We read in Genesis 19:16, When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful. (NLT)
Most of us are familiar with the incident of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The reason for this devastation was that the increase in their sin and wickedness, was despicable to God. However, in the midst of this calamity, the Lord spared Lot and his family. The angels literally drag Lot, his wife and daughters to safety before God rained down destruction on the cities. While on the one hand we observe the judgment of God, on the other hand we are awed by the mercies of God.
If we do not comprehend this balance between the grace of God and the justice of God, we are prone to err in some way, for they are two sides of the same coin. It is vital that we understand that our God is a holy God, whose eyes cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Nonetheless, He is also a God of mercy and grace.
Abram and Lot began the journey of faith together. However, Lot began to set his eyes on the worldly blessings, and took his focus off God who gave them to him.
There are many who continue in their sinful ways simply because they take the grace of God for granted. Like Lot, there are those who have gotten so engrossed with the things of this world, that they have no time for God in their everyday lives. It is only when we decide to give top priority to God, will He too place us in high esteem.
The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah that God detested
We read in Genesis 19:24-25, Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (Webster)
There is a mention of the Lord twice in this verse. It was the Lord who rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, and He did so from out of heaven. The Lord not only destroyed the people and the cities, He also devastated the crops that were there. When Abram and Lot parted ways, Lot looked towards the city of Sodom which seemed to him in appearance like the garden of the Lord because of its bounty and productivity. As Lot perceived things from a worldly point of view, Abram let go to seek after God. The result was that Lot landed up in Sodom which was seeped in sin and wickedness.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, experienced God’s wrath in the form of fire and brimstone, something that they had hitherto not heard of.
We are warned in Hebrews 10:31, It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! (GNB)
There are so many who are lacking in faith, simply because they have allowed the sounds of the world to drown out the voice of God. The constant bombardment from new papers, television and social media on various perils that surround us, has replaced our faith with fear and unbelief. Lot’s wrong choice cautions us that every decision we take should be guided by God, and not by our own perception of things around us.
We live in times when the pestilence that confronts us are those that have never been heard of earlier. This calls for us as children of God is to humble ourselves and pray, for only then will we be saved from these calamities.
• The sin of homosexuality
The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was that they did that which was despicable to God. God created man and woman with the intention that they should multiply, fill and rule the earth. Grievously these people were involved in the sin of homosexuality, man with man and woman with woman which the Lord completely abhors.
At one time, this kind of sexual deviation was frowned upon, and condemned as sinful behavior. Woefully, we are living in days when people have taken to the streets to not only condone this behavior, but to fight for the legal rights of those who are involved in such ungodly practices. It is even more appalling that in some so called churches, they have so brazenly legalized these same sex marriages, which are being conducted by some so called perverted priests.
The bible is our standard, therefore, whatever the word of God declares as sin is to be condemned and shunned. Anyone who tries to nullify the word of God, and tries to suit it to their own convenience, calling right wrong and vice versa will forfeit the grace of God. We must be burdened to pray that the Lord will save this generation from such sinful conduct that the Lord is disgusted with.
• The sin of neglecting the poor
We read in Ezekiel 16:49, This is what your sister Sodom has done wrong. She and her daughters were proud that they had plenty of food and had peace and security. They didn't help the poor and the needy. (GW)
The people of Sodom had plentiful supply of food. They also enjoyed peace and safety. However, they had no compassion for those who were poor and needy amongst them.
We should keep in mind, that the reason God has blessed us with abundance of everything, is that we should be moved with benevolence and extend our help to those who are in need. When we neglect the poor and show no compassion to them, we too are guilty of the sin that the people of Sodom committed.
• The sin of having no time for God
We read in Luke 17:28 "The situation will also be like the time of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. (GW)
The people in the time of Lot were completely caught up with the mundane activities of life. They were preoccupied with eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building. They had no time to seek after God, or the things of God.
If we are not watchful, it is easy to fall into this trap of allowing the humdrum activities of life to wipe out the things that pertain to God and eternity. There are so many who are content to give God an hour on Sunday, and demand that He bless them in their every endeavor throughout the week. If God has preeminence in our lives, we will do all we can to spend time with Him, and make the best of every opportunity to join in for prayer, bible study and fellowship with other believers.
Let me explain this in a way that can be easily understood. When our children are preparing for board exams we do all we can to fill their day with every possible tuition and coaching, just so that they will excel to have a bright future. Sadly, when it comes to things that are related to God, the majority of believers too are negligent. This too is contemptible to God. A great number of people are engaged with the world six days a week, with constant barrage of information from those around them. If we don’t take heed to spend much time with God on a daily basis, we are in danger of becoming stunted in our faith, and in our spiritual growth.
Paul says it this way in Romans 1:21, They knew God but did not praise and thank him for being God. Instead, their thoughts were pointless, and their misguided minds were plunged into darkness. (GW)
The sin that Paul talks about is that the people knew God, but did not revere Him for who He was. The heartache of many elderly parents is not that they don’t have enough to support themselves, but that their children do not take time to talk to them. If such is the case of human parents, how much more will the heart of God ache to know that His children, have no time or heart to seek Him or talk to Him.
We read in Zechariah 1:3, Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. (NKJV)
This is the call of the Lord of Hosts that all men would turn to Him. It is only when we get back to God, will He come back to restore us. The call of God to the church today is that we should come together to pray. If we desire to see the great move of God, and seek to be spared from every ensuing calamity, the need of the hour is to come together in prayer.
God spares Lot and his family
In the midst of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord graciously spared Lot and his family.
We read in Genesis 19:29, And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt. (ASV)
The reason God protected Lot and his family was because Abraham stood, and interceded with God on their behalf. There was destruction, but in the midst of it God remembered Abraham and his plea.
For those who have prevailed in prayer with no evident answer, be assured that the Lord is at work behind the scenes. Every time we prayer there is some change that is taking place for sure. So, instead of worrying about our children, we should decide to pray and intercede for them. All of us who are in the Lord are blessed to be in this place, because there were those who prayed to the Lord on our behalf. Also, when we hear of calamities that are overwhelming, instead of being overcome with anxiety, let us commit these disasters into the hands of the Lord, and watch Him take over.
God did not destroy Sodom as long as Lot stayed there
We read in Genesis 19:22, Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you get there." Because Lot called it small, the town was named Zoar. (GNB)
The angel told Lot, that he, his wife and daughters should flee from Sodom as fast as they could. The angel declared that he could do nothing to destroy the cities, until Lot and his family had fled to safety. Abraham’s prayer of faith was what spared Lot and his family. God was gracious to Lot, and as long as he lived in Sodom, the city was spared from devastation.
Even today the place where the children of God reside, has the assurance of the protection of God. God has blessed us to be those whose presence brings safety to our families, our localities and our cities in which we live. Instead of being content to only pray for ourselves and our families, may we be those who will plead for those around us. May the Lord help us to be the light and salt that He intended for us to be.
Remember Lot’s wife
God in His grace saved Lot and his family when the angel of the Lord dragged them by the hand to a place of safety.
However we read in Genesis 19:26, But Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. (GW)
God in His grace brought Lot, his wife and daughters to safety from the impending destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s wife too came out of the cities of doom, to a place of security, but dismally she disobeyed God, and looked back. The reason Lot’s wife looked back was that though she had come out of Sodom, the love for Sodom still remained within her. The consequence was gruesome. Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt.
There may be those who are wondering if looking back could be such a serious sin. God in His grace has saved us, and has forgiven us by shedding His precious blood in the cross. It is therefore enough if we simply to believe. All of us who have received this salvation that Jesus offers are saved from destruction. However, it is important for us to be cautious as to how we run this race that God has set before us. The question that we need to ask ourselves is, ‘Are we running this race looking only to Jesus or if we are distracted by things of this world like Lot’s wife? What happened to Lot’s wife is a warning to those who justify their sins, pacifying themselves that they are living in a period of grace.
God’s commands are always simple
We read in Genesis 19:17 Then one of the angels said, "Run for your lives! Don't look back and don't stop in the valley. Run to the hills, so that you won't be killed." (GNB)
The instruction God gave to Lot and his family was not difficult to follow through. They were to run for their lives, not look back or stop till they ran to the hills.
So also in the Garden of Eden God’s command to Adam and Eve too was simple. They were not to take and eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan took the straightforward command of God, and twisted it to cause man’s fall.
The commands of God are not burdensome, but only meant for our good. For instance, when we insist that our children should study, we do so keeping their good and future in mind. However, most children find this troublesome, not realizing that the consequences of not studying will be detrimental only to them.
Let’s not miss out near the finish line
We read in Genesis 19:23-26, The sun was rising when Lot reached Zoar. Suddenly the LORD rained burning sulfur on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and destroyed them and the whole valley, along with all the people there and everything that grew on the land. But Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. (GW)
Lot, his wife and daughters had almost reached the place of safety that God had prepared for them. At the very last minute, Lot’s wife looked back, became a pillar of salt, and lost the blessing that was hers.
We too must be cautioned to not be drawn back to all those sinful and detestable things that we left behind, when we decided to follow Jesus. There may be those who have given up things that they know that God is not pleased with. However, it is sometimes tempting to get entangled with these practices, only because we want to compromise, and please those around us. Like Lot’s wife it may seem to be a very insignificant act of disobedience, but when we do so, and turn our backs on the Lord, we will definitely forfeit His blessings.
All of us began this journey, looking to the cross of Jesus Christ. May God grant us grace and strength to run this race set for us fixing our eyes only on Jesus. Let us never be tempted to turn back until we reach the eternal destination, and receive the crown of righteousness from the Lord Himself.
Jesus warned us in Luke 17:32, Remember Lot's wife! (GW)
The reason for this is that Lot’s wife lost the grace of God that was showered on her at the last minute. We too must be reminded that we should remain strong in our faith so that we do not miss out on the prize that God has in store for us.
We should be able to say boldly as Paul did in in 2 Timothy 4: 7-8, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (NKJV)
Let us decide to be those who pray for others fervently like Abraham did. May Lot’s wife constantly remind us to never turn back or be too engrossed with the things of this world. God grant us His grace to remain firm in our faith, and run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
