Tuesday 13 May 2014

Read: Genesis 19:1-29

If there was ever a place that deserved the full extent of God's judgment it was Sodom and Gomorrah. Through the visit of the angels to the city we see an incredibly grim picture of just how evil these places had become.

Worship Moment

It is easy for us to worship God for being loving and gracious. When was the last time you praised Him for being a just and righteous God? When was the last time you pondered His judgment and praised Him? Let's not pick and choose what we like about God. Let's worship Him for who He is.

The account begins in chapter 18. God reveals to Abraham that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are so evil and their sins so grievous that He must act in judgment. God is bringing His full attention to bear on the terrible evils being committed there. God sends two angels to the city to witness the true extent of the evil there.

The picture is grim. The angels are shown hospitality by Lot who invites them into his home and cooks a meal for them. However the men of the city hear of the visitors and form a gang outside Lot's house. This isn't just a few bad eggs from the town. Verse 4 makes the extent clear: "...*all* the men from every part of the city of Sodom - both young and old - surrounded the house."

The gang demands that Lot surrenders the two guests to them so that they might brutally rape them. When Lot seeks to protect his guests the gang threatens him as well and tries to break down his door and take his guests by force. Their words in verse 9 sound a little too familiar: "This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge!" It sounds far too similar to the common cries of our day: "How dare you judge us!" or "Who are you to judge me for what I do?!"

By their actions the people of Sodom only prove how evil they have become and how grievous their sins are. God pours out His judgment on the city by raining down burning sulphur from the sky. His judgment is swift and complete. All those in the cities and on the plains are wiped out. Does God judge people for their sin? Absolutely.

But, once again we see God's mercy alongside His judgment. God provides a way of salvation for Lot and rescues him from judgment. Before the city is destroyed the angels urge Lot to flee the city with his family. When Lot hesitates to leave they grab him, his wife and his daughters by the hand and practically drag them to safety.

Here again we see both God's just judgment and His gracious mercy at work. God does not hesitate to pour out His righteous judgment on sinful mankind but He is also gracious and provides a way of salvation for His people.

Discussion Questions for families and groups

1. Where else in Scripture do you see mercy and judgment side by side?
2. What do these Scriptures teach us about God, about mankind and about Jesus?

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

• Pray for those in your town and in our country who are caught up in sexual immorality and sin. Pray that God would convict them of their sin and bring them to repentance. Pray that they would hear the gospel preached and that they might put their faith in Christ.
• Pray for the Elders of your church. Pray that God would give them wisdom and understanding as they seek to lead the church. Pray that they would be filled with a deep love for those in the church that they might lead them well and a passion for the lost so that they might share Him with others.

---