THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may go to the archive at the bottom of the main page and find it.
Bruce McGee
P.O. Box 69
Columbia, LA 71418
GENESIS
CHAPTER 19
1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
As the angels approach Sodom, Lot is sitting in the gate. This reflects
a man with authority. He is very hospitable, for he recognizes them as men
of authority also, calling them "my lords."
Lot offers his home for the evening; but the angels state they will stay in
the street. Why? According to Gen. 18:21, the Lord had sent them to "see"
what was happening in Sodom.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Lot insisted they join him at his home. He knew what was happening in Sodom's streets!
What happened after supper and before bedtime reflects the evil in the hearts of the people of Sodom. The word "know" here means to have sexual relations. This was blatant homosexuality - open and defiant of God's Word.
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Lot KNEW homosexuality was deviant behavior. Notice that he cautioned the
men not to do "so wickedly."
8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Lot's offer here shows how far he had strayed from truth to custom.
Even though he has an obligation to protect his guests, this offer is totally
unjustified.
9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
The men of Sodom just "passed off" Lot's statement of wickedness just as many
people renounce Christians who stand up for truth and morality today. They said,
"Who are you to judge us?"
Friends, Christians do not "judge" others when they condemn sin. Christians love
the sinner, but hate the sin. Christians know the Lord's Word, and the
Lord's Word plainly states that homosexuality and deviant sexual behaviour
is and "abomination" to God! ((See Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:27-32))
11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Now angels may not understand why God saves sinful man; but angels are committed to being God's eternal servants, and they KNOW immoral behaviour when they see it.
They rendered the men incapable of doing any more by causing them to be blind.
Then they told Lot to go and get any OTHER kinfolk he had. Lot had two
daughters that were married. He went and told them that the END was coming
for Sodom tomorrow. But his sons-in-law thought he was "crazy".
They who live as life is a merry time and joke, believe truth is a joke.
The excitement of knowing God and His truth sometimes causes Christians
to seem a little "odd" to other folk. They are even called "fanatic."
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
Lot's two daughters that were living with him were saved. But see how Lot tarried at leaving? They had to physically hurry him.
Does the comfort of the "Devil's highway" keep some people from
entering God's "straight and narrow" path?
"...wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat
...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it."(Matt. 7:13-14)
Remember: a preference is something you may change; but
a conviction is something you won't even consider changing!
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Remember this statement "look not behind thee." The love of
pleasures and treasures in this life (comforts, possessions, even people)
will destroy your walk with God.
Where were they to go? The angel said, "to the mountain." A place
where they would not be influenced by the deviant behaviour of others.
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
Lot was araid of "loneliness." He wanted people around him.
He rationalized that the city he wanted to move to was a "small" one.
20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
Even angels cannot keep man from exercising his "free will." They allowed
Lot to do as he wanted.
LISTEN: Even though God loves us, and has put angels in charge of our well-being,
He (and they) will still ALLOW us to do our own desires!
Notice the angels statement in vs 22. The presence of righteous men ward off
many judgments from God.
Just as Lot and his family entered Zoar, the sun came up. Righteous men, even
wayward righteous men, should bring SOME light when they enter.
24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
God was true to His word. Ten righteous men weren't found. Sodom was destroyed.
Why do you suppose Lot's wife looked back? Look back at the comment on vs 17.
God tells us Christians we are to be "salt" in the earth (Matt. 5:13). God's meaning
there is that we should be a tasty reflection of His goodness; and
that we should be a preservative against evil.
But when the "salt" has lost its "savor" ( or usefulness )......
27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 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 the which Lot dwelt.
Abraham remembered what God had said, and he was concerned for Lot. He went out
the next morning to look; and, he saw the destruction.
But Abraham KNEW God's mercy had saved Lot.
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our Father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
Lot saw now that cities full of people had the potential of
affecting a genuine walk with God. So he left this "small one," and
went to the mountain.
But Lot and his family had been too long in Sodom. His two daughters
had already been too much affected by the immorality of the people.
No longer did they rationalize by meditation upon God's Word; but,
now they rationalized and decided by what they were accustomedto.
Did you know that you can put a frog in a boiler of cool water; then,
put the boiler on the stove, turn on the burner, and the frog
will stay right in the boiler and boil? He grows accustomed to
the heat. And when he realizes it's too hot, it's too late!
His ability to jump is GONE!
Christians, take care to not become accustomed to the evil of
this world. Keep a CLOSE walk with God daily praying and
studying His Word.
The Bible teaches parents to diligently teach their children the
Word of God. See Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Talk about the WORD all the time!
Sure! Children (especially in teen years) get tired of it. And
they want to be like other kids.
But a lack of the Word, and allowance of culture will reduce the ability to make right decisions!
THAT'S what happened here!
37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
As we study through the Old Testament, you take note to remember these
two names: Moab and Ammon. These two shall become great nations; but, they
shall be a thorn in the side of Abraham's descendents for a long, long time.
REMEMBER: a close walk with God (studying & praying) will deter evil
and be a "tasty" reflection of Christ in the world.
Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.