29 So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, HE REMEMBERED ABRAHAM, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. Genesis 19
We saw yesterday that when news of the capture of Abraham’s nephew reached him, he got together every one he had and went off to rescue Lot. He was the only one who knew Lot as family and he went to his aid at once. We said that we may know someone, perhaps a family member who desperately needs help and God may want use us to deliver them. Abraham was willing to go and help his nephew in a time of crisis and we too may be the only hope for someone in our circle, family or friends. We may have to lay aside our own priorities for a time to help those in trouble. Derek Prince said, ‘that God often calls us when it’s not convenient!’
Genesis 19 is the account of God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. After the Lord’s visit with Abraham two angels arrived in Sodom in the evening and Lot strongly insisted they spend the night in his house. (Kat Kerr recently said that some warrior angels, special forces units in heaven, have flesh; they look like men. She also said that Melchizedek was their head) Some time later all the men – young and old – came to Lot’s house and demanded he bring out the men to them, but Lot wouldn’t agree to it. In the end the two angels pulled Lot back into the house and blinded the aggressors outside.
9 ‘Get out of our way,’ they replied. ‘This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.’ They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. Genesis 19
The men of Sodom were all angry that Lot wouldn’t agree to their demands and condemned him for daring to judge them. When believers today call, ‘sin as sin’, they’re often vilified by the perpetrators. However, they may be setting themselves up for much harsher punishment from God by refusing to heed the warnings of the righteous. In the end the two angels pulled Lot back into the house and blinded the aggressors outside.
God ultimately destroyed all the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. They’d crossed a line and He wouldn’t tolerate their sinful behaviour any longer. However, before He destroyed the two cities, Lot and his immediate family were brought to safety. GOD REMEMBERED ABRAHAM and his interceding for the people who lived there. Abraham’s rescue of Lot after his abduction is recorded in the narrative, but ALSO HIS INTERCESSION for the righteous. If God lays a burden on us to pray for Mercy for those we know, we should be faithful in prayer. Though we may not see the final outcome, God can use our prayers to extend His Mercy to those who need it.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER. Romans 12
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.