Thursday, October 13, 2005
Genesis 19
Genesis 19
Destruction
We left off last chapter with Jesus talking to Abraham about the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their overtly sinful lives. The two angels that were with Jesus have now left Abraham, and arrived in Sodom where Lot greets them.
Vs. 1-3 “Lot’s lifestyle”
Lot is now sitting in the city gate. This is a place where the leaders of the city sit to do business. Take a look at the progression of Lot’s move to Sodom:
Genesis 13:12, Lot pitches his tent outside the city “near Sodom” where the men were wicked
Genesis 14, Lot is caught up in the middle of a war on Sodom and is captured, where Abraham must go rescue him
Now in Genesis 19, Lot has become a leader in the city.
This is how easy it is to get caught up in things that are wrong. First we are near them, next thing you know we are involved in them to the point of troubles, then finally we are fully immersed in the life style so much so that we have made it our own lifestyle.
Vs. 4-9 “the sinfulness of Sodom”
All of the men in Sodom were so corrupt that they want to rape the visitors that were with Lot. Lot offers to send out his virgin daughters, but the men say no. This is the city of anarchy. There is no government control of anything, and the men are left to do whatever they want. We see the depth of corruption in the men’s sexual violence and perversity. Before the men of Sodom force there way in, the angels with Lot pull him back in the door.
Vs. 10-14 “the warning”
Unfortunately, due to his compromised lifestyle, nobody takes Lot seriously. He warns of the destruction to come but the people laugh at him. Even though he had started out as a man of faith, he had become a compromised even to his own family. So, nobody listened to his warning.
Vs. 15-25 “Escaping Sodom”
Unfortunately, Lot is so unwilling to leave that the next morning is when they end up getting dragged out of the city by the angels. See how people, I am sure you and I included, are so unwilling to leave the horrible lifestyles that we live, even when obvious destruction lay ahead. That is the cost of living a compromised lifestyle. Finally, Sodom is destroyed.
Vs. 26 "Looking Back"
Sadly, Lot’s wife looks back, obviously concerned with what she lost and had to give up to follow God, and it cost her life. She was just like we so often are, looking back at our old lives before we followed God. Maybe we miss aspects of it, or think that we lost something to follow God. A costly viewpoint for her, and for us.
Vs. 27-29, “Abraham’s Prayer”
The greatest verses in this whole chapter are right here. We are reminded of why Lot was saved. Lot got rescued from his rebellious lifestyle because his faith-filled uncle, Abraham, was praying for him. Abraham had asked Jesus to protect Lot. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”, according to James 5:16.
Vs. 30-End, “Right back to where we left off”
Notice, as soon as the family of Lot forgets the destruction that happened, they are right back to the same type of issue that got Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed, sexual perversion.
The time that Lot spent raising his family in Sodom, a life lived in compromise, has long term effects for generations to come.
o If you are a parent: what are you teaching your children
BY YOUR ACTIONS?
o If you are a friend: what life are you showing those around you,
BY HOW YOU LIVE?
o If you are a leader: what do you teach those who watch you
BY WHAT YOU DO?
Paul taught his followers to,
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”
1 Corinthians 11:1
Destruction
We left off last chapter with Jesus talking to Abraham about the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their overtly sinful lives. The two angels that were with Jesus have now left Abraham, and arrived in Sodom where Lot greets them.
Vs. 1-3 “Lot’s lifestyle”
Lot is now sitting in the city gate. This is a place where the leaders of the city sit to do business. Take a look at the progression of Lot’s move to Sodom:
Genesis 13:12, Lot pitches his tent outside the city “near Sodom” where the men were wicked
Genesis 14, Lot is caught up in the middle of a war on Sodom and is captured, where Abraham must go rescue him
Now in Genesis 19, Lot has become a leader in the city.
This is how easy it is to get caught up in things that are wrong. First we are near them, next thing you know we are involved in them to the point of troubles, then finally we are fully immersed in the life style so much so that we have made it our own lifestyle.
Vs. 4-9 “the sinfulness of Sodom”
All of the men in Sodom were so corrupt that they want to rape the visitors that were with Lot. Lot offers to send out his virgin daughters, but the men say no. This is the city of anarchy. There is no government control of anything, and the men are left to do whatever they want. We see the depth of corruption in the men’s sexual violence and perversity. Before the men of Sodom force there way in, the angels with Lot pull him back in the door.
Vs. 10-14 “the warning”
Unfortunately, due to his compromised lifestyle, nobody takes Lot seriously. He warns of the destruction to come but the people laugh at him. Even though he had started out as a man of faith, he had become a compromised even to his own family. So, nobody listened to his warning.
Vs. 15-25 “Escaping Sodom”
Unfortunately, Lot is so unwilling to leave that the next morning is when they end up getting dragged out of the city by the angels. See how people, I am sure you and I included, are so unwilling to leave the horrible lifestyles that we live, even when obvious destruction lay ahead. That is the cost of living a compromised lifestyle. Finally, Sodom is destroyed.
Vs. 26 "Looking Back"
Sadly, Lot’s wife looks back, obviously concerned with what she lost and had to give up to follow God, and it cost her life. She was just like we so often are, looking back at our old lives before we followed God. Maybe we miss aspects of it, or think that we lost something to follow God. A costly viewpoint for her, and for us.
Vs. 27-29, “Abraham’s Prayer”
The greatest verses in this whole chapter are right here. We are reminded of why Lot was saved. Lot got rescued from his rebellious lifestyle because his faith-filled uncle, Abraham, was praying for him. Abraham had asked Jesus to protect Lot. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”, according to James 5:16.
Vs. 30-End, “Right back to where we left off”
Notice, as soon as the family of Lot forgets the destruction that happened, they are right back to the same type of issue that got Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed, sexual perversion.
The time that Lot spent raising his family in Sodom, a life lived in compromise, has long term effects for generations to come.
o If you are a parent: what are you teaching your children
BY YOUR ACTIONS?
o If you are a friend: what life are you showing those around you,
BY HOW YOU LIVE?
o If you are a leader: what do you teach those who watch you
BY WHAT YOU DO?
Paul taught his followers to,
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”
1 Corinthians 11:1
