Genesis 19
There is a LOT in this chapter to talk about. If you’re like me, it may be overwhelming to read something like this. But one common theme is seen throughout is God’s MERCY. I know what you’re thinking, “Mercy?? How does this chapter show God’s mercy?” and I agree, it may be hard to see, but it’s woven into each story of destruction and sin. God being perfect, just, and full of wrath on sin is also sending His mercy. In Genesis 18, Abraham pleads with the Lord to spare the city if at least 10 righteous people can be found there. The same 2 angels that were with the Lord in chapter 18 were sent to Lot in this chapter. In the end Lot, being considered a righteous man, was spared as well as his family. One commentator states Lot’s internal battle like this: ”Lot was in the worst of all possible places. He had too much of the world to be happy in the LORD, and too much of the LORD to be happy in the world.”
God fulfills his wrath on the Land of Sodom by raining fire and sulfur to that area. The smoke was so big that it was described like smoke from a furnace. What’s interesting here is the difference in perspective; Lot saw the total destruction of a land that he desired to be a part of for so long, Abraham saw the destruction of Sodom as a promise that God fulfilled. Now does that make the destruction of Sodom easier to understand? No, it should be difficult to comprehend the desolation they experienced. What needs to be remembered is that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. He is who He says He is. We don’t have to question His character, we can live in the truth that He is a God of mercy.
God works ALL things (good or bad) for good and HIS glory (Romans 8:28). When we look at the sin in our lives, the trials we go through, the hard parts of life, God is still working things for good. Lot was hesitant to leave Sodom (the angels had to drag his family out), even when he knew that destruction was coming. Lot made unjustifiable bribes with the men in Sodom when confronted about his guests, he slept with his daughters, Sodom was destroyed.
In the midst of grief, brokenness, wickedness, remorse, God is still going to fulfill his promise of restoration through His son, Jesus. The death of Jesus doesn’t make sense to anyone. Why was a man, who was perfect, sentenced to death on a cross for something he never took part in? God, where is your goodness in that? What we didn’t know was the grace that we would inherit because of Jesus’ death. Though we only read about the horrible things that happened in Genesis 19, we can press into the truth that He is working and moving for something good. We get to live in the freedom that comes with the cross. Today, talk to God. Share your life with him. Ask Him questions. Pray that God would restore the broken things you have experienced for His glory. Praise God in that His gift of mercy is abundant and everlasting.
