JANUARY 6 READINGS…Genesis 18:1-21:7
In today’s reading we have Abraham and Sarah visited by three messengers with both good news and bad news. During the exchange with Abraham we find out that one of the three is the Lord…most believe this is a Theophany…an appearance of Christ as a man in the Old Testament. In His exchange with Abraham it is clear that He is Deity, and not just an angel. The good news shared with Abraham, that Sarah heard, was that by the next year Sarah would birth a son. The bad news was that the judgment of God was going to fall on Sodom and Gomorrah.
In the exchange between Abraham and the Lord we see three things. First, the unrestrained wickedness of those cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord can no longer withhold His hand of judgment…for their wickedness was so vile. Second, we see the heart of Abraham as he bargains, and I believe even begs for the Lord’s judgment to be stooped against these cities. Notice that in Abraham’s pleading he never forgets who he is talking to…and he never forgets that he is but, “dust and ashes”. His approach is a far cry from many today as they approach God. Finally, we see the grace of God…He is willing to withhold His judgment if there would be just ten good people in those two cities. Sadly, there was not even ten, for as the angels arrived the wickedness of the men of the city was turned against them, as these vile men desired to force their sexual perversion upon these angels of God. God destroyed the cities…all except for Lot, his wife, and their two daughters.
God does not tolerate willful sin and perversion for long. He didn’t tolerate it then, and He will not tolerate it in our world either. We live in a country much like Sodom and Gomorrah…and while it is true there has always been sexual perversion in human history, it moves to another level when a society condones and celebrates their perversion. We live in a perverse society…humanity condones homosexuality, pedophilia, and every kind of sexual perversion is acceptable today. The sexual exploitation of children is accepted on television and in society. Do we think that God does not know? Do we think that the judgment of God will not come upon us? Can we not see, even today, that judgment has already started.
What part of today’s readings left an impression on you? There was so much more in the reading than I could share in my devotional. Please share your thoughts, as others might be blessed by what the Lord has shown you in the readings.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…Genesis 21:8-24:67
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