Genesis 19: God's Ways are not our ways: Lot and Sodom

We think like humans therefore it is very hard to obey the Lord’s instructions or understand the way’s of the Lord without putting our own spin on things. We often try to implement our own ideas to glorify God and sometimes even try to help Him to achieve what He wants, but He does not want us to do this. This is a recipe for disaster. Look at the problems caused by Abraham and Sarai who tried to fulfil God’s plan of having a son by their own means. Israel has had constant strife ever since. He wants us to have complete faith in Him, even when things may seem strange or even hindering to us.

Take Lot as a perfect example. In Genesis 19 God was merciful to Lot and warned him of the coming judgment over the ‘cities of the plain’, which included Sodom where Lot resided. God planned to destroy every city within that plain, including a small city called ‘Zoar’ (Genesis 19:22).God told Lot to flee to the mountains where he would be safe from God’s coming judgment, however Lot, in typical human fashion, did not trust the Lord entirely but expressed his fear of who he might meet in the mountains and the danger that he may be in. How ironic that this man of God was more afraid of coming up against adversaries in the mountains than he was against the impending judgment of God! He would of done well if the scripture Matthew 10:28 had been around for him to read! “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Lot, in his lack of faith urged God to allow him to instead to flee to Zoar, a nearby city. God agreed and Zoar was saved. Not only is this a picture of God’s patience and mercy towards us but also an example of our free will and our ability to change God’s mind through prayer and petition.

Lot must have felt pretty good about himself at this point. However take note, just because things happen the way we prefer them to or the way that we think is best does not mean it is for the best. Maybe what happens can bring joy and happiness momentarily, however if it is not of the Lord but of us then rest assured, this joy and happiness will last only for a season. We can often cause problems for ourselves because what we do is not what God wants us to do.Remember in these times that God remains with us always and will always be patient towards us during our time here on earth.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Lot thought that he would be better off in Zoar. He thought he knew best. In this situation Lot has not directly disobeyed God or turned his back on Him. Rather, He has petitioned to the Lord and the Lord has granted Lot what he wants. But Lot has not trusted on the Lord completely. He has not clung to Him and relied upon Him fully. He has acted proudly and has put his trust in himself and his own strength. This never works.

In Genesis 19:30 we are told that Lot fled from Zoar because he was afraid to dwell there. He fled to the mountains, the place God had intended him to go in the first place. If Lot had only trusted in God completely, he would not of faced the hardships that he did in Zoar which drove him away to the mountains. God is always right and we will always end up where he wants us one way or the other. God’s will always comes to pass. How easy our journey is will be up to us.  Like Lot who lacked faith in God’s protection and guidance, or like Jonah, who took a massive detour and experienced great trials and hardships before he finally came to Ninevah, the place where God wanted him to be, or like the Israelites who wondered in the wilderness for forty years because they did not believe that God could deliver the foreign nations that occupied Canaan (Israel) into their hands.

Trusting in God completely and entirely, no matter what, from the very beginning is always the best and we will be blessed by doing so. We must trust the Lord’s ways even when they seem strange. Proverbs 20:24 “A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own ways?"

-BACChristian