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    January 6th Chronological Bible Readings

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    Genesis 18:1-21:7
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link

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    In Genesis 18 we see some amazing hospitality from Abraham to God and two angels that appear along with God.  Hospitality for strangers was important back in Abraham’s day.  How are we with our hospitality toward strangers today?  Do we react as Abraham did toward these three?  Remember that Jesus says to us in the New Testament, “whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.”  So, yes, maybe Abraham realized he was being hospitable toward God.  But – Jesus seems to infer we should be hospitable to everyone – particularly “the least of these” – for in doing so, we will be providing hospitality to Jesus.   Who in our world today are the “least of these”?  Are you being hospitable to strangers and to the least of these in your life today?  How?  Below is an oil painting by Spanish Baroque Era Painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo from the year 1667 titled “Abraham and the Three Angels”:


    Abraham_angels

    Today in Genesis chapter’s 18 & 19 we get a great look at how God responds to intercessory prayer and also clearly see God’s judgment in chapter 19.  Ch. 18 Verse 17 is a powerful start to our readings: “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.”  I think what we see here and in the following verses is that God obviously really cares for Abraham – as a friend – and as one who has been credited as righteous because of his faith.  And I do think this is an important point before we read about Abraham’s intercessory prayer to God – that for intercessory prayer really to have any standing before God, we need to be in right relationship with God.  If we are being disobedient to God or being unrepentant of sins or bad habits that God wants us to give up, then I think our intercessory prayer for others can lose its effectiveness.   Check out James 5:16 for this point: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”   Abraham was credited as righteous because of his faith (Genesis 15:6).  Hence, his intercessory prayer was powerful and effective.  Below is a portrait of Abraham by Guy Rowe – I imagine Abraham praying to God in Genesis chapter 18 in this portrait:

    Abraham_prayer

    In verse 25 we begin to see Abraham’s several requests, or intercessions, to God to spare the city of Sodom for the sake of the righteous living in the city: “Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the innocent with the guilty. Why, you would be treating the innocent and the guilty exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?””  And from here we see Abraham bringing down the number of righteous that would need to be in the city for it to be spared.  I don’t necessarily see what Abraham was doing here as haggling with God – but, I think he was acting out of compassion for the righteous few in the city – and surely Lot and his family were on his mind during these intercessions…

    Abraham_prayer_

    In Genesis chapter 19 there is a lot going on.  And I’m sure a few things that jump out at you when you read them, and create a lot of questions in your mind.  (Lot offering his two virgin daughters (v. 8) & what happened in the cave (v. 30-36), for examples)   Let me recommend you take 10 minutes and read through Bob Deffinbaugh’s “From City Councilman to Caveman: “What a Difference a Day Makes” (Genesis 19:1-38)” at this link at Bible.org.  I think this will answer a lot of your questions on why certain things happened in this chapter, from Bob’s perspective.  One great quote from Bob at this link above is this: “Lot attempted to live his life in a city and then in a cave. We cannot become one with the world, but neither are we to flee from it. The proper balance between the city of Sodom and the cave is the tent of Abraham. We are to live in the world, but without becoming attached to it or conformed to it. We are to be strangers and pilgrims.”  I like that! How are you doing with the idea of being in the world, but not of it?   Are you living in the city or in a cave?  Will you seek to live in the tent of Abraham?  Below is a map of the approximate area of where Sodom & Gomorrah and the Cities of the Plain (including Zoar) were thought to have been located, on the south side of the Dead Sea and now possibly under water:

    Sodom_gomorrah_map

    One verse that immediately stood out to me in chapter 19 is verse 16: “When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.”  What struck me in this verse is that Lot hesitated.  In the previous verse, the angels say very clearly and strongly – “get out of the city!  hurry!  God is going to destroy it!”  And yet… Lot hesitated.  This jumped out at me because in our couple of previous day’s readings we have seen how promptly obedient Abraham was to God’s commands.  When God said to get circumcised and circumcise everyone in the house – it happened that same day!  And yet, here we see Lot hesitating on a very clear command from angels…   And I guess I do have to ask myself, and maybe you can ask yourself too – are we more often like Abraham or Lot?  Are we promptly obedient to God’s will and commands for our lives?  Or do we hesitate?  A great thing about verse 16 above is we read that even though Lot hesitated, God was merciful.  God will still show us mercy when we hesitate…  the grace of God is still clearly there for we who hesitate.  But, even though there is amazing grace, maybe the question still is – what are we hesitating for?  What are we waiting for?  Below is an image by the artist Raffaello (Italian painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance), circa 1500, of Lot and his daughters finally fleeing Sodom, while his wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt:

    Pillar_of_salt

    And below is an image of verse 24: “Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah.”

    Sodom_gomorrah

    Today in Genesis chapter 20 we see that Abraham is not perfect (we have seen this humanness of Abraham earlier in our Genesis readings too).  This should be good news for each of us!  🙂  Abraham essentially tells Abimelech a half-truth – and yes, half-lie.  The thing to remember here is that Abraham has received incredible promises from God and covenants – and yet, it is apparent that Abraham still has some fear of what will happen to him and Sarah.  This imperfection of God’s people is something that we will continue to see throughout our Bible readings.  God uses imperfect people for his purposes.  God does typically use those that love him.  But, those that love God do still sin and make mistakes.  God partners with imperfect people throughout history.  God partners with people like you and me.  Below is Flemish Northern Renaissance Painter Jan Provost’s “Abraham, Sarah and the Angel” from the year 1520:


    Abraham

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Genesis titled “If I was God…” is at this link, and “Sin and the City” is at this linkand commentary on Genesis chapter 20 today titled “Don’t Ever Say Never” is at this link.

    Worship God:  Today’s readings in Genesis 18 with Abraham showing hospitality to angels reminded me of The Newsboys song “Entertaining Angels:”


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhCA6R_dPyI

    Think you’ve ever entertained angels?  Click here and meet the One angels serve!

    Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Genesis 18:19 NIV

    Prayer Point: Pray that you will direct your children and your household to keep the way of the LORD.

    Comments from You and Question of the Day: Do you believe angels are among us? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    Posted in

    3 responses to “January 6th Chronological Bible Readings”

    1. John Avatar
      John

      Genesis 18
      First Intercessory Prayer in the Bible
      Prayer is conversation with God. This is an example of effective prayer (petitioning) God by Abraham.
      We can pray for anything we want. Jesus gave us the right to come before God and petition. However, I have come to believe truly effective prayer is praying in the Will of God. Seizing on a promise from His Word, understanding God’s purpose, God’s Character, and/or a reaction to a conviction in your heart (that is confirmed), or a warning in your heart (that is confirmed). Praying in the will of God gives you insight into the Father, and you “Know” him better. Isn’t that a goal outlined by Jesus for us?
      Effective prayer always starts with God. Here God outlines His plan. Abraham intercedes calling on a characteristic of God – mercy. Also acknowledging our status vis a vis God – “dust and ashes” showing humility.
      [Note: By interceding Abraham is becoming more like Christ; Abraham is advancing in his walk of faith with God. Isn’t that the same for us?]
      Abraham is not arguing God down in number, but asking for more and more mercy. Abraham is interceding for the possible righteous. Abraham is growing and becoming more like Christ. Christ is our perfect intercessor.
      Why did he stop at ten? Commentators say it is because Lot’s family and future in-laws equaled ten. Possibly?????
      The session ended when God had finished speaking – not Abraham. Just as it is with us when the Holy Spirit finishes up for us perfectly after our imperfect prayers.
      The Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings which we cannot express, but which are nevertheless there in the heart.” (Romans 8:26c-27)
      Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah
      How did their cup of sin get so full that God destroyed the cities?
      It was not just fornication, homosexuality, and various sexually perverse acts. Yes, they are sins, and yes they are part of the judgment.
      However, I believe that these cities were also as the “days of Noah”.
      Ezekiel 16 says Sodom was full of pride, had excess food that they did not share with poor, widows, nor starngers, and they exalted themselves above God, and did abominations before te Lord.
      The mishna and talmud say that Sodomites were cruel and inhospitable to strangers.
      – beds were in the squares (where the angels were going to rest) – people were kiled or raped while on these mattresses.
      – They would give gold ingots to beggars and then refuse to sell them food. When they had starved to death, they took the gold back.
      – Talmud and Book of Jasher recount two girls giving bread to stranger. One girl (allegedly Lot’s oldest daughter) was burned alive, the ohter smeard with honey and hung until bees had stung her to death.
      Josephus said:
      Sodomites were overwhelmingly proud of their numbers and the extent of their wealth, showed themselves insolent to men and impious to the divinity… hated foreigners and avoided any contact with others.” – Jewish Antiquities 1:194-195
      Philo said:

      The land of the Sodomites, a part of Canaan afterwards called Palestinian Syria, was brimful of innumerable iniquities, particularly such as arise from gluttony and lewdness, and multiplied and enlarged every other possible pleasure with so formidable a menace that it had at last been condemned by the Judge of All…Incapable of bearing such satiety, plunging like cattle, they threw off from their necks the law of nature and applied themselves to…forbidden forms of intercourse. Not only in their mad lust for women did they violate the marriages of their neighbors, but also men mounted males without respect for the sex nature which the active partner shares with the passive; and so when they tried to beget children they were discovered to be incapable of any but a sterile seed. Yet the discovery availed them not, so much stronger was the force of the lust which mastered them. Then, as little by little they accustomed those who were by nature men to submit to play the part of women, they saddled them with the formidable curse of a female disease. For not only did they emasculate their bodies by luxury and voluptuousness but they worked a further degeneration in their souls and, as far as in them lay, were corrupting the whole of mankind.”

      I give these non-biblical references to give some more background to the story. These people were not just bad, they were bad to their core. They were completely given over to evil. And they were descendants of Canaan.
      Notice how Lot was different. Lot was a believer. Lot welcomed strangers, gave them lodging away from the beds in the square, and fed the angels. This goes against everything listed above.
      Genesis 19
      Lot and Sodom
      Peter says Lot was righteous:
      …righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the wicked (for by what that righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, he was vexed in his righteous soul day after day with their lawless deeds)… (2 Peter 2:7b-8 RSV)
      So what was Lot doing in Sodom? Remember Lot chose by his eyes the fruitful plains and the big cities forsaking the tent and the altar. Perhaps Lot thought he could have the best of both worlds. The riches and big city life and he could have an impact on the morals of the plains people. Can we serve two masters? Peter seems to be saying Lot was miserable in his time in Sodom.
      Sitting at the gate in that day was not idleness – it is where the leaders of the city sat to settle disputes and investigate newcomers. Lot was a leader in Sodom. What did it get him – again Peter says vexation.
      Let’s be fair. Perhaps Lot justified his move into Sodom for evangelizing purposes. Perhaps he thought he could change the city, attain some wealth, and provide for his family. What was Lot’s influence on Sodom? his family and future family? What happened to his wealth? Sadly as Jesus said – you cannot serve two masters.
      Lot’s influence on Sodom. Well, God says there cup was full of sin, Lot could not stop the men at his door (angels had to rescue him), Lot could not influence future family, and in the end had to be led out because even he hesitated.
      What happened to his wealth? All gone with the destruction of the city.
      What effect did your decision to go to Sodom have on your family? Well, Lot’s wife clearly had longings for Sodom, and she died. Lot’s daughters may have been virgins but their minds were corrupted by Sodom, and their actions led to the ancestors of two of the most evil tribes of the “ites”.
      Lot is righteous, but forever more he is considered a believer who led a wasted life. In the end we find him poor and living in a cave and it all began with choosing to serve two masters. Lot’s choices not only affected him, but his family. Sobering thoughts for Christian youth today, and for parents in a Christian home, and for myself.

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    2. CHARLOTTE WILLSON Avatar
      CHARLOTTE WILLSON

      Do you believe angels are among us?
      I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING AMONG US, YES. I DON’T KNOW THAT IT IS A POWER CALLED GOD?
      Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?
      THIS IS ONE…..IS THERE ANY PREP OF THIS CALF, (DRESSED TO ME IS GUTTED AND SKINNED) IS THERE MORE TO THIS OR ARE THEY EATING RAW CALF?
      7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
      8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
      WELL THERE, I AM CAUGHT UP IN MY READINGS….I HAVE READ ABOUT DAUGHTERS SLEEPING WITH THEIR FATHER AND HAVING CHILDREN, AND WIFES GIVING THEIR MAIDS TO THEIR HUSBANDS TO BEAR THEM CHILDREN, ABRAHAM AND SARAH TURNING OUT THE MAID AND SON AFTER GOD MAKES SARAH PREGNANT AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SON……WOW THE QUESTIONS????
      GOD BLESS
      CHARLOTTE

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    3. Jeanne Avatar
      Jeanne

      Sorry for being a day late with this post. I’ve been reflecting on the readings, together with the commentary, and they’ve given me new insight on the story of Lot. I must admit, there is so much more “Lot” in me than “Abraham” — but, it is God’s mercy that gives me hope. And despite the tragedy of Lot’s life and the consequences of his choices, God’s mercy is very much apparent. How so? Despite the bitter fruits of the incest between Lot and his daughters (which gave rise to the Moabites and the Ammonites), God’s plan for man’s salvation included a Moabite, Ruth, who was married to Boaz, and they had Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of King David, and from whose house was born the Lord Jesus. Indeed, God’s mercy and grace give us solid foundation for hope.

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