TEXT:

‘So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking’ (Genesis 19:14 NLT)

THOUGHT:

Have you ever tried telling someone something important only for them to think you are joking? This was the scenario Lot found himself in, trying to warn his sons-in-law of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s judgment on these wicked cities is something people find hard to equate with a ‘God who loved the world so much that He gave His only son’ (John 3:16). Yet this event was referred to by Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Jesus. If the One who said, ‘I am the truth’, referred to it on at least three separate occasions, then it must be true, for Jesus cannot lie.

Today’s Teaching is about Lot and his efforts to try to save himself and his family from God’s judgment. There are three key points to consider.

• Someone was praying for Lot

Abraham, Lot’s uncle, had been a father figure to him when he came with him to Canaan.¹ Abraham was not only caring but gracious too, for he allowed Lot first choice of the land when prosperity meant they had to separate.² He was also brave for when Lot had been taken captive by raiders Abraham raised an army from his men and recovered everyone and everything.³ For him to have done these things meant his nephew Lot was really special.

When God spoke to Abraham about the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he immediately started interceding getting God to agree to spare those cities if just ten righteous people were found in them.⁴ The Bible says that when Lot was saved from destruction it was because the Lord remembered Abraham.⁵

Remember someone is praying for you, even if you are not aware that they are doing so. They want you to turn to the Lord so that you do not perish but have everlasting life!

• Lot’s character was commendable

1. He was God-fearing

Although he wrongly chose to settle in Sodom and Gomorrah, the Bible says he tried to change the morality of those cities and was accused of acting like a judge.⁶ Peter refers to him as, ‘Righteous Lot’ (2 Peter 2:6).

2. He was hospitable

The angels sent by God were going to spend the night in the open square, but Lot fearing for their safety insisted they lodge in his house.⁷ ‘Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!’ (Hebrews 13:2 NLT) was certainly true on that occasion!

3. He believed the warning

Isaiah wrote, ‘Who has believed our message?’ (Isaiah 53:1 NLT). The Bible urges us to flee from the wrath to come. What will you do? Believe or dismiss it as mere imagination and scare-mongering? Noah believed God’s warning and prepared the ark that saved himself and his family.

• Lot wanted all his family to be saved

The angels urged him, “Get everyone you can to safety”. So in the middle of the night Lot rushed over to where his sons-in-law were living to urge them to come with him, but they thought he was joking and refused to leave. This is why Christians should continue to witness, because they do not want any of their family to be lost, when they could be saved.

In Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian had to leave his wife and family behind when they refused to join him fleeing the City of Destruction. They even mocked his religious beliefs and desire to go to heaven. His warning about God’s coming judgment fell on deaf ears. It was only later that his wife Christiana realised her mistake and soon her and her family started out on their journey to the heavenly city. What a tragedy that Lot’s wife chose to look back, against God’s command, and so perished when she was actually on the way to safety.⁸

God’s judgment on non-Christians may not be the same as for Sodom and Gomorrah, but the outcome is just as real. The rest of John 3:16 states, ‘That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’. What a choice! Perish or have everlasting life!

Only a fool would miss out on life. Seriously!

Endnotes

¹ Genesis 12:4-5

² Genesis 13:8-11

³ Genesis 14:11-16

⁴ Genesis 18:16-33

⁵ Genesis 19:29

⁶ Genesis 19:9

⁷ Genesis 19:1-3

⁸ Genesis 19:17,26