Being Watched

Being Watched

Genesis 26: ²⁶ Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. ²⁷ And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”

 

²⁸ But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, ²⁹ that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’ ”

 

³⁰ So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. ³¹ Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

 

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Abimelech went out to see Isaac after hearing about the quarrels and the hostility. He brought along with him Ahuzzath and Phichol, the commander of his army. Years before, Abimelech met with Abraham and did the same thing by bringing military strength with him. He cam to make a treaty.

 

My Observations:

• Isaac was being watched by his enemies.
• Isaac did nothing to make Abimelech his enemy, but since he followed GOD, Abimelech became an adversary.
• Abimelech watched Isaac to see if he was blessed like Abraham and recognized that he was.

 

During Abraham’s day, Sodom and Gomorrah was wiped out. Fear struck surrounding leaders into caution. Abimelech probably heard that his people would steal from and fight against Isaac. He may have gotten nervous about GOD so he went out to make a treaty.

 

Abimelech made his leaders swear to not harm Isaac and asked Isaac to return the favor. He did not want the wrath of GOD on him so they made a covenant. He watched Isaac and saw the he was indeed “blessed of the LORD.”

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about this conversation?
• Do you believe that you are being watched by more people than you think?
• What example of GOD are you setting to people you don’t even know are watching you?

Overcoming Difficulty

Overcoming Difficulty

Genesis 20: And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. ² Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

 

³ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

 

⁴ But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? ⁵ Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

 

⁶ And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. ⁷ Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

 

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Seeing Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed was probably too much for Abraham to bear. He did not know if Lot was alive or dead. All he knew was the area seemed cursed. He may have remembered GOD’s promise that the territory that was promised was far greater than originally imagined. He, Sarah and all of their employees left the area that GOD had appeared.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham had already gone north to Egypt and east from the land of the Chaldeans, so this time he went south.
• Sarah was so beautiful, that at almost ninety, Kings wanted her.
• Abraham told a half truth to the local king because he saw the practices of other kings and feared the worst would happen.

 

Imagine hearing GOD say “I will make you a great nation” and “Go from your father’s house to a place I will show you” but experiencing difficulty. Abraham’s wife was almost kidnapped in Egypt and when they returned to the land GOD showed him, it was too small. Lot left and got kidnapped. Abraham had to rescue him. Then the place that he rescued got destroyed by GOD.

 

Things were not looking like a promise. But Abraham believed. He left the land after seeing difficult times. Sarah had faith and traveled with him. Abraham told a half truth about his wife, causing her to almost be kidnapped again. GOD intervened.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Abraham, Sarah and Abimelech’s actions and conversations?
• Has GOD given you a vision and you have faced difficulty after difficulty?
• Can you place your trust in the LORD, knowing that each difficulty is accounted for in HIS plan to prosper you?

Burning Desire

Burning Desire

Genesis 19: ²³ The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. ²⁴ Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. ²⁵ So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

 

²⁶ But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

 

²⁷ And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. ²⁸ Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like 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 which Lot had dwelt.

 

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Sulfur was poured out on the city by GOD. HE then took fire from heaven, possibly lightning, and lit the city ablaze. No one was spared. All buildings, people and vegetation were burned up. The manmade Garden of Eden was no more. Lot’s wife looked back and instantly turned into a pillar of salt.

 

My Observations:

• Lot’s wife had remorse over leaving the Sodomite lifestyle.
• Lot’s wife did not want to leave the stuff or the ways of Sodom.
• Lot’s wife may have enjoyed being known, so she looked back to Sodom in a longing way.

 

Looking back meant she desired to be in Sodom versus wherever the angels told them to go. It probably wasn’t the glance that caused her to turn into a pillar of salt, rather her desire. I would have been curious, like seeing a traffic accident. But it did not seem like curiosity that the LORD had a problem with. It may have been her desire to be in Sodom.

 

Lot may have tried to block the view, but Lot’s wife struggled to get around him to look towards the city with sadness. Abraham got up the next day and looked towards the city and did not become a pillar of salt. He never wanted anything to do with Sodom and Gomorrah. It was because of Abraham that Lot was spared.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses this level of detail in the destruction of the city and the demise of Lot’s wife?
• Have you ever really, really wanted something that may not be good for you?
• Is your heart looking forward to where GOD is taking you or backward to something GOD is moving you from?

Saved by Presence

Saved by Presence

Genesis 19: ¹⁸ Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! ¹⁹ Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. ²⁰ See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”

 

²¹ And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. ²² Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”

 

Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

 

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After being told to “Escape to the mountains”, realized what the angels were saying. He understood that Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding suburbs would be destroyed. He thought quickly and asked to go to a nearby little city. The angel granted his passage to this city and would not destroy it.

 

My Observations:

• Lot’s presence in the little city saved everyone there from destruction.
• Lot knew the area well, possibly because of skills he learned from the Chaldeans, or Abraham or Terah.
• Lot was afraid of the people who captured him years prior and did not want to take a chance of running into them again.

 

Lot and his family were allowed to go to the small city that did not have a name. Lot named it Zoar, meaning small or insignificant. GOD would protect this small group of people because of Lot. GOD still does this. By this example, HE does not destroy places where HE has a believer, unless HE urges them out.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about this conversation between Lot and the angel?
• Have you ever wondered why you are in a certain place?
• Can you realize that your presence in a place blesses it because of GOD’s favor on you?

Safety Instructions

Safety Instructions

Genesis 19: ¹⁵ When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ¹⁷ So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

 

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Morning dawned and the day of destruction had arrived. The angels seemed to already set in motion the destruction of the city and its people. They urged Lot to leave with his wife and two daughters. But Lot lingered. He may have been thinking of ways to take all their stuff with them because he was extremely wealthy. While Lot lingered, the angels grabbed his hand and his family’s hands, pulling them out of the city in haste.

 

My Observations:

• Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah would have come whether Lot left or not.
• GOD wanted to keep Lot safe, so HE sent angels to provide urgent instructions.
• Lot could have ignored the instructions and would have been destroyed with the city.

 

Having no time to ask question, Lot and his family were pulled out of the city. All of their possessions, comforts and animals were left behind. One angel said “Escape for your life!” Lot’s short-term decision caused him to lose all of his possessions.

 

This is the first mention of Lot’s wife. She and her daughters had been captured and rescued by Abraham, along with Lot and the rest of the Sodomites. Lot’s wife may have been raised in the ways of the Sodomites. This group of people were against GOD ways and wanted to do the opposite of HIS desires. GOD graciously rescued Lot’s wife. The angels held her hand tightly, leaving the city.

 

Even though the instructions were given with urgency, Lot lingered. I can understand this. Sometimes it depends on how many other urgent, life-threatening things have popped up with no time to think. GOD sent angels for the first time, to help Lot out of his bad decision. GOD’s grace and patience was shown in extreme measures.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the dire instructions the angels gave Lot and his family?
• Has GOD ever told you to do something urgent?
• When GOD gives you an instruction to keep you safe, do you act with immediacy?

 

You Gotta Be Kidding

You Gotta Be Kidding

Genesis 19: ¹² Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! ¹³ For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

 

¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

 

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Majority ruled in Sodom. Everyone else was doing whatever they pleased and Lot seemed like a judgy nag. The angels asked Lot if he had any other relatives in Sodom, because they were going to destroy the city with the people in it because their sin had reached a point of no return. Lot went to his future sons-in-law, begging them to leave. They scoffed at him in disbelief.

 

My Observations:

• Lot’s future sons-in-law were probably raised in the Sodomite ways.
• Angels are not all knowing, so they asked Lot about his relatives.
• GOD sent the angels to do a special intervention for the first time.

 

Destroying a beautifully made city seemed preposterous to Lot’s future sons-in-law. Why would GOD destroy anything? Sounds like the questions of today when GOD says HE will destroy the earth. The imminence of destruction was seemed like a joke.

 

The angels knew what they were told to do and when. Destruction of the city would happen whether Lot stayed or left. This is the second time Lot had to be rescued. The choice of the city that looked so great was a disaster. GOD intervened.

 

Challenge

• Why do the angels explain why they were there to Lot?
• Have you checked to see how much grace GOD is extending to you?
• Is GOD about to do something in your life that requires you to realize how great HIS grace and power really is?

Untamable Unquenchable

Untamable Unquenchable

Genesis 19: ⁴ Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. ⁵ And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”

⁶ So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, ⁷ and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! ⁸ See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

 

⁹ And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. ¹⁰ But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. ¹¹ And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

 

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After GOD visited Abraham and told him he would create a nation, Abraham took Lot to the place where GOD showed him. But eventually this land was too small. This was not the final land. Abraham asked Lot what land he wanted. Lot chose Sodom because they had figured out a human version of the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, Lot did not know what the people of Sodom were into.

 

My Observations:

• Lot was requested, by the men, to bring the angels out so they could have sex with them.
• Lot, being desperate, offered up his virgin daughters.
• Lot was threatened by the men who quickly reminded him that he was from the outside of the city.

 

From lust to violence, the men raced towards the house to grab Lot and the angels. The men had never touched Lot, especially after being rescued by Abraham. They were probably worried that word would get to Abraham and they would be killed. But they decided to take a chance.

 

Their lusts were “very grave” according to the LORD. Lot probably tried to tame them by telling them what they were doing wrong against GOD. But Lot was not Abraham. He believed in GOD’s ways, but may have also wanted to straddle the fence and use the ways of Sodom when convenient. He easily offered up his daughters to save the angels.

 

This situation was handled by the angels blinding the men. Anyone who tried to approach Lot’s house would be blinded. Even the strongest could not get in. The small were probably sneaky, and tried to get into the house’s weak areas. They became blind too. GOD allowed the angels to begin judgement.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD provided details of the conversation between the men of Sodom and Lot, to Moses?
• Has your ministry at a place come to an end?
• If GOD is moving you out of a place, will you accept change and ask HIM “Where do you want me to go”?

Lone Guardian

Lone Guardian

Genesis 19: Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. ² And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.”

And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.”

³ But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

 

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After leaving Abraham and Sarah, the angels arrived at Sodom. Lot was there in the gate to the city. He recognized the angels as being special. He insisted that they stay with him. He, just like Abraham, wanted to serve the angels by washing their feet.

 

My Observations:

• Lot took it upon himself to guard the city of Sodom, turning away innocent people.
• Lot did not partake in the ways of Sodom, but his family was not with him in his beliefs.
• The angels could easily protect themselves, but went with Lot to his house.

 

Lot was raised by Haran, Abram’s father. He heard the stories of Seth and Noah. He believed in the LORD’s ways, but chose poorly when he went to Sodom. He may have realized this choice was poor and tried to make up for it by guarding the city by himself.

 

When the angels appeared, he recognized them as beings from GOD. He knew he had to do something to protect them, thinking they needed protection. The angels were going to stay in the town square, but were convinced to stay in Lot’s house. I believe that angels are not omniscient, so they only had the information revealed to them by GOD.

 

They knew about Lot and his family as informed by GOD. They were sent on a mission to destroy Sodom. Lot brought the angels in his home, thinking he was going to send them on their way in the morning.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think Lot was sitting at the gate of the city?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you were the only one who believed in GOD’s ways?
• If you are the only believer in JESUS as your LORD and Savior in your area, what would you do?

Righteous Criteria

Righteous Criteria

Genesis 18: ²² Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³ And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵ Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶ So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸ Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

³⁰ Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

³² Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” ³³ So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

 

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Abraham recognized that the LORD was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah from the cryptic words given by GOD. He was told by GOD that there was a great outcry against Sodom and Gomorra and their sin is very grave. Abraham knew GOD had come to destroy the city, so he began using his bargaining talents that he probably learned while acquiring his wealth.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham started with a very low number, thinking it would be ridiculous to destroy a city if fifty righteous people lived there.
• Abraham suddenly recognized that all of his numbers were too high when it came to finding righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah.
• GOD’s criteria for righteousness does not match human criteria.

 

Being born with a sin nature makes it hard to see GOD as HE really is. HE hold the criteria for what is righteous and what is not. HE gave Sodom and Gomorrah plenty of time to turn to HIM, but they refused and now HE was going to destroy it.

 

He allowed Abraham to try to bargain with HIM, attempting to convince HIM to not destroy the city.  GOD probably allowed this to show Abraham how far humans would fall and that HE holds the criteria for what is righteous. Abraham was probably concerned about Lot and his family. So he bargained feverishly to no avail.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD allow Abraham to bargain with HIM?
• Have you ever tried to bargain with GOD, trying to convince HIM to give you something?
• Will you align with GOD versus trying to bargain with HIM today?

Given a Peek into the Plan

 

Given a Peek into the Plan

Genesis 18: ¹⁶ Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷ And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ¹⁹ For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” ²⁰ And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹ I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

 

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JESUS and the angels had another reason for showing up. While they told Abraham and Sarah, they would miraculously have a child, they also came to judge Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

My Observations:

• GOD did not have to tell Abraham about the plan, but informed him, possibly as a warning to everyone.
• GOD gave Abraham directions on how to act by telling him to “keep the way of the LORD.”
• GOD made sure the future of Abraham’s children would continue if they did “righteousness and justice.”

 

GOD allowed people to freely sin, possibly showing grace that humans would question. HE does not mention the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in these words, but later Abraham knew that’s what was going to happen. GOD’s grace for sin seems strange to those who want to see HIM apply HIS judgement, but what’s missing in this blind view is maybe GOD is showing you, the reader, grace to give you time to turn to HIM.

 

The people in Sodom and Gomorrah had sinned enough. GOD’s ways are not our ways, so HE allowed the sin to reach a certain point, then HE said to Abraham, HE was going to put an end to it. This group of people were intelligent enough to create the human’s version of the Garden of Eden. Wells watered the plants so there was plenty.

 

But where there was plenty, there was sin. They had done everything without following GOD or listening to HIM. Eventually they had reached a level of depravity that was so great, GOD had to put an end to it. GOD intervened and included Abraham in on the plan.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD waits to intervene when we sin?
• Are you busy questioning why GOD does things the way HE does without seeing if HE is giving you grace?
• Are you willing to surrender your thoughts, ways and actions to GOD, so JESUS can be LORD of your life today?

Servant Leader’s Attitude

 

Servant Leader’s Attitude

Genesis 18: Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. ² So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, ³ and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. ⁴ Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”

They said, “Do as you have said.”

 

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Some time after Abraham was circumcised and healed, the LORD appeared to him with two angels. Abraham asked them to stay so he could wash their feet to provide relief. He then wanted them to eat to “refresh your hearts.”

 

My Observations:

• Abraham was a wealthy powerful man who understood GOD’s true power.
• Abraham did not flaunt his power, rather he sprung into action by getting everyone together to serve GOD.
• Abraham did not ask for anything from GOD, rather he wanted to simply serve HIM.

 

The LORD appeared near the terebinth trees. There seems to be something special about these trees because GOD met Abraham there a couple of times. Abraham seemed excited to simply serve. Maybe he wanted to be known as one who is hospitable. He was willing to open his house up to strangers and to share the best food.

 

GOD said HE would stay while Abraham gathered water for HIS feet and food for them to eat. It seems like GOD does not mind being served. It shows the heart of the person who can give a being who has everything a little of what we have.

 

This type of generosity may have stood out to GOD because Abraham did not keep the swag he retrieved from rescuing Sodom. Abraham’s servanthood seemed to come from the heart. He immediately sprung into action looking for ways to make his guests comfortable.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about how hot it was?
• Have you checked your conversations with GOD to see if you are only asking for things?
• Are you willing to serve GOD simply to do it just for HIM versus getting something from HIM?