Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Intercession Remembered
Read Genesis 19:1-38

So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. Genesis 19:29

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most frequently cited events of Genesis. Today’s passage also describes the twilight of Lot’s life.

As Abraham’s nephew, Lot shared in Abraham’s journey of faith (12:5). A land dispute caused Abraham to give Lot a choice. Lot picked the region around Sodom where the people were 'wicked, great sinners against the Lord' (18:20).

The locations of Sodom and Gomorrah have not been definitely identified. Some scholars place them southeast of the Dead Sea. The area lies in a geological rift extending from Turkey to East Africa. It has extensive sulphur and bitumen deposits. Some have hypothesised that an earthquake ignited these deposits producing explosions that destroyed the cities.

Today’s text provides some evidence that Lot had taken on some qualities of his environment. Abraham, concerned for the righteous, had bargained with God to spare the cities. Although Abraham did not specifically mention Lot, God knew his concern. God remembered Abraham’s intercession and saved Lot (v 29).

While Lot had mindlessly offered his daughters for sexual abuse, his daughters in turn committed incest. They had wanted to extend the family line, being too impatient to wait for God to work. Despite all the sins committed, God in his astounding grace, would choose a descendant from Moab to be in the genealogy of Jesus. This is truly a testimony of God’s grace to the undeserved (Ruth 4:18-22, Matthew 1:5).

Some people may appear to be too hopeless but God will remember our intercession for them.

Pray for wisdom for parents to protect their children from the bad influences of secular society.B146