READING FOR APRIL 29, 2024: GENESIS 19, 2 CORINTHIANS 1, PSALM 36:1-4
GENESIS 19 This is one of those chapters that is interpreted in various ways. Thus, again this discussion is offered with humility and a nod towards those who view it differently. At the outset, the narrator makes clear the two visitors approaching the gate at Sodom are angels. It is not so clear if Lot is aware that they are angels, though. It is not until verse 13 that the angels mention that the Lord sent them, and even then, they do not self-identify as angels.
We do know that Lot strongly urged them not to spend the night in the town square but to come to his house. It was as if he knew something awful would happen. Soon afterwards all the men of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house and demanded that these two be brought out so that the Sodomites could have sexual relations with the visitors. Notice the townsmen called the visitors “men” not angels. Lot’s response was terrible, but it indicated he felt it was worse to hand over the visitors than his daughters. This response is reiterated in Judges 19:22-24.
The angels rescued Lot by bringing him inside, shutting the door, and blinding all the townsmen. At that point the visitors explained they were on a mission from God to destroy the city. They jerked Lot’s immediate family out of town. Lot’s wife was like the many today who do not take God’s warnings literally. She ignored the command not to look back and turned into a pillar of salt, much like Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding area. The chapter ended with Lot’s daughters getting him drunk so that they could trick him into fathering their sons. Their descendants later became the Moabites and the Ammonites, enemies of Israel. Drunkenness never ends well in the Bible.
The current controversy is about the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Much of it centers on Ezekiel 16:49-50: “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me.” Recent thinking is that, because homosexual behavior is not specifically mentioned, it was not the reason. On the other hand, the Ezekiel passage includes the words “detestable things.” The Hebrew word “towebah” is the same Hebrew word used to describe homosexual behavior in Leviticus 20:13: “If there is a man who sleeps with a male as those who sleep with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act.”
There are two New Testament descriptions of the sinful behavior in Sodom. One is 1 Peter 2:7: “He rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the perverted conduct of unscrupulous people.” The other is Jude 1:7: “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh.” These two descriptions seem to relate at least as much or more to sexual misconduct than to lack of concern for the poor.
READING FOR APRIL 29, 2024 CONTINUED: 2 CORINTHIANS 1, PSALM 36:1-4
2 CORINTHIANS 1 Paul takes a long time explaining his past actions and motivations related to the Corinthians in this letter. He doesn’t really get through it all in chapter one. He wants to be certain they were clear about his thinking towards them. After all, he was a bit tough on them at times in his first letter. Let’s be certain there are no misunderstandings among the Body of Christ. Maybe it is better to go to extreme lengths rather than to leave a wrong impression.
Paul finds purpose in his afflictions and comfort. Do we do the same? Usually, we pray only for comfort rather than also finding value in our afflictions. Pay attention the next time prayer requests are made in church. According to Paul, the value in both is how they can benefit others, including for their salvation (vs.6). Can we pray during times when we experience both afflictions and comfort that these might help others find Jesus?
Now Paul wasn’t so unworldly spiritual to suggest his troubles were not really painful. He said they were “beyond their strength” and “they despaired of life.” Yet he lists what helped them: trusting in God, the prayers of believers, and the joy of knowing others would feel thankful when he and his colleagues would be delivered (vs.11). That last one is surprising, isn’t it?
Paul believed he conducted himself with holiness, sincerity, and God’s grace—not human wisdom. That’s a model for us. He stressed he tried to communicate clearly and understandably with them—not with impressive words above their heads. He revealed that he wanted to visit them twice, but he decided it would be better for their faith and joy not to do so. Usually, it is best to reach out to others after difficult communications, but there may be times to let matters rest a bit.
PSALM 36:1-4 If we consider the evil done by Sodom and Gomorrah, the disappointing comments by Lot and, the poor choices made by his daughters, how can we deny the truth of the Psalmist that transgression and not the fear of God often dominate the hearts of people? This is confirmed every time we hear the news of the day. Consider the wars, crime, and exploitation that abounds. It is confirmed whenever we are honest with ourselves. Let’s pray the very opposite of these four verses for our hearts. May our hearts not be fertile ground for transgression, but instead may we fear the Lord. May our hearts be grieved when our sin or hateful thoughts are discovered by us. May our words reflect the wisdom of God and our actions be helpful to others. May we use our leisure moments to consider how we can better obey God and make our lives more aligned to His purposes.
