Hello there!
It has been a while for me since I wrote a post of my own. Four weeks to be precise!!π. The aim was really to allow God to minister to you through other anointed writers and I do believe that He truly did! September was a missions month in my church and this was my little contribution of connecting with other writers. May the body of Christ continue to grow in all dimensions! Do I hear an Amen there?πβΊ I feel so excited to do this again and to be honest I really missed writing like this. My heart’s prayer is that you are keeping well. And for those feeling kinda low today, how I pray that you experience God’s faithfulness in your life because He truly is faithful!!ππ
So today we will focus on the story of Lot in the book of Genesis. He was a grandson to Terah and nephew to Abram (who became Abraham). Haran, Lot’s father, died before Terah moved from Ur to Canaan but decided to settle at Haran instead. Yes, Haran is both the name of a person and a place! π Now moving on swiftly ladies and gentlemen, these details are found in Genesis 11:24-32. Please do read!
Lot was the man who left Haran to Canaan with Abraham. He was the one who never released the secret that Sarah was Abraham’s wife when they moved to Egypt because of severe famine. Lot was actually the one who chose to live near Sodom when they separated with Abraham because of constant quarrelling between the two and also with their herdsmen because of increase in their possessions. He chose the whole plain of Jordan which was well watered like Egypt while his uncle lived in the land of Canaan. Lot was the man who was captured with his possessions during a battle between Sodom and its four allies against Kedorlaomer , king of Elam and his three allies. He was then rescued by Abraham and 318 trained men, together with all who were captured from the five defeated kingdoms. It was after this victory that we see the first recording of a tithe where Abraham gave a tenth of everything he recovered. The detailed story is found in Genesis 12 to 14.
The focus of this post is on Chapter 19. Just before going deeper, it is interesting to notice how LORD (Hebrew Yahweh) in chapter 18 does not come with the two angels to Sodom on the same day they all visited Abraham. To be precise they visited Abraham in the heat of the day (I interpret that to be in the noon time) and by evening two angels were visiting Lot. I love how Lot was quick to notice and discern that they were not ordinary men. He insisted so much that they visit his home until they agreed. He lived in a wicked place evidenced by the persistent call by the men to want to have sex with his visitors. With much struggle, he refused and was willing to give his virgin daughters instead. πMy friend, this is just another level!! π€
I applaud the daughters who stayed pure despite the sexual immorality all around them but am not sure if I would be willing to give that up as their father offered to do. I still feel that he showed reverence for God and he must have had an influence in raising his daughters to abstain from sex that far. Reading verse nine tells me that the men put a lot of pressure on him for homosexuality. Here we have a man who is surrounded in the night by all men, both young and old who forcefully want sex with his visitors and he stands at the door and says no. Can you just picture this scenario for a moment? What would you do?
I can say he did “everything” that was within his power to protect his visitors who were not just any ordinary men but angels of the Most High. He could not afford to allow any harm come to them but rather offer what was precious to him. Anyone recall someone in the Bible who was willing to give up his own child?πYes, his own uncle, Abraham was willing to give up his own son in reverence and obedience to God. Wow! You know am just thinking about how many times I have struggled with what I feel the spirit asking me to do for God’s kingdom, yet hear I read of a man who wanted to give it all really for this same God. Unless you feel his offer of the children to all the men in Sodom was not. I have read of how others feel it was abuse, others say that the daughters themselves were catalysts to the offer, while others say he regretted living in Sodom. Well, I read the Word of God and I see a courageous man. A man who raised his daughters in purity in a very sexual immoral land and was willing to give that up to protect the messengers of Jehovah! I believe he raised them in such a manner out of reverence for God whom he knew through living with his uncle.
And do you know what happened when he had made up his mind to give his precious treasures, his virgin daughters? God delivered him and his family from the destruction that was waiting Sodom. The angels pulled him back into the house and struck blindness to all the men and gave time to Lot and his family to escape! Wow! I love this story! I am reminded that God made available the offering needed when Abraham showed obedience in offering his son. Wow! Just Wow!!π
What can be said of me in the area of giving? What can be said of you? I used to think am a giver until the story of Lot hit my mind one morning. I bet my lesson is that there is room for improvement. Great room indeed!!π
Thank you so much for your time today! May God continue to ever be with you!!π Amen!!π
#Lot #Giving #Hopeforyouandme
I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you.
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God bless you!!π
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You too.
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