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Genesis 18:16-19:38 ~ Matthew 6:25-7:14 ~ Psalm 8:1-9 ~ Proverbs 2:6-15
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Old Testament - Today in Genesis chapter's 18 & 19 we get a great look at how God responds to intercessory prayer and also clearly see God's judgment in chapter 19. Ch. 18 Verse 17 is a powerful start to our readings: "Should I hide my plan from Abraham?" the LORD asked." I think what we see here and in the following verses is that God obviously really cares for Abraham - as a friend - and as one who has been credited as righteous because of his faith. And I do think this is an important point before we read about Abraham's intercessory prayer to God - that for intercessory prayer really to have any standing before God, we need to be in right relationship with God. If we are being disobedient to God or being unrepentant of sins or bad habits that God wants us to give up, then I think our intercessory prayer for others can lose its effectiveness. Check out James 5:16 for this point: "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Abraham was credited as righteous because of his faith (Genesis 15:6). Hence, his intercessory prayer was powerful and effective. Below is a portrait of Abraham by Guy Rowe - I imagine Abraham praying to God in Genesis chapter 18 in this portrait:
In verse 25 we begin to see Abraham's several requests, or intercessions, to God to spare the city of Sodom for the sake of the righteous living in the city: "Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the innocent with the guilty. Why, you would be treating the innocent and the guilty exactly the same! Surely you wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"" And from here we see Abraham bringing down the number of righteous that would need to be in the city for it to be spared. I don't necessarily see what Abraham was doing here as haggling with God - but, I think he was acting out of compassion for the righteous few in the city - and surely Lot and his family were on his mind during these intercessions...
In Genesis chapter 19 there is a lot going on. And I'm sure a few things that jump out at you when you read them, and create a lot of questions in your mind. (Lot offering his two virgin daughters (v. 8) & what happened in the cave (v. 30-36), for examples) Let me recommend you take 10 minutes and read through Bob Deffinbaugh's "From City Councilman to Caveman: “What a Difference a Day Makes” (Genesis 19:1-38)" at this link at Bible.org. I think this will answer a lot of your questions on why certain things happened in this chapter, from Bob's perspective. One great quote from Bob at this link above is this: "Lot attempted to live his life in a city and then in a cave. We cannot become one with the world, but neither are we to flee from it. The proper balance between the city of Sodom and the cave is the tent of Abraham. We are to live in the world, but without becoming attached to it or conformed to it. We are to be strangers and pilgrims." I like that! How are you doing with the idea of being in the world, but not of it? Are you living in the city or in a cave? Will you seek to live in the tent of Abraham? Below is a map of the approximate area of where Sodom & Gomorrah and the Cities of the Plain (including Zoar) were thought to have been located, on the south side of the Dead Sea and now possibly under water:
One verse that immediately stood out to me in chapter 19 is verse 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." What struck me in this verse is that Lot hesitated. In the previous verse, the angels say very clearly and strongly - "get out of the city! hurry! God is going to destroy it!" And yet... Lot hesitated. This jumped out at me because in our couple of previous day's readings we have seen how promptly obedient Abraham was to God's commands. When God said to get circumcised and circumcise everyone in the house - it happened that same day! And yet, here we see Lot hesitating on a very clear command from angels... And I guess I do have to ask myself, and maybe you can ask yourself too - are we more often like Abraham or Lot? Are we promptly obedient to God's will and commands for our lives? Or do we hesitate? A great thing about verse 16 above is we read that even though Lot hesitated, God was merciful. God will still show us mercy when we hesitate... the grace of God is still clearly there for we who hesitate. But, even though there is amazing grace, maybe the question still is - what are we hesitating for? What are we waiting for? Below is an image by the artist Raffaello (Italian painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance), circa 1500, of Lot and his daughters finally fleeing Sodom, while his wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt:
And below is an image of verse 24: "Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah."
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Genesis titled "If I was God..." is at this link, and "Sin and the City" is at this link.
New Testament - Today in Matthew we continue the Sermon on the Mount! Chapter 6 verse 27 is solid science from Jesus: "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not." Wouldn't you agree that scientific studies show that severe worrying (anxiety) can actually decrease the longevity of your life? Jesus knew his science! :) Truly... I do think you'll continue to be amazed by the scientific validity and Truth that is exhibited in the Bible over and over and over again as we read it this year!
Chapter 6 verse 34 (in image above) has always been one of my favorites to remember: "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Great great truth here. I'm not sure if anyone has ever read a Dale Carnegie book about worrying? It's called "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living." It's been probably 10 years ago since I read this book. But, I remember Dale writing about how he lived his life in what he called "day-tight compartments". He used a cargo ship analogy, which I won't be able to explain here well. But, basically, Dale got to the point where he mentally segmented his time off into morning prep time, time with family over breakfast, morning work time, lunch time, afternoon work time, dinner time, family time, time to read, sleeping time. And while he was in the present time of each of these "compartments" of his day he would not worry at all about the other compartments even in that very same day! It's pretty interesting to think about... when you are at work, you focus on work and you don't daydream or worry about your personal life - but, once you are off work, you then don't worry about work at all. I don't know... maybe this Dale Carnegie "day-tight compartments" is only helpful to me... I recommend you listen to Jesus' advice on worrying before you listen to Dale or mine! :) But, if you do worry a lot, this Dale Carnegie book may very helpful for you as well.
Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 through 6 are interesting. Jesus clearly says to not judge others - but then in verse 6 he says: "Don't give what is holy to unholy people." So, my thought is that we are not to "condemn" people judgmentally - but that we are to be aware of and perceptive of other people's character traits. I don't think Jesus is calling for us to walk around blissfully thinking everyone is perfect... but he is saying don't "condemn" others for their actions. God is the only true judge of anyone's actions. I think it is still okay for us to take note of how people act or behave. Remember that 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to: "Test everything." So, I do think it is okay (and even wise) to evaluate a person's character. Let me know your thoughts on this one in the Comments section below.
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Matthew titled "Materialism" is at this link, and "Misdirected Effort" is at this link.
Psalms - Today we read Psalm 8! Verses 3 & 4 I love: "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers-- the moon and the stars you have set in place-- what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?" What I love about this verse is that before I had faith in Jesus, and even God, I used to always look toward the night sky and just be amazed by the stars! I would always think to myself - there is no way that this all just happened by chance. There's gotta be something bigger going on making all of this happen. The night sky was evangelizing me!! :) What a beautiful thing. Have you ever had the experience of nature, God’s creation, evangelizing you? When you are out in nature, do you offer up praise and thanks to God for His amazingly beautiful creation?
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 2 verse 10 is amazing: "For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy." I like that thought that wisdom will enter your heart and then knowledge will fill you with joy! What a great proverb! Do you believe that knowledge can fill you with joy? What type of knowledge? What type of wisdom should enter your heart? Today - are you filled with joy? Proverb 2:11 in today's readings is powerful too:
Worship God: Psalm 8:3-4 in today's readings reminded me of the Delirious song "Majesty!" Here's a great live version of this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNjH8QDpBFY
Do you know our Majesty? Click here for true Majesty!
Please join me in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that God would show you what the narrow gate is in your life. Pray that you would enter through the narrow gate. Pray that Jesus alone is your narrow gate.
Comments from You and Questions of the Day: Back to Matthew chapter 7 verse 6: "Don't give what is holy to unholy people. Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you." I understand what is being said here - and I can think of specific instances in my life where this type of thing has happened. My question though for each of us is this - how do we show our friends, family, neighbors the love of God? Honestly, I have an evangelistic heart - but I don't think I really openly evangelize much. I love God so much - and it tears me up when I see my friends struggling with addictions - particularly when it seems like they are seeking God but settle for an addiction. So - I don't think this verse 6 is referring to these types of situations - people seeking God in all the wrong places. I think we are called to share the love of God with our hurting friends - with a hurting world. How do you do this? Do you pray for others? Do you give others books or Bibles? Do you send them spiritual emails? Do you invite them to church? Do you "preach the gospel at all times, and use words when only necessary?" Please let me know in the "Comments" below what you do to share the love of God with others? Thanks. Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Mike—this is in response to your Comments from you & Question of the Day section. I want to share something with the Board that makes me think our evangelizing should be more about our comportment, our lifestyle and actions, then our words and definitely not our manipulation or twisting of the Words of Jesus or the Bible to “win” folks to Christ.
The school I work for has a Charter Day/Dinner when they honor people who have been working at the college for 10/15/25-etc. years. Several years ago, it was my time for the BIG TEN and I didn’t want to go because I wanted to attend a church service that night. A friend of mine convinced me to go and he said he would pick up the tape.
A former professor of mine (I had him for two classes, yes where I work is where I graduated), who is now a V.P was the Master of Ceramonies and said about me, Ramona loves to read the Bible. Well I thought I was going to sink to the floor with embarrassment. (Why is a whole ‘nother question but I wont deal with that today) As I walked up to receive my plaque, and returned to my seat, another professor grabbed me, hugged me, and said, “Ramona he was wrong. You don’t just love to read the Bible, you teach the Bible by your presence.”
Tears began to well up in my eyes, and they are coming to my eyes just remembering this. I did not want to be at that dinner because I thought I would be missing some great teaching, but God had a greater lesson for me to learn in a place outside of church. There have been other instances where people, I do not know or barley know, have walked up to me and asked me question about God, and they asked because they saw something in me and not because I was carrying a great Big Bible. There have been times when I have identified other “Believers” because of the countenance of their face, people I have not seen or known anything about. We should be more of a walking witness for Christ instead of a talking one.
Genesis 18:16-19:38
So many things caught my eye in today’s Old Testament reading, but first things first.
Abraham’s intercession now that is very interesting. If you read carefully, you will see that Abraham was invited by God to intercede for his nephew Lot. I do not believe that intercessory prayer can do anything outside of the “Will of God,” and we will see four examples of that when we get to the Prophet Jeremiah’s book. Why would “The Lord” speak this out, if He didn’t want Abraham to know what was about to happen?
And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, [Gal. 3:8.] Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through him and shall bless themselves by him? [Gen. 12:2-3.] (Genesis 18:17-18 AMP)
God knew what Abraham would do when informed of the fate of Sodom because not only does God have foreknowledge of our actions he also was a friend to Abraham. God would know how Abraham would react. Just as I know how a close intimate friend will react and what they would say in any given situation just because I’m a close friend. How many times do we finish a close friend or associate’s sentence because we know what they will say? In fact, Abraham’s intercession for Sodom, the city his nephew lived in was not really about the people of Sodom it was about Lot as stated in chapter 19:
27The next morning Abraham was up early and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the LORD's presence. 28He looked out across the plain to Sodom and Gomorrah and saw columns of smoke and fumes, as from a furnace, rising from the cities there. 29But God had listened to Abraham's request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain. (NLT)
Many times, like Abraham, we throw out questions that “beat-around-the-bush,” but God goes to the real question in our hearts and answers that.
Mike has taken note of the lack of speed in Lot’s departure from Sodom: he dragged his feet. However, I have noticed that Lot was speedy in some things but slow in getting out of “Dodge.” Mike put forth the question in so many words, “Why?” Lot’s speed on some things and his hesitation of that which was most important gives us a hint on what he valued. Abraham was quick on God’s commands because he valued God more than he valued what others thought, or even felt like he should do. I’m sure there were a lot of hesitant men in the camp when the word “circumcise” went from mouth to hearing ear. I’m sure there were a lot of folks wanting to discuss this action. However, loyalty and trust in Abraham mirrored the loyalty Abraham had toward God.
Where Lot was speedy:
1) Inviting the men (angels) into his home
2) Fixing them a meal. In fact, it was so speedy that he fixed the bread and he didn’t wait to let the yeast rise (unleavened bread) . (Could this be a foretaste of the Exodus?)
3) Protecting his guests from the men of the town.
4) Going out to find his future son-in-laws.
5) Offering his daughters, his virgin daughters. to the crazed men, young and old, at the door. (The old men should have set an example of right behavior to the young men and boys.)
Where Lot was slow, very slow:
1) Leaving the city.
I have a question, albeit a rhetorical question, “What happened to the abundance of livestock Lot left with when he and Abraham departed ways?
I’m prone to think that somehow Lot’s wealth, at least the majority of his wealth became swallowed up in Sodom. If he was left with nothing, why didn’t he go back and live with his uncle? Could he have felt embarrassed or been to prideful to admit he had made some very big mistakes? The separation from his uncle was based on there not being enough land to sustain both herds. Now, being left with nothing there was not anything to cause contention if he went back, or was there? Was the fighting over land and water to feed the heard a false issue masking the real reason?
Has anyone noticed that Lot didn’t want to go to the mountains, the destination the Angels had first decided to take the family, yet he feared being in Zoar and ended up in the mountains anyway? Also, the daughters made a decision to sleep with their father because they looked at their immediate situation and judged it to be permanent. How many of us make stupid, dumb choices because we observe our situation and judge it permanent?
In the New Testament reading, Jesus talks about judging others, but have we forgotten not to judge our situations and ourselves wrongly?
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | January 07, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Succinctly Matthew 7:6 is telling us to hate the sin but love the sinner!
Posted by: Ginny | January 08, 2012 at 07:36 AM
Wow! The scripture, Mike's and Ramona's words all spoke to me today. The whole message of everything we've read over the last week is really hitting me. Why do I get so attached to "things of this world"? Why do I worry about them? Why do I responded so quickly to a request from some worldly thing but hesitate when I know God is making a request of me? If God told me of a coming disaster and how to escape it, would my first thoughts go to my "things" and how to save them or would my first thought be one of gratefulness that God is saving me and providing for me? Where does my heart lie? What do my internal thoughts tell me? How are they affecting my external words, actions, and appearance? Lots of things to ponder and pray on.
Posted by: Cheryl | January 08, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Ramona wrote that Lot's "daughters made a decision to sleep with their father because they looked at their immediate situation and judged it to be permanent. How many of us make stupid, dumb choices because we observe our situation and judge it [to be] permanent?"
What an insightful thought! Our lives are like a film strip, not a snapshot. We should try not to get bogged down in what is going on at a given moment for circumstances are surely going to change.
God Bless!
Posted by: Dan | January 08, 2012 at 12:29 PM
I don't know why my stuff didn't post last night, tried twice, anyways. This was some good points made by all in the blog. I am a little like Ramona in the aspect of others coming to me, sensing something in me about scripture. I have had several people come and ask questions relating to the bible because they just "felt" like I knew the answer..I feel like we all have unique talents and giftings, in fact, Christ made all of us unique but all of us with a design and plan to prosper and be a blessing. (Jer 29:11, Deut 28), its what we do with that blessing that matters. I believe we have to walk in faith and not by sight. Even if you don't believe or see the friends off addictions, it doesn't mean that God isn't already performing a mighty act and miracle within each one. The more you be a witness in thought, deed, action, and sometimes quietness, the more people will see and know the truth and the truth will Make them free.
Be blessed!
DeeDee
Posted by: DeeDee | January 09, 2012 at 04:44 AM