READ GENESIS 19
This is a troubling account that raises concerns for many of us. It is distressing to see God preparing to destroy an entire city without hesitation. The situation worsens as the men of Sodom arrive at Lot’s doorstep with malicious intentions, and it becomes even more unsettling when Lot, in a state of panic, offers his daughters as a means to satisfy the wicked desires of the men of Sodom. Additionally, the narrative takes a bizarre turn with Lot’s daughters resorting to getting him inebriated in order to have children by him, all to continue their family line. How do we interpret and reconcile with such a passage? Let's analyze it further.
Why does God decide to obliterate an entire city? Initially, this act of punishment may seem extreme, as we often struggle to comprehend God's sense of justice. However, it becomes clear that God's justice is always purposeful, and He operates with significant intention in all His actions. Even in the midst of seemingly troubling deeds, we can trust in the goodness and holiness of God’s plan, as long as we allow Him to reveal His intentions. Despite our lack of complete understanding, we can have faith in God’s goodness, knowing that He orchestrates everything for the benefit of those who have faith in Him (Romans 8:28).
Chapter 19 presents various “Wait, hold up a minute” instances that prompt us to delve deeper into the differences between depicting events for historical understanding and God's endorsement of those occurrences.
The Bible portrays numerous stories, individuals, and scenarios that receive God's disapproval, spanning from Judas Iscariot and the Pharisees to Jonah and Nineveh's inhabitants, and finally to Lot, his daughters, and their perplexing finale in chapter 19. Once again, we witness God's people grappling with monumental challenges and attempting to resolve them through human efforts and solutions, despite the imperfect and sinful nature of such approaches since the fall in Genesis 3. Lot's wife serves as a stark illustration of this misstep—instead of trusting in God's deliverance, she disregards His warning and gazes back, demonstrating doubt rather than faith.
This imagery is mirrored in the New Testament, where God repeatedly offers His people salvation if they turn away from wickedness and trust Him, akin to the promise found in Jesus. However, there looms a final judgment day for all, where individuals may profess faith but reveal unbelieving hearts, akin to Lot's wife. Nonetheless, there remains hope amidst this narrative. Romans 10:9 emphasizes that by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection, one will find salvation. By holding firm to faith in Jesus, He ensures our redemption; He will rescue us from our personal “Sodoms” and guide us to the Kingdom of God, our Promised Land.
QUESTIONS
1. What has the Lord saved you from?
2. In what way did He accomplish it? In what manner do you resemble Lot's wife?
3. What sets you apart from Lot's wife?