… if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
Summary: In between judgment and execution, there is another step. This story shows us how much attention God pays to the details.
In the Sherlock Holmes story, “Silver Blaze,” there is the following exchange of dialog:
Gregory (Scotland Yard detective): “Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?”
Sherlock Holmes: “To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”
Gregory: “The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
Sherlock Holmes: “That was the curious incident.”
Sherlock noticed something that was not there. It was an important point critical to understanding the mystery. Today, we are going to do the same.
In Part 1, we examined Abraham’s risk and effort to negotiate on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Part 3, we will look at the destruction of the cities. This part is about what happened in between.
Abraham had no way of communicating with his nephew Lot. After he negotiates with the Lord, he trusted God. Perhaps he hoped God would find Lot righteous enough to save or at least take his relationship with Lot into consideration.
Lot was a wealthy man. Genesis 13 tells us:
“Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s.” (Genesis 13: 5-7)
Lot’s possessions represented a small city. He had a wife and two daughters, plus the people he owned who were his herdsmen and all of the others required to run the equivalent of a large ranch using only manual labor (See Genesis 14:14). Perhaps in getting the Lord’s assurance that ten righteous people would assure the city’s survival, Abraham felt that they were safe. But there were not even enough righteous people in Lot’s group to meet that standard.
The “curious incident” in today’s passage is making sure that the few righteous are not hurt by God’s judgment. Before the cities were condemned, God sent two inspectors to verify the reports of corruption (Genesis 18:21). On the way, they stop and talk with Abraham (Genesis 18). Then something remarkable happens. Before God can execute judgment on the cities, they need to get Lot to safety.
Why?
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the tares (KJV). The wheat and tares look alike, but the tares are weeds destined for being burned. When it is discovered that God’s field of good seed has been contaminated with weeds, his servants offer to pull the weeds up. God’s answer is classic:
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.’” (Matthew 13:29)
Think about how careful God was to ensure that no one with a smidgen of righteousness or even a connection to righteousness was hurt.
For the sake of Abraham, he saved Lot (Genesis 19:29).
For Lot’s sake, he saved his daughters (Genesis 19: 15).
For Lot’s daughter’s sake, he offered to save his daughter’s fiancées (Genesis 19: 12-14).
For the sake of Lot’s family and their fears, he spared the city of Zoar (Genesis 19: 21-22).
Even the part of the story about Lot’s wife can be seen as a mercy. Perhaps her heart still longed for what they had left behind. She did not obey God and instead turned back in the direction they were escaping from (Genesis 19:26). If in looking back, she had delayed the others, they might have all died. If the others had stopped to see what she was looking at, they all would have died. To spare Lot from death, her disobedience was her demise. But it was not done in the same kind of judgment like Sodom and Gomorrah. It was done to keep her from hurting others and as a memorial to her disobedience.
It is easy to jump from the words “condemned” to “burning them to ashes” and miss what is in-between.
What is in the middle is a whole lot of concern for not hurting the wheat.
Application: Take comfort in the knowledge that God is very careful about passing judgment.
Food for Thought: People sometimes say that God is unjust. After considering this passage, what would you tell people about God’s judgment?
God does what He wants. ………….. His plan is better than mine. He knows more than I can ever imagine.
Thank you, Mr. T!
Yes, and what he wants is the very best for you and me. That is why we can trust his plan, and as you point out, trust what he knows.
Thank you for the devotional brother. And T, I like your response. It is easy to sit back as an armchair quarterback and pronounce judgement on God’s decisions. God is holy, righteous and impartial. On my own I am not.
I am more amazed at God’s patience with people. The true description of God’s character, patience and justice is seen in Exodus 34: 6 – 7, which I understand to be the most quoted passage of Scripture in Scripture.
To T’s point – if I am going to sit in judgment on God’s decisions, I should know what God knows.
Rich,
Thank you! Here is the passage you referenced:
“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
I would have guessed something like John 3:16 is quoted more often, but what do I know? 🙂
Thank you brother. I am sure John 3: 16 is more quoted by people. But the cited passage is quoted in later Scriptures at least 18 times.
Peace to you.
Oh… I guess I skipped over the part about “in Scripture.” Hmmm… Sorry! 🙂
I really like the way you put this blog together. The point of Lot’s wife is something I had never considered. One thing I would tell people about God’s judgment is that God delivers His judgement with very fair warning, there are no “surprises.” I know that I have heard people attribute natural disasters to God’s judgement, but I don’t believe that God would use a natural disaster as a punishment without ensuring those who are affected are aware and are given the opportunity to repent.
Thank you, Chris!
I appreciate the encouragement. I guess you might say that there is a “Lot” to think about here. 🙂
FIRST,
Thanks to all for your prayers. The chief surgeon and his team were guided by God, 4 days in ICU turned into one night getting my vitals checked every hour. I can see clearly and have no paralysis.
Praise God for His wonderful care over all of us. I’m now home under the loving care of my wife.
God Bless you all,
Ron
Ron,
Thank you for the update! WOW!!! That is amazing! Home already??!! God is so generous!
Ironic,..I was talking to a guy on an estimate today and the conversation led to the rainbow being the promise God gave to us as a sign that He would never flood the earth again,..I told this guy that if he has been reading his bible then he would know that and that the earth is going to burn up and a new earth will take it’s place,..at least that’s what I understand anyway,..however I did tell him that this new home is called heaven and then the conversation went on to how to get into heaven,..well Jesus was glorified again today because of this conversation,..because as you all know,..we can’t get to God unless we go through Jesus,..
God wasn’t unjust in sending His only Son Jesus to die on a cross for all of our sins,..but some people think that way,..God wasn’t unjust by casting the devil down to earth,..God wasn’t unjust by having the big fish swallow Jonah,..God wasn’t unjust in having the Israelites circle the town of Jericho for 7 days and then have the city seized, God wasn’t unjust with David when the first baby died after his time with Uriah’s wife ,..I would say that God is more in the justification business rather than the unjust side of things,..if anyone should be passing judgement it is God,..I don’t deserve His grace because I have looked back on my life just as Lot’s wife did,..I may not have turned into a pillar of salt,..but in a way I have because Jesus told me to be the salt of the world and not to lose my saltiness because the world needs the living water that Christ is,..anyway,..maybe I am rambling again,..but I will not stop rambling about Jesus,..keep smiling!
John,
Praise God for conversations about Jesus. I hope that your estimate turns into salvation for the person you were talking with.
I also like your comment about turning into salt, salt-of-the-earth that is. Well done!
“SECOND”
10-29-2021, 2 Peter 2:6, Example 3, part 2, People sometimes say that God is unjust. After considering this passage, what would you tell people about God’s judgment?
God made Adam and Eve, commanded them to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.
Only a man and woman can conceive a child. Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. There is no purpose for same sex relationships which oppose God’s command and would result in zero births.
Genesis 1:28
God promised to put enmity between between the seed of woman and the seed of woman. Jesus Christ.
Same sex relationships sought to nullify the birth of Gods Son Jesus Christ, enmity between the world of flesh and the spiritual realm of God.
Another good example is Er and Onan sons of Jacob who were killed by God for refusing to impregnate Tamar as she sought to bear the child, enmity promised by God.
Genesis 3:15, Genesis 38:6-10.
God is always just we should allow the Lord to minister to them through us, but those who disagree will simply have to be handed off to God.
Ron!!
GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Sorry that the your comment got caught in my spam filter. I’ve been offline this afternoon.
Thank you for checking in! 🙂
Thank you, Ron!
God’s judgment is just. Leaving judgment to God is the Christian’s ace in the hole. We don’t have to take on that responsibility. Instead we can concentration on sharing God’s love with the world.