Reflections from January 12, 2011

Missing yesterday was like missing breakfast, which by the way, I did. But today's reading in Genesis is fascinating along with the relation to Psalms.

We read in Genesis 19 how God spares Lot and his family (wife and daughters) from total destruction when He destroyed Sodom and three other cities in the area. His sons-in-law were destroyed because they thought he was joking about the impending doom, and his wife turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back on the destruction. But Lot survived by heeding God's word and fleeing to Zoar.

The interesting verse to me is Genesis 19:29 where it says,
"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 had dwelt."

There are five pertinent points here:
1) Prayer makes a difference. Abraham prayed persistently for an entire city believing that nothing is too hard for the Lord. God agreed to save Sodom if ten righteous people were to be found. However, Lot and his family were escorted out to safety.
2) People count. The presences of righteous persons acting as salt and light can preserve places where evil runs rampant. As God's people, are we living righteously in the places to which He has called us?
3) God is sovereign. God does not want to destroy cities or their systems and people - but He can and will. He decides when, where and how judgement will fall. On the other hand, God can rescue people from evil places when and if He wishes.
4) Pride goes before a fall. The city of Sodom did not use its wealth to help where needed. What are we doing with the resources God has put under our control?
5) Fleeing from the city does not avoid sin - it only spreads it around. In the end, Lot and his daughters brought sin from Sodom to Zoar. Is it possible that God wants us to stay and live as His representatives of righteousness?

The thought of prayer continues where we read in Genesis 20:17,
"So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants."

God answered prayers in the "olden" days, but He still does today. We must continue to follow examples established by Abraham and talk with God for He wants to hear from us.

Psalms gives a great tie to our reading in Genesis today, and we read in Psalms 1:1,2,6,
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Abraham took delight in the law of the Lord, and walked in God's counsel. That is why God talked with him, and answered his prayers. God also saw the righteousness of Lot, and spared him and his family from perishing in Sodom.

Praise to God for His words and His glory. Thank you for providing this book to read, study and meditate on and marvel at the continuity throughout its pages.

Blessings to all