Today's reading.
Welcome to an intriguing day of reading. I hope we have LOTS of questions and comments today.
Genesis starts out with a dialog between Abraham and God. It's a fascinating window into a part of God's character. What do you see? What do you question?
At the same time that Abe is interceding on the mountain, a spiritual war rages in the valley. No doubt you will be amazed and perplexed by what happens in Lot's house. After they leave the city, some things happen in his family that are almost beyond our imagination. Read and let us know what you think.
Matthew's passage today is still from the Sermon on the Mount. You will find it both comforting and challenging. Do you have questions about what He says? Comments?
Anyone who thinks that man is just an animal and no different than other animals should see God's perspective in today's Psalm.
Finally, Proverbs is again as if wisdom is speaking directly to us. In today's reading, wisdom points to God as the Author.
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Here's what's always killed me about the Sodom and Gomorrah: In an effort to protect the angels from the the villagers' debauchery (even though I'm sure they could defend themselves)s he offers up his own virgin daughters! Why was that even an option? Lot didn't have to offer the crazies anyone!
ReplyDeleteJulie, I know this situation stinks. But it tells you something about the way this culture viewed guests -- especially males. It was less offensive for Lot to give up his daughters (a horrible offense, even then) than it was for him to give up the men. Yes, they were mysterious men. I'm not sure, though, that Lot understood them to be angels.
ReplyDeleteI am often disturbed when I watch the news and hear stories of things that are happening. It is scary to raise a child in our current world. But when I read this story, I realized mankind has always been perverse. I'm not sure if that's any comfort.
ReplyDeleteHi Pastor Sam..In Genesis I see that God is a giving and caring God by agreeing to spare the City of Sodom and it's people if there
ReplyDelete"righteous" people there. I question the fact of God leaving all the wicked people there and perhaps not solving the issue and is God actually a person that Abraham is speaking with? I was really surprised by Lot offering his 2 daughters to the angry crowd outside his house and he didn't even know these men (angels)...I am still a little perplexed with Lot's daughter's thought process of bedding their own father to continue the family's namesake? Where was God is all of this? Both of their sons went on to be ancestor of nations --- so perhaps some good came out of it or not? What did Lot think of his daughter's when he found out what they did? In Matthew...I am comforted by the fact of not having to worry about everyday life because God will provide. But one thing stood out to me 7:6 "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy" and 7:12 "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you"...this seems like a contradiction to me -- I a being told not to waste my time and then treat others the way I want to be treated -- or am i just misunderstaning/missing something. thanks michelle
First, Lara, you're right -- the world has always been evil (since the fall). On the other hand, God created us (including you and yours) for such a time as this.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, do you feel as if you jumped from the frying pan into the fire? Re your comment about God leaving wicked people alive -- we will see later in scripture that we are all wicked in some way. We will also see that God is patient and wants people to repent. It's a part of His character.
As to God appearing in human form, it happens a few times in the Old Testament and is called a Theophany. God the Holy Spirit didn't start dwelling in people until after Jesus and had to communicate in different ways.
Yes, these sons born of Lot's daughters ended up being ancestors and yes, God has always had a plan. But we still make our own mistakes and must reap what we show.
What would Lot have thought of his daughters? I can only begin to imagine.
I commented on the angels in an earlier comment today.
Not wasting the holy on the unholy might be better understood like this: people aren't really ready for God's ways of living until their heart changes. When we give our hearts to Christ, we change and become holy.
"Do unto others..." Think of it this way: "Consider how you would like to be treated and give other people the same courtesy."
Whew! Rock on, Michelle. I LOVE reading your questions. They are very fresh and alive!
Wow! Great questions today! Something that has helped me to understand hard-to-understand passages like this and for instance, why God allowed multiple wives, etc, is the concept of "progressive revelation". This means that people then did not know as much as we now do and God took them and worked with them with what they knew. It was a different world and communication was, of course, not what it is today and God is always willing to take us like we are and not try to change us all at once. He expects more out of us nowadays than he did with people in Old Testament days because He revealed more of Himself and more of his ways to us than to the early generations. Hope I explained that well enough. It's not an easy concept, but does tend to help explain some of these passages
ReplyDeleteIn the dialog between Abraham & God, shows God is Merciful. I think if there was even just ONE good person he would have saved them. By what happened outside Lot's house, it showed how sick and corrupt the people were. If I were one of Lot's daughters I'd be crushed at my fathers offer to the men! God was merciful on Lots immediate family and all the rest were destroyed. When Lot's daughters slept with their father, then to me, they were no better than the sick men who wanted to have sex with Lot's guest. Yet they were saved. Come to think of it I'm amazed anyone came away from Sodom and Gomorrah alive. Was it because God promised to protect Lot and his family. I wanted to go back and check before I posted this but not being completely "up" on computers, I was afraid I'd lose what I had typed.
ReplyDeleteMatthews passage is comforting and BOY can we be guilty of a lot or all of it. Clothes...............Yep! I've done some whining about that lately, but I do have to say my kids always come first on that and I most always shop clearance for myself here and there. God blessed me with a huge sale (needed work clothes for new job). I got $1,100.00 worth for $300.00! Thank you God.
Cathy, Thanks for your comment- it's hard for me to remember how different their world must have been. I love that God is so willing to meet us where we are! I'm sometimes overwhelmed by the concept- What in the world is the Creator of the universe doing meeting me where I am? I should have to make pilgrimage to the peak of Everest, but instead, all i have to do is seek him in my heart and he runs to me. WOW WOW WOW!
ReplyDeleteWhy is Abraham considered a nation when he is a man? Do you think that God destroys cities through natural disasters except floods (because he made a promise not to do that again)today the way he did Sodam and Gomorah?
ReplyDeleteHi Jen,
ReplyDeleteGod had promised Abe that He would make him into a great nation, meaning he would have many descendants. As Christians, according to the New Testament, we are part of that nation and are considered the Seed of Abraham.
God can use whatever means He chooses to raise up or put down a city (or a country, for that matter).
Hi Sam!! Ranelle just clued me into this blog, so I'm a little behind on the commenting. I was struck by the verse about the angels "seizing" Lot & his family & dragging them out of the city gate. Sometimes He mercifully drags us out of our sin, while we're still resistant. Amazing!
ReplyDelete"Matthew's passage today is still from the Sermon on the Mount. You will find it both comforting and challenging. Do you have questions about what He says? Comments?"
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me about this message was the emphasis on not judging others in society. This is particularly difficult, as humans we naturally form an impression about others when we meet them. The media and society are often quick to criticize and blame others for all the problems.
I also found how Matthew ties in with the Sermon Series right now - God provides for us. The materialism and media in our affluent society drive our desires to "keep up with the Joneses". I would almost think it would be easier to rely on God to take care of us if we had less, as perhaps one would be more focused on needs vs. wants.