on this road to salvation, and it is a road where there should be no turning back.. Because there is really no need to, not even to look back.
In a life of faith and spiritual nurture, we should always look forward, setting our sights on the things, the glorious and spiritual that are ahead, waiting for us. We should not have the desire or longing to return to our old ways, to become the old man again (Note… Not talking about age). And also, let us not linger around near sin, lest we sin too…
I’ll just leave you guys with some verses given by Peter and Paul. Good day/night/some-other-unknown-time-zone-in-another-dimension… – Philippians 3: 13
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless… – 2 Peter 3: 14
3 Comments
InHisTime
I find it disturbing that Lot offered up his 2 daughters(v8) in order to save the angels.
While commendable, this was unjustifiably offered.
Lot has really lost his sense of right and wrong.
Of two evils we must choose to do less, but of two sins we must choose neither, for nothing good will come out of it.
PS
There are a few things in Gen 19 which i find it puzzling too.
(1) Lot said that his two daughters had known no man (Gen 19:8) but Gen 19:14 records that Lot spoke to his sons-in-laws who had married his daughters. Contradicting right? May be Lot was not sincere and did not intend to do as he said in Gen 19:8.
(2) Gen 19:23 records The sun risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. Gen 19:26 records But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Lot, his wife and two daughters had reached Zoar. When God rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah out of heaven, it was likely that all 4 looked, simply out of curosity and fear. If all 4 looked at the destruction of the place where they just escaped from, why only Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt?
The bible did not record what was on her mind when she looked back. Could her thoughts be the cause of her end. Like Nathanael and Lord Jesus in John 1:47-48 “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit.” “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
When God decided to destroy men and beast, creeping things and birds in Gen 6:7, “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” was in God’s consideration.
(3)This is the worst: the 2 daughters decided to lay with their father bec “there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth.” and they did the atrocious acts in the name to “perserve the lineage of our father.” (Gen 19:31,32,34) They did such a horrible thing based on equally horrible bases.
Why did they not consider to seek help from their granduncle? Abraham saved Lot from kings. Quite sure he would be most willing to take care of the family. “Abraham, to arrange for marriage of 3 family members is ok, right?”
Enough about bad things. They are not for us.
Come out of the world where it is full of “Lot”, “Lot’s wife”, “Lot’s daughters” and “old and young of Sodom”.
Lord Jesus has washed us clean with his precious blood. Be a renewed person conforming to the word of God.
God looks at our hearts.
Do not look back.
Look upward, look inward and look forward.
The judgement of God will definitely come.
treasureinearthernvessel
I know what OurKing’sWatchman mean when he mentioned about looking back and missing the “ol’ days”, the days before we know the Lord.
I have to admit that there had been times when I did that.
Especially when the road that God has called me to travel upon gets dreary and weary.
But we know this is only temporary, isn’t it?
Once we reached the mountains, or Zoar, we would be safe right?
Hebrews 6:4-6 often serves as a very good and “fearful” reminder for me.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
I have tasted how good the Lord is, and how great His love is for me.
But what if for a moment of folly, I lose focus and did something stupid, like how Lot’s wife looked back when already instructed clearly not to do so?
I don’t want to become a pillar of salt.
May God have mercy and preserve our souls.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.. (Philippians 2:12)