Tag: Lot’s son-in-laws
You Are Surely Joking!
Scripture reading for January 8th: Genesis 18-20
Peter’s second letter tells us that in the last days there will be scoffers who ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2nd Peter 3:3-4) They develop an attitude that because what God has promised is not happening now, it probably will not happen at all. They are not walking in faith, but have attitudes that say that the word of God is a joke to them and should be to us. This is the attitude we find in the reading for today from Genesis.
Abraham had a visit from three men who were really angels sent from the Throne of God. Abraham welcomed these three and showed hospitality. One of them was “The Lord” and told Abraham that he would have a son in a year. (Genesis 18: 10) This is probably a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus called a “theophany”. The Lord also told Abraham of the plans to pour out judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. He was on His way down there to visit them. Abraham proceeds to question the Lord about His plans. Would the Lord destroy the righteous with the wicked? How many righteous would cause God to spare the city? He does trust the Judge of all the earth to do what is right. (Genesis 18:25)
Two of the angels proceeded down to Sodom and Gomorrah. They found Lot sitting in the gate of the city and Lot invited them to his home. They initially refused but Lot insisted and they went with him. That night the men of the city came and demanded to have these angels, who looked like men, for sexual purposes. Lot bargained with them, even trying to give his two daughters in place of the men. When the men began to force their way into the house, the angels pulled Lot back inside. They struck those wicked men blind! These angels then warned Lot to gather his family and get them out of the city immediately! God was going to destroy the place! (Genesis 19:12)
The tragedy was that as Lot warned his sons-in-law who were betrothed to his daughter, they laughed and thought he was joking! Even Lot began to hesitate, so the angels grabbed his hand and his wife and daughter’s and led them out of the city. Lot’s wife looked back and died!
Many will be lost because they fail to heed the warning of God’s word and his messengers! The coming of the Lord is no joke and He is the Judge of all the earth!