January 18, 2017 – Genesis 19-21

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Genesis 19-21. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read His Word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

What Does This Passage Say?

• The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a favorite of many Christians. It tells the tale of a righteous God bringing fast and swift judgement on a wicked people. Sodom and Gomorrah make up two cities out of five on a plain. They are wicked as evidence when the two visitors (angels) arrive at Lot’s house. They want to take these men and have sex with. This wasn’t women showing up but men.
• Because of this sin, God is ready to destroy the city, but because of His conversation with Abraham, He first sends in these angels to get Lot out. Lot and his family escapes and all would have gone well if his wife hadn’t looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. How this was done or what it looked like we are not sure. The sin of the city did have its influence on Lot and his daughters. Instead of just turning the men away, he was willing to offer his daughters so they could rape them. His daughter’s minds were warped enough to sleep with the father to preserve their family lines.
• On the heels of this event, Abraham picks up and moves his household and herds once again. This is the life of a nomadic shepherd. The region he moves into is governed by king Abimelech. Like before, he is worried for his own life because His eighty-nine-year-old wife is beautiful. So, he tells everyone she is his sister. Abimelech takes her and marries her as his own wife … think of this more as a political alliance than a physical marriage.
• And remember this … she is supposed to be with child … Abraham’s child. To preserve the promise and the genealogy of Jesus, God comes in and saves the day and restores Sarah back to Abraham with no physical consummation taking place.
• With the linage protected, Isaac is born. But his birth is going to disrupt the family. Ishmael was fourteen years old when Isaac was born, and possibly seventeen when Isaac was weened. His attitude and his mocking brought distress to Sarah … so she pleaded with her husband to send him away. Abraham did not want to do this, but God confirmed that Ishmael would be blessed and that God had a plan for him. And God did not forget Ishmael or Hagar, taking care of them as they left the safety of Abraham’s home.
• Our reading concludes with a treaty of peace and good will being established between Abimelech and Abraham. This foreigner, was now fully accepted in the land.