January 11th

January 11th -- Genesis 19:15-29 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2019:15-29%20&version=NLT)

This is just the story of Lot and his family being saved from Sodom and Gommorah.

Bit of background info on the story: Sodom and Gomorrah were extremely ungodly and immoral places. God had planned on destroying them, but Abraham had called out to God on account of Sodom, asking God to spare the city for the righteous. After a long conversation Abraham had gotten God's promise to spare the city if 10 righteous people could be found.

Then, two angels came to Sodom looking like men, and they ended up staying at Lot's house. (It's important to note that Lot is Abraham's nephew, though he was far more like a brother) Men from all over Sodom came around and demanded Lot to send out the guests so they could rape them, basically, and Lot offers up his daughters instead, but the angels fortunately pulled Lot back in, bolted the house's door, and blinded all the men who were there. My study bible has a note on it that says this "How could any father give his daughters to be ravished by a mob of perverts, just to protect two strangers? Possibly Lot was scheming to save both the girls and the visitoes, hoping the girls' fiancés would rescue them or that the homosexual men would be disinterested in the girls and simply go away. Although it was custom of the day to protect guests at any cost, this terrible suggestion reveals how deeply sin had been absorbed into Lot's life. He had become hardened to evil facts in an evil city. Whatever Lot's motives were, we see here and illustration of Sodom's terrible wickedness - a wickedness so great that God had to destroy the entire city."

So, anyways, God destroyed the city because He could not find even 10 innocent people, however, He did let the angels save Lot and his family. The angels told Lot and his family to go, and when Lot hesitated, they pulled him along and told him whatever he did, not to look back. Lot was told to the mountains but bargained for a nearby small village named Zoar (which means "little place" which is fitting as it was one). Lot's wife looked back, though, as they fled, and she became a pillar of salt.  When Lot reached the village, God rained fire and burning sulfur onto Sodom and Gomorrah.

I find it neat that God saved Lot for Abraham. It makes me wonder still more, why Abraham to become the father of many nations and to be allowed to, in a way, bargain with God? I know God has His reasons, but I'd find it fascinating to understand better why.

I also find the idea of fire and burning sulfur raining down to be kind of cool. I mean, it's awful that it killed so many, but it's still a cool thought. Also, well, it shows you how powerful God is.

P.S. Yes, I know this post was a day late - I apologize. I typically do these in the evenings, but I spent my evening yesterday at youth, so I did this post today, and I am doing today's today as well.