Sodom and Gomorrah

I have started over in my reading of the bible. This time I am going through and reading the different inserts my bible has about the people and places discussed. Along with reading the inserts, I am also reading the passages around the inserts for my study. I have the New Living, Life Application Study Bible. My reading this morning has been around Genesis 19. The inserts have been about Abraham and Sarah, (The inserts don't always follow the theme of the chapter around them). The insert on Abraham says, "We all know that there are consequences to any action we take. What we do can set into motion a series of events that may continue long after we are gone. Unfortunately, when we are making a decision most of us think only of the immediate consequences. These are often misleading because they are short lived." Sarah's insert says, "There probably isn't anything harder to do than wait...One way we often cope with a long wait is to begin helping God get His plan into action...Another way we cope with a long wait is to gradually conclude that what we're waiting for is never going to happen." Crazy, but this is not where my reading has been. My reading has been about Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19, is a very disturbing chapter for me. There is nothing about it that is easy. From the men being so sexually wrong that they try and tear down the door to get to the other men, and Lot trying to give the men his virgin daughters instead; to his daughters, later, getting him drunk so their father would sleep with them, the whole thing is just messed up! So, what is the sin of Sodom, some may ask. Its not what you may think. Ezekiel 16:49, "Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen." Every sexual sin, every detestable act of Sodom can be summed up in these three characteristics we all possess; pride, laziness, and gluttony.

Our pride, it helps us with our sin. Everyone of us has it. None of us want to admit it. The consequence is what happens after we have been living in it. Gluttony, our nation is swimming in this one. Laziness, there is always something that we need to be doing, but because we are lazy we would rather, not. Everyone of us, have to answer some day to the consequences of our sin. Too often many consequences are put upon us by someone else's sin. Lot's daughters were victims of their fathers sin, but later they chose to live in his sin and their children paid a high price for generations, afterwards. We all become gluttons in whatever sin we are feeding, and we all can be accused of being lazy, for it is hard work to overcome the addictions we feed. But pride, pride is the one that starts it all. We seem to think that we will be able to live a certain way and not have to face our sin like others. We think that we are different and our pride keeps us from seeing the truth at how truly harmful our acts really are.

Here's the cool part, we serve a God who never takes His vows lightly. He will honor His word, but we have a part in this covenant as well. We have to see ourselves for what we really are. We have to see the truth of our sin, otherwise we will always keep making excuses. Then He can partner with us and help to change our future, and our children's. So when the temptation comes upon you to say, "but my sins are not that bad..." Really? The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were pride, laziness, and gluttony. Be patient as you work with God. Work with Him. Do not take your situation in your own hands, but let Him lead you. Ezekiel 16:61ff, "Then you will remember with shame all the evil you have done. I will make your sisters, Samaria and Sodom, to be your daughters, even though they are not part of our covenant. And I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” Look at the truth that is trying to be covered with a lie. Look to the Cross, so that we can learn to live free!