Ye are the salt of the
earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted: it
is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 5:13
I feel this week we may
need to only look at Genesis 19 because there is so much there. Other
references may lead to extra readings such as the chapter from Matthew containing
our opening verse.
Observations:
Genesis 19 is the story
of Lot and his family. First off let’s see who we are dealing with.
II Peter 2: 6-9 We see that Lot is a righteous man who
allowed himself to live in a situation that vexed his soul from day to day. In
today’s language we would say Lot was a worldly Christian.
Genesis 13:10,11 Lot chose to live in Sodom because it
was a good land to increase his wealth.
Genesis 18:20-23 When Abraham learns of God’s plan to
destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, he prays earnestly for the saved of
the cities, that they not be destroyed with the wicked.
Genesis 19: 1-3 Lot is very aware of the wickedness of
the city and how they would treat strangers. Lot sat in the gate. Those in this
position were rulers and judges for a city.
Genesis 19:4-11 Lot offers the men of the city his
virgin daughters in place of the “men” who have come into his house. His offer
is rejected and the angels cause the men who were already spiritually blind to
become physically blind.
Genesis 19:12-14 It’s a little late for Lot to be
talking about God’s judgment to his sons-in-law. Maybe they had never seem him
too concerned about God’s judgment before. Everyone pretty much lived as they
pleased. So now he must be joking.
Genesis 19:15-22 Lot is still concerned with his
physical comfort. He doesn’t want to follow God’s plan, so he pleads for his
own way. God allowed it but it was not God’s best plan.
Genesis 19:28 Lot’s wife looked back to all that she
had left behind. She became a pillar of salt, worthless, standing out in the
weather, not good for anything except a reminder.
Genesis 19: 29-38 What a mess! Now Lot through his
drunken state has become a participant in incest. Two nations will come from
this wickedness. Two nations that will not know or honor God.
Application:
Lot is no different than
most of us. He made his decisions based on his desire for wealth, position, and
physical comfort in a nice home in convenient location. That does sound
familiar where the almighty dollar reigns king. We vote, take jobs, and live
our lives based on the same things Lot saw as necessary to maintain his
lifestyle. He did not consider what effect the culture would have on his family
and the generations to come. He lost his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, self-respect,
and the generations of his family to come.
To what are we exposing
our families? Are we the salt of the earth making a difference in our homes, churches and communities or are we so busy longing for what the world has to offer that we are no longer making a difference to anyone?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open our eyes
to the things we allow in our homes, in our schools, in our neighborhoods that
are affecting our families. Help us Lord, that we seek Your alternative to the
world through Your Word. Help us be willing to live as Abraham that our
families may prosper eternally. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.
Won’t you share what God
is doing in your family?
Blessing for your week,
Gail
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