December 11, 2007

Genesis Chapter 18 and 19

We have skipped chapters 16 and 17 to bring you the account of Lot. Next week we will go back to chapters 16 and 17 to discuss what we learn about God through Ishmael. Following that we will discuss the chapters pertaining to Isaac.

 

A Picture of the Incarnate LORD

To receive the greatest possible blessing from this Bible study, please take a moment to read the passage.

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          Prayer:

            Gracious Father, although You have mercifully delivered me from temptation and kept me from falling into the devil’s snare, I have not always walked in gratitude. Instead, I have looked back with a longing heart. Forgive me LORD. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

         Introduction:

The office building at South Mountain Children’s Home has a beautiful open staircase that leads to the second floor offices. At the top, a wooden banister accents the long open corridor.

I remember it well because when Melinda and her husband began working there, my grandson, Zack, was at the stair-climbing age. It didn’t seem to matter how many times we swept him off those steps, he always managed to get back to the top before we could catch him. As any eighteen-month-old baby, he was oblivious to the danger of a twelve-foot fall and only thought of the fun of climbing.

 

         The Lesson:

The Incarnate LORD:  In the beginning of chapter 18, we not only view a picture of Christ, but an actual manifestation of our LORD as He appeared in physical form to Abraham. Notice the LORD had feet to wash and a mouth to eat. He walked and talked with Abraham and accepted Abraham’s act of worship, something an angel would not do. (See Revelation 19:10 for an example of an angel’s response to human worship).            

    Since angels are given physical bodies to deliver messages to people, it makes sense that Jesus could appear in a physical body at any moment in time. Why did He choose to come as a babe born of a virgin in a stable no less? It was necessary for Jesus to become fully human to be tempted as we are and yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15) and to die on the cross to take away our sins. In a simulated physical body, he was fully God, but not human and could not die nor be tempted as we are. Therefore, the only way that He could become our substitute and satisfy the law was to become fully human.

The True Friend: The difference between a friend and a mere acquaintance is true friends share their plans and seek one another’s opinions. The LORD did not need Abraham’s input, but desired it to show Abraham (and us) His willingness to spare the people of Sodom. The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). In light of this verse and others like it, it is safe to assume that God provided Sodom and Gomorrah ample opportunities to repent.

            Chapter 18:20-33 reveals God’s grief when people refuse His mercy. The LORD considered Abraham’s pleas to save the cities, not only for Abraham’s sake, but for the sake of all the people there. God is merciful and desires reconciliation with all people. David wrote—For thou, Lord art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee (Psalms 86:5). After Jonah preached to the people at Nineveh and they repented, he prayed to the LORD, “. . . thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil” (Jonah 3:2).

The Merciful LORD:  Although the LORD never promised to spare Lot and Abraham never asked Him to, the Father demonstrates His mercy in Chapter nineteen. Peter states that [if God] delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked, (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished (2 Peter 2:7-9).

            To unbelievers and those of weak faith, it may seem a contradiction to say that God was merciful when he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. But God showed mercy to Lot and to Abraham’s descendants in the destruction of the wicked people who refused to change. The corruption was so great that it threatened the lives and faith of God’s people.

            Although Lot was living in a backslidden condition, he displayed a bit of faith by telling his sons-in-law to get out of the city. However, Lot staggered at their ridicule, but the hand of God, through His messengers, led Lot, his wife, and his two unwed daughters out of the city. God’s mercy far succeeds our faithfulness. Even still, Lot’s wife desired what the Lord had delivered her from and was destroy because of it. When Lot entered the suburbs of Sodom, he was very wealthy. When he left, he only escaped with the clothes on his back. As Paul warned the Corinthians, only what we do for Christ will withstand the final judgment. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire (1 Corinthians 3:15).

           

 Conclusion and Challenge: 

Like Lot, we are often oblivious to the dangers of our activities, but our loving Heavenly Father patiently pulls us back or calls us out for our protection. Unfortunately instead of trusting His judgment, we go right back to it.

Recently, a young minister’s lecture painted a clear picture as to why we do this—we love the things from which God has delivered us. OUCH!

If God decided to turn people to stone for desiring the things He has delivered us from, I don’t think I’d be the only statue on my block. How about you?

            This week’s challenge, make a conscious effort to hate the things from which God has delivered us. Let’s refuse to look back with a longing to participate in our past sins. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. All we have to do is practice James 4:7-8: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw night to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

            And let’s pray for one another that God might see our concern and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16).

 

 

          Start a Ministry

            Start a new ministry. Print some business cards with a picture of a penny and the slogan “In God We Trust.” Under the slogan write: But are we trusting the one true God? If you like, place my website on it or yours or your church’s site. Hand them out—with your tip a restaurants, to passers-by, to cashiers, put them in all your outgoing mail. Pray earnestly for our nation’s revival.

            If you don’t have a computer or time to make cards, but would like to invest in this ministry, write to me via e-mail and I’ll send you some-FREE.