GENESIS 18-20
DESTRUCTION OF SODOM
Key
Passage: Genesis 18
|
CHAPTER 18
|
CHAPTER 19
|
CHAPTER
20
|
|
Abraham Prays for Lot
|
God Destroys
Sodom
and Gomorrah
|
Abraham Lies
About Sarah
|
|
Lot Saved
from
|
Destruction
|
Sarah
Saved from Defilement
|
OVERVIEW Chapters 18-20 relate crises arising in
the lives of two of Abraham’s family members: his wife, Sarah, and his nephew
Lot. Lot’s life of compromise and worldly pursuits stands in stark contrast to
the life of faith demonstrated by his uncle. In response to Abraham’s fervent
prayers. God spares Lot while destroying his hometown for its wickedness and
perversion. Yet, even a man of faith like Abraham can stumble when he takes his
eyes off God. On a trip to Gerar, Abraham lies about his beautiful wife, Sarah,
calling her his sister in order to save his own skin from King Abimelech.
What could be impossible for the God who created the universe and everything in it?
OUR DAILY WALK Try to imagine the
most difficult miracle God could ever perform, if you were to select “The Miracle of All Time,” what would it
be? Jot down what comes to mind.
How
does your miracle compare with the one described in 18:9-15? God promised
Abraham and Sarah a son. At first, that may not appear very spectacular, but
consider the obstacles. Abraham was 99 years old at the time, and Sarah was 90.
For her whole life, Sarah had never been able to bear children and was now
beyond childbearing years. Yet even the time of Isaac’s birth was appointed by
God. No wonder God asked: “Is anything
too hard for the Lord?” (18:14).
If
you could ask God for one miracle today, what would it be? Help you overcome a
past failure? Conquer a dismal self-image? Rebuild a shattered marriage? Write
that miracle in the margin of your Bible next
to Genesis 18:14, and daily remember the truth that God specializes in
impossible cases.
INSIGHT Where is Sodom Today?
After
its destruction by burning sulfur (19:24-28), Sodom is never mentioned again in
the Bible as an occupied city. Today, locations at the southern end of the Dead
Sea stand out in satellite photos because of the white ash content within them.
Round balls of nearly pure sulfur were found embedded in the ash.
Playwright
Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible
Stories Theatre of
Fine
& Performing Arts
No comments:
Post a Comment