Fri.’s Devo - The Way

Read: Genesis 18:16-19:38; Matthew 6:25-7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15 The men who visited with Moses continued to Sodom. Moses walked with them for a while and they decided to share with Moses what their mission was. They were on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin had reached to heaven. Abraham knew that Lot was there so he arbitrated for his sake. They finally agreed that if they could find 10 righteous people they would not destroy it. When they reached Sodom, Lot was sitting at the gate as a judge. He begged the men not to stay in the village square because he knew they would not live through the night. When the men learned there were two strangers in their city staying at Lot’s house, they came to do what they always did to strangers - rape and abuse them. They banged on his door and yelled for Lot to turn them over to them so Lot went outside to beg them to leave them alone. When they were going to hurt him to get to the men, the angels reached out and pulled Lot into the house, shut the door and blinded the men so they could not find the door. This is a picture of the Jewish nation that would abuse and crucify Jesus. They would be blinded to the fact that he was the Messiah and not be able to find “The Door”. The angels told Lot what their mission was and to get his family and flee, immediately. When Lot hesitated, the angels took his hand and the hand of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city. Once out the gate, they ordered them to “Run for their lives and don’t look back.” Lot begged them not to send him to the mountains because he didn’t know how to survive without civilization, so the angel sent him to a little town called Zoar. It took them all night to get to Zoar and just as the sun was rising, God rained down fire and sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah utterly destroying it. Lot’s wife just had to turn and watch. God turned her into a pillar of salt. Abraham got up after it was done and saw the smoke rising from the cities like smoke from a furnace. Abraham didn’t turn into a pillar of salt because his heart was different. Lot didn’t stay in Zoar long because the people were just as wicked there and they didn’t know him. It wasn’t safe for him so he ended up just where the angels had told him to go - the mountains. Lot hid out with his two daughters and they thought they would never be around people again and never have children to carry on their posterity. They did not trust God to have a plan and devised their own. They got Lot drunk and had sex with him producing the Ammonites and the Moabites. In Matthew, Jesus addressed all our fears. He started with basic survival. God wants us to live so that He is our survival. He provides for us food and shelter and covering if we trust him. God gave us nature all around us to show us his love for us. He loves and takes care of all he makes - even the sparrows and the lilies. So we can be assured that he will take care of his most prized creation - his children. God has our future planned. If only Lot’s two daughters had known this. They would have known that He could bring them a husband. If only Sarai had believed this. She would not have had to use Hagar to give her God’s promise. Jesus told us not to worry about other’s sins but to just concentrate on our own lives. He also told us not to give to unholy people what is holy. They will not understand and trample our revelations in the ground. We should keep seeking, asking and knocking on God’s door in prayer and not give up. He hears our earnest prayers and will grant us our petitions. Even the law teaches us to treat others like we want to be treated. The only way to enter God’s Kingdom is through Jesus’ blood. It is the Door. The way in is difficult and undesirable on the surface, but fulfilling and life to those who enter. Lord, thank you that you have opened our eyes to see life and not destruction - to see good and not evil in everything that you do. May we walk unwavering into your gate and find peace and rest.