Learning from Lot´s failures
"The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
3 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. 4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”
6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. 8 Look,
I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them
out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do
anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my
roof.” (Genesis 19:1-8)
- Lot probably wasn´t sure about those two visitors in his house. If he knew for sure they were angels sent from God, he would feel so safe that he would never put to risk his two daughters...
- Unfortunately, some people do the same... Because they don´t know God well, because they don´t trust Him, they risk their lives and the lives of people they love too.
"The two men said to Lot,
“Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone
else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”14 So
Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry
his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking." (Genesis 19:12-14)
- Lot´s sons-in-law did not took him seriously. He probably used to be a not reliable person...
- And what about you? What people around you think about you?
"With the coming of dawn,
the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two
daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”
16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them." (Genesis 19:15-16)
- Lot hesitaded. He took time to obey...
- How much time do you take to obey a command from God?
"17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” 18 But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! 19 Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. 20 Look,
here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to
it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.” 21 He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22 But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.)" (Genesis 19:17-21)
- Although the announced calamity, all the risks, Lot stopped to discuss alternatives to God´s directions...
- How many times we try to "help" God?
"But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:26)
- Lot´s wife felt needed to look back... Maybe to check if he had tell her the truth...
- We inspire people around us! People are always observing us... If I am a worthy person, people will trust me.
(A briefing of the message shared by Ana.)
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