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?

Sudden and Thorough

Sudden and Thorough

Genesis 7: ¹⁷ Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. ¹⁸ The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. ¹⁹ And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. ²⁰ The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. ²¹ And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. ²² All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. ²³ So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. ²⁴ And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.

 

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GOD told Noah HIS plan of salvation of mankind. Satan thought he had won by ruining human by tempting them to eat from the Tree id Knowledge. Every human was born with a sin nature and very few walked with GOD. The plan was to save humans from total destruction through eight people. Evil thoughts prevailed and, though GOD walked amongst HIS people, they may have blamed HIM for casting them out of the luxury of the Garden of Eden.

 

When GOD shut the door on the ark, it was too late. HE made it rain so fast and HE also broke apart the ground so forcefully that no living thing could even think about the ark. The rain fell in measures never seen before or since.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was very patient with humanity, but once that patience ran out, judgement was executed.
• GOD allowed people to do whatever they wanted to do, but that had a limited time.
• GOD had a plan to save humanity from total antihalation and HE executed HIS plan as promised.

 

In modern days, monsoons happen in some regions. This devastating rain can cause floods and wash away manmade structures. Same with tsunamis. Water was used by GOD to break apart the earth and to destroy anything that was tainted by Satan’s pride. Violent collections of animals, and luxurious living was all washed away.

 

Nothing was left that humans could take credit for. The water flowed twenty-two feet above the highest mountain and lasted about half a year. GOD’s salvation is just as sudden, thorough and powerful. HE can and will save those who seek HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about the lengths of time that it rained and that the water remained?
• Are you in a season that feels like it is raining all the time?
• Can you place your thinking on GOD’s wonderful plan HE has for you so HE can pour out HIS blessings on you?