Verse 18 says that Abraham was not sure if the fear of the Lord was in this place. that is why I think Abraham and Sarah presented Sarah as his sister, to test and see if the inhabitants fear god, and if they don't, God will cause them to have this fear and respect.
I like that God said that Abraham is a prophet. He knew that Abimelech would respect Abraham as God's chosen man since God agreed that Abimelech had integrity. Glad that Abimelech accepted Abraham to pray for him. He was able to see God's restoration of is household with wombs being opened. Just wondering, was Sarah's opened at that time also?
I have heard that some people view the Bible as teaching that hell will last forever. Others contend that after so long a time God will end the suffering because He is a merciful God. What does the Bible say about this?
Will there be women in heaven? If you believed in Jesus but you wasn't saved when you died.Will you still go to heaven?My daughter was 21 when she died.l am very worried about this.Thank you
Question? Can any symbolic correlation be made for the entangled ram(v.13) and a representation of satan/the possible failure of Abrahams faith in Gods prior direction(v.1); being sacraficed?
The Revised Standard Bible: What about who translated this version? I want to zero in on how this bible was put together, who paid for it to be originated and why. Please refer me to the source materials to answer these questions in order to reveal how superior the KJV is over all other efforts and claims to be God's Word. The KJV is the only true written in English and unedited?
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
How can a person cast out devils in Jesus name and be sinful ?
GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} God's ETERNAL Assurance on 2 Timothy 2 - 2 years ago
Part I
2 Timothy 2:19 Has CHRIST "Always 'Known' HIS members Of The Body Of CHRIST"?
Most Assuredly, He Is Omniscient; According To ALL God-Inspired Scriptures!:
"According as He Hath Chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:" Ephesians 1:4
Chosen/Predestinated/Accepted Ephesians 1:4-6
God Predestinated HIS saints to obtain an inheritance Ephesians 1:11
Eternal Assurance Is ONE Of "The Unsearchable RICHES Of CHRIST" Which Are "...According To The ETERNAL Purpose Which HE Purposed In CHRIST JESUS our LORD!" Ephesians 3:8,11
God Justified/Predestinating us To Be Conformed To The Image Of HIS SON! Romans 8:29
And those Predestinated, Are Also Called, Justified, And Glorified! Romans 8:30
"...If God Be For us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 Cancels ALL else, Correct?
"Who shall lay Any Thing to the charge of God's elect? It Is God Who Justifies us!" Romans 8:33
God Prepared vessels of Mercy, For HIS Glory! Romans 9:23
"God Hath Not Cast Away HIS people whom HE Foreknew!" Romans 11:2
"Who Hath Saved us, And Called us with a holy Calling, NOT according to our works, But According To HIS Own Purpose And GRACE, Which Was Given us In CHRIST JESUS Before the world began!" 2 Timothy 1:9
"In WHOM we Have Redemption Through HIS Blood, The Forgiveness Of sins, According To The Riches Of HIS GRACE!" Ephesians 1:7
we Have No condemnation, Because CHRIST Died, Is Risen, And Is At The Right Hand Of God, And Makes Intercession For us! Romans 8:34
In CHRIST JESUS we Are Free from the law of sin and death! Romans 8:2
The Spirit Of God Dwells In us! Romans 8:9
we Have Received The Spirit Of Adoption, Whereby we cry, Abba, Father! Romans 8:15
"The Spirit HIMSELF Beareth Witness with our spirit, that we Are the children of God!" Romans 8:16
God Establishes And Anoints us In CHRIST! 2 Corinthians 1:20
God Seals us And Gives us The Earnest Of The Spirit! 2 Corinthians 1:22
GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} God's ETERNAL Assurance on 2 Timothy 2 - 2 years ago
Part II God's ETERNAL Assurance
ONLY God Knows the heart of Every man! Acts 15:8Romans 8:27
"That we should be to The Praise Of HIS Glory, who first trusted In CHRIST! In WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard The Word Of Truth, The Gospel Of your salvation: In WHOM also after that ye believed, ye Were Sealed With That Holy Spirit Of Promise, Which Is The Earnest Of our inheritance Until The Redemption Of The Purchased Possession, Unto The Praise Of HIS Glory!" Ephesians 1:12-14
"Who Hath Also Sealed us, And Given The Earnest Of The Spirit in our hearts!" 2 Corinthians 1:22
"And grieve not The Holy Spirit Of God, Whereby ye Are Sealed Unto The Day Of Redemption!" Ephesians 4:30
"And such were some of you: But ye Are Washed, But ye Are Sanctified, But ye Are Justified In The Name Of The LORD JESUS, And By The Spirit Of our God!" 1 Corinthians 6:11
"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren Beloved Of The LORD, Because God Hath From The Beginning Chosen you To Salvation Through Sanctification Of The Spirit And belief Of The Truth!" 2 Thessalonians 2:13
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, But According To HIS Mercy HE Saved us, By The Washing Of Regeneration, And Renewing Of The Holy Ghost!" Titus 3:5
God's OPERATION?:
God Made us worthy for inheritance of saints! Colossians 1:12
God Delivered us From the power of darkness! Colossians 1:13
God Put us In The Kingdom Of HIS Dear SON! Colossians 1:14
God Justified us "...Freely By HIS GRACE Through The Redemption That Is In CHRIST JESUS!" Romans 3:24
God "Reckons Debt To those proud who work" For Salvation! Romans 4:4
In GRACE, To him/her "that worketh not, but believeth on HIM that Justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness!" Romans 4:5
God, Through Paul, States: "...David also describeth the blessedness of the man [ /woman ], unto whom God Imputeth righteousness Without works!" Romans 4:6
GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} God's ETERNAL Assurance on 2 Timothy 2 - 2 years ago
Part III God's ETERNAL Assurance
"Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities Are Forgiven, And whose sins Are Covered [By HIS BLOOD?]! Blessed is the man to whom The LORD WILL NOT Impute sin!" Romans 4:7-8
YES, By HIS ALL-Sufficient BLOOD:
"But God Commendeth HIS LOVE Toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST Died for us. Much More Then, being NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we SHALL BE SAVED From wrath Through HIM. For if, when we were enemies, we Were Reconciled To God By The Death Of HIS SON, Much More, being Reconciled, we SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE!" Romans 5:8-10
God's All-Sufficient GRACE?
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; Much More they which Receive Abundance Of GRACE And Of The Gift Of Righteousness Shall reign in life By One, JESUS CHRIST!" Romans 5:17
"And HE Who Searcheth the hearts Knoweth What Is The Mind Of The Spirit, Because HE Maketh Intercession For the saints According To The Will Of God!" Romans 8:27
==============================================
God's OPERATION!:
[ God, Who Raises the dead! {v. 9} ], "Who Delivered us from so Great a death, And Doth Deliver: in Whom we trust that HE Will Yet Deliver us!"
Expounded:
PAST Tense = { Justification!!! = God Establishes Eternal Relationship! } "Who Delivered us from so great a death,... {From The PENALTY of sin!}
PRESENT Tense = { Sanctification!! = WE work out fellowship on earth! } ...And Doth Deliver:... {From The POWER of sin!!}
FUTURE Tense = { Glorification! = Eternal fellowship, In Heaven!!! Amen?} ...in Whom we trust that HE Will Yet Deliver us!" {From The PRESENCE of sin!!!} 2 Corinthians 1:10
==============================================
All Of The Above Are Because Of The "FINISHED" Work Of CHRIST On The CROSS, For God's Glory And GRACE! {NOT "what WE do/don't do!"}
Precious struggling friend(s):
Is The Precious BLOOD Of CHRIST ALL-SUFFICIENT for you?
GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} God's ETERNAL Assurance on 2 Timothy 2 - 2 years ago
Part IV God's ETERNAL Assurance
Conclusion:
"...The [Solid] Foundation Of God Standeth Sure, Having This SEAL: The LORD KNOWETH them That Are HIS!..." 2 Timothy 2:19
Note the 'Contrast' of Matthew 7:21-23, where "Those That 'are Not His'" He Has "NEVER KNOWN" them. Plain and Clear, Correct?
Do we Believe ALL Of These Scriptures, so we can answer This? Are we prepared for:
Accountability for our fellowship {NOT God's Relationship!} At Judgment, By "The Righteous Judge Himself"? Eternally Saved, But "Gain OR LOSE rewards!" 1 Corinthians 3:8-15?
And, Precious friend(s), please Be Very Richly Blessed In CHRIST, And In HIS Precious Pure And Preserved Word Of Truth!
Both The Living Word, And, HIS Written Word, Are Trustworthy! Correct?
Precious friend(s), see you In God's Great GloryLand!!
To The Praise Of The Glory Of HIS Wonderful GRACE!
Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
Amen Daquanda B. That is the big test while here on earth. The Lord promised us that we will have trouble, but you have to praise Yah while you are going through it. Thank you Jesus!
In John 6:40, 44, Jesus says twice, 'I will raise him up at the last day.'
Many Christians believe that when they pass away they will go to heaven. But Jesus spoke about our being prepared, because He didn't know when the last day would be. And here He speaks, 'I will .. at the last day'.
Myself, believing in the power of context, and mans obsessive ability to twist Scripture to fit what he wants to believe; it has me stumped.
I've spoken with several, who believe Scripture, but it's out of context to the Word. What is either before or after what they believe is God's Word, for them, is not what is said, in context.
Satan's mastery of my Father's Word, and his ability to twist everything to our liking is stoopifying. And guiding a Christian, to maybe look at it again, only brings his wrath, which is so far out of line with the Bible, a 'tilted-head, What?', becomes an automatic response.
Genesis 19 Whats interesting when it came to rescuing lot and his daughters is that they basically were grabbed by the angels and dragged out, the proof of their unbelief was His wife turned around. There's an interesting saying lot went into Sodom then Sodom got into lot. Evil communication corrupts good manners.
With all this said, the two sons born to these daughters grew to become two nations that relentlessly opposed the lineage of Abraham. Is this because they were very aware of that Abraham's lineage was the covenant people and they were excluded? Were they envious of God's special favor upon Abraham's descendants, since they were Abraham's relatives through Lot? This seems to repeat with Ishmael and Esau. They just couldn't stand that they were not included in God's covenant. And so, they turned to wickedness rather than seeking God.
Many people have made many comments concerning homosexuality. My three older siblings are homosexuals. This sinful deception stopped with me and my younger siblings and myself are hetero. I was unaware of my older siblings lifestyle at first, but once I was out of college I figured it out. I often asked "Why God guarded me and not them". It seems He set me apart for a reason. I was glad I was not very close to these sisters and so I did not hang out with the people they did when they were teens. That sphere of people were an influence on them to pursue this lifestyle. Many were the same age as my sisters or older. They are still friends with many of these people to this day after 50+ years.
I think that homosexuality is planted into innocent, vulnerable, impressionable young people by the devil through people who groom them or have similar feelings in common. That is what I saw with my sisters. When I recall the times (the 70's) and the situation (good athletes they played sports with) it was a ripe situation. When they were in junior high and high school, girls who excelled at athletics were seen as unsuitable to have as a girlfriend. So, they were not sought after by the boys around them. Other than basketball and tennis, they participated in other sports outside of high school. It was in these outside situations that they met their "mentors". My parents had no clue that this was the case.
to continue: If lot's wife had simply died and decayed in that place. Lot could have come back and buried her, therefore eliminating the graphic, and tangible reminder of why God destroyed the cities of the plain. To me, I don't see any significance of her being made into salt. But I'm open for someone's input from research. From what I understand, it is believed that Sodom and Gomorrah are submerged beneath the Dead Sea, which is exceedingly saline. People float in this sea due to the buoyance of the salt in the water. How apropos that the sea is named the "Dead" sea and that it is full of salt. There must have been a great deal of salt in the hail and brimstone! The destruction was so intense that Abraham could see the smoke from the mountain where he had his tent home. He probably wondered about Lot. Was he safe?
Interesting that he went back to the place where he stood with the Lord to view the event that day.
It doesn't say if the mountain cave that Lot and his daughters was near to Abraham or not. I think it was further east. It is apparent that they did not feel very safe even in the mountains. They must have felt alone, but did not want to return to Zoar, which was spared. then, his daughters hatched a plan that they knew their father would never go along with. Lot made a mistake to drink with his daughters two nights in a row. They must have been traumatized, which can lead people to make irrational choices, overlooking the sinfulness of these choices. The daughters engaged in incest with their fathers. They didn't think that they would find anyone to carry on the family line. They didn't wait on God, like Sarah and Abraham with Hagar. I do not know what they meant by "as is the custom of all of the earth". Did it refer that the custom was that of sexual union between a man and woman, unlike the people of Sodom and Gomorrah or the customs was for daughters to have relations with their father in order to continue to lineage if the father had no sons.
to continue: the townsmen were now determined to deal more harshly with Lot than they had hoped to be with the visitors. They were going to sexually assault Lot in a worse way. Thankfully, the angels knew what the men were set to do and pulled Lot back inside and secured the door. Next, an effort was made to convince other family members to flee with them. They declined. Most likely they were born and raised in this city. They though Lot was joking. They were scoffers. They were obviously not concerned about the safety of their brides to be or Lot and his wife from the mob. Perhaps they were even a part of the mob. Must have been sad for Lot and family to realize that they would not heed their warning and go with them. I love that the text said the the Lord was merciful to this family.
When morning came, the angels said. "Hurry!" They stalled a bit too long and the angels had to grab them by their hands and pull them out of the city. Once outside the angels said that destruction was imminent and they needed to flee in order to escape for their lives and not be consumed. They implored Lot and family to go all the way to the mountains. Lot expressed a preference to go to another city in the plain instead. The angels brought them to this city, Zoar, but the devastation was going to be so extensive that they did need to flee to the mountains after all. On the way out of Zoar, the hail and brimstone began to rain down. They were warned not to look back, but Lot's wife did. I think it was really hard not to look back when disaster is on your heels. Unfortunately for Lot's wife, she was turned into an pillar of salt.
I wonder if anyone has found this pillar of salt in this area from any archeological digs. Anyone know? Some people ask why a pillar of salt? I think that the pillar of salt was God's reminder to God's people not to sin as those in Sodom and Gomorrah did. Lot's stone wife was a memorial stone.
Greetings in the name of Jesus, our Lord, The Holy One of Israel;
I have read all of the comments on this chapter and admit that this is a disturbing chapter. But then again, should it be more disturbing to us that in Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned? No, not really. However, are the sins of Sodom and Gomorah grave sins? Yes! Primarily, the sin of homosexuality. The text highlights this sin when God was ready to bring judgement on these cities. Some asked why Lot was sitting at the gates to the city. I think that his home was most likely outside of the gates of the city. he was in a way "separated" from the inhabitants of the city. I think at first when me chose these plains to live and tend his flocks, Lot continued in the ways of the faith that Abraham brought him up in under Abraham's guardianship. These people lived in tends and travelled around the area to keep their flocks fed and watered. At some point Lot built a house and settled near the gates of the city. He began to know of the ways of these cities and it grieved him. He may have witnessed to the people of these cities, but they didn't heed his preaching and devised more ways to be wicked. Yet, Lot decided to stay instead of shaking the dust off of his sandals and moving to another city in the plains. he did not remove his family from the wicked influences of these places. He failed a as a patriarch in this way and I'm sure was torn between living for God and keeping his family unaffected by the wicked ways of these people and trying to make a living among them. I don't think that Lot ever participated in the sin of homosexuality. It doesn't say where and when he found his wife and married her. Was she from these cities? She wasn't from the kin of Abraham because Abraham did not have an heir until Ishmael was born and he was still a youth. Maybe he went back to Haran to take a wife from their kin like Isaac and Jacob did. We don't know. And his daughter's husbands? Where from? Sodom.
What a testimony! Yah will not give up on you. It doesn't matter how long you've been away or what you have done. He is always there, leading you, and guiding you.
I like that God said that Abraham is a prophet. He knew that Abimelech would respect Abraham as God's chosen man since God agreed that Abimelech had integrity. Glad that Abimelech accepted Abraham to pray for him. He was able to see God's restoration of is household with wombs being opened. Just wondering, was Sarah's opened at that time also?
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
How can a person cast out devils in Jesus name and be sinful ?
2 Timothy 2:19 Has CHRIST "Always 'Known' HIS members Of The Body Of CHRIST"?
Most Assuredly, He Is Omniscient; According To ALL God-Inspired Scriptures!:
"According as He Hath Chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:" Ephesians 1:4
Chosen/Predestinated/Accepted Ephesians 1:4-6
God Predestinated HIS saints to obtain an inheritance Ephesians 1:11
Eternal Assurance Is ONE Of "The Unsearchable RICHES Of CHRIST" Which Are "...According To The ETERNAL Purpose Which HE Purposed In CHRIST JESUS our LORD!" Ephesians 3:8,11
God Justified/Predestinating us To Be Conformed To The Image Of HIS SON! Romans 8:29
And those Predestinated, Are Also Called, Justified, And Glorified! Romans 8:30
"...If God Be For us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 Cancels ALL else, Correct?
"Who shall lay Any Thing to the charge of God's elect? It Is God Who Justifies us!" Romans 8:33
God Prepared vessels of Mercy, For HIS Glory! Romans 9:23
"God Hath Not Cast Away HIS people whom HE Foreknew!" Romans 11:2
"Who Hath Saved us, And Called us with a holy Calling, NOT according to our works, But According To HIS Own Purpose And GRACE, Which Was Given us In CHRIST JESUS Before the world began!" 2 Timothy 1:9
"In WHOM we Have Redemption Through HIS Blood, The Forgiveness Of sins, According To The Riches Of HIS GRACE!" Ephesians 1:7
we Have No condemnation, Because CHRIST Died, Is Risen, And Is At The Right Hand Of God, And Makes Intercession For us! Romans 8:34
In CHRIST JESUS we Are Free from the law of sin and death! Romans 8:2
The Spirit Of God Dwells In us! Romans 8:9
we Have Received The Spirit Of Adoption, Whereby we cry, Abba, Father! Romans 8:15
"The Spirit HIMSELF Beareth Witness with our spirit, that we Are the children of God!" Romans 8:16
God Establishes And Anoints us In CHRIST! 2 Corinthians 1:20
God Seals us And Gives us The Earnest Of The Spirit! 2 Corinthians 1:22
cont'd in Part II
ONLY God Knows the heart of Every man! Acts 15:8 Romans 8:27
"That we should be to The Praise Of HIS Glory, who first trusted In CHRIST! In WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard The Word Of Truth, The Gospel Of your salvation: In WHOM also after that ye believed, ye Were Sealed With That Holy Spirit Of Promise, Which Is The Earnest Of our inheritance Until The Redemption Of The Purchased Possession, Unto The Praise Of HIS Glory!" Ephesians 1:12-14
"Who Hath Also Sealed us, And Given The Earnest Of The Spirit in our hearts!" 2 Corinthians 1:22
"And grieve not The Holy Spirit Of God, Whereby ye Are Sealed Unto The Day Of Redemption!" Ephesians 4:30
"And such were some of you: But ye Are Washed, But ye Are Sanctified, But ye Are Justified In The Name Of The LORD JESUS, And By The Spirit Of our God!" 1 Corinthians 6:11
"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren Beloved Of The LORD, Because God Hath From The Beginning Chosen you To Salvation Through Sanctification Of The Spirit And belief Of The Truth!" 2 Thessalonians 2:13
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, But According To HIS Mercy HE Saved us, By The Washing Of Regeneration, And Renewing Of The Holy Ghost!" Titus 3:5
God's OPERATION?:
God Made us worthy for inheritance of saints! Colossians 1:12
God Delivered us From the power of darkness! Colossians 1:13
God Put us In The Kingdom Of HIS Dear SON! Colossians 1:14
God Justified us "...Freely By HIS GRACE Through The Redemption That Is In CHRIST JESUS!" Romans 3:24
God "Reckons Debt To those proud who work" For Salvation! Romans 4:4
In GRACE, To him/her "that worketh not, but believeth on HIM that Justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness!" Romans 4:5
God, Through Paul, States: "...David also describeth the blessedness of the man [ /woman ], unto whom God Imputeth righteousness Without works!" Romans 4:6
to be continued in Part III
"Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities Are Forgiven, And whose sins Are Covered [By HIS BLOOD?]! Blessed is the man to whom The LORD WILL NOT Impute sin!" Romans 4:7-8
YES, By HIS ALL-Sufficient BLOOD:
"But God Commendeth HIS LOVE Toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST Died for us. Much More Then, being NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we SHALL BE SAVED From wrath Through HIM. For if, when we were enemies, we Were Reconciled To God By The Death Of HIS SON, Much More, being Reconciled, we SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE!" Romans 5:8-10
God's All-Sufficient GRACE?
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; Much More they which Receive Abundance Of GRACE And Of The Gift Of Righteousness Shall reign in life By One, JESUS CHRIST!" Romans 5:17
"And HE Who Searcheth the hearts Knoweth What Is The Mind Of The Spirit, Because HE Maketh Intercession For the saints According To The Will Of God!" Romans 8:27
==============================================
God's OPERATION!:
[ God, Who Raises the dead! {v. 9} ], "Who Delivered us from so Great a death, And Doth Deliver: in Whom we trust that HE Will Yet Deliver us!"
Expounded:
PAST Tense = { Justification!!! = God Establishes Eternal Relationship! } "Who Delivered us from so great a death,... {From The PENALTY of sin!}
PRESENT Tense = { Sanctification!! = WE work out fellowship on earth! } ...And Doth Deliver:... {From The POWER of sin!!}
FUTURE Tense = { Glorification! = Eternal fellowship, In Heaven!!! Amen?} ...in Whom we trust that HE Will Yet Deliver us!" {From The PRESENCE of sin!!!} 2 Corinthians 1:10
==============================================
All Of The Above Are Because Of The "FINISHED" Work Of CHRIST On The CROSS, For God's Glory And GRACE! {NOT "what WE do/don't do!"}
Precious struggling friend(s):
Is The Precious BLOOD Of CHRIST ALL-SUFFICIENT for you?
To be continued in Part IV
Conclusion:
"...The [Solid] Foundation Of God Standeth Sure, Having This SEAL: The LORD KNOWETH them That Are HIS!..." 2 Timothy 2:19
Note the 'Contrast' of Matthew 7:21-23, where "Those That 'are Not His'" He Has "NEVER KNOWN" them. Plain and Clear, Correct?
Do we Believe ALL Of These Scriptures, so we can answer This? Are we prepared for:
Accountability for our fellowship {NOT God's Relationship!} At Judgment, By "The Righteous Judge Himself"? Eternally Saved, But "Gain OR LOSE rewards!" 1 Corinthians 3:8-15?
And, Precious friend(s), please Be Very Richly Blessed In CHRIST, And In HIS Precious Pure And Preserved Word Of Truth!
Both The Living Word, And, HIS Written Word, Are Trustworthy! Correct?
Precious friend(s), see you In God's Great GloryLand!!
To The Praise Of The Glory Of HIS Wonderful GRACE!
Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
( 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 16:25; Ephesians 1:3-9; Ephesians 3:9 = Grace/Mystery fellowship {Romans - Philemon}, For ALL "to SEE," today,? )
God's 'Simple' Will: Link
Does this mean if we do not have the law, we can't be held to it?
So if I never had the chance to read the bible or had some one tell me their is a God, am I going to be judged differently?
is this what Romans chap5 verse 13 means?
Many Christians believe that when they pass away they will go to heaven. But Jesus spoke about our being prepared, because He didn't know when the last day would be. And here He speaks, 'I will .. at the last day'.
Myself, believing in the power of context, and mans obsessive ability to twist Scripture to fit what he wants to believe; it has me stumped.
I've spoken with several, who believe Scripture, but it's out of context to the Word. What is either before or after what they believe is God's Word, for them, is not what is said, in context.
Satan's mastery of my Father's Word, and his ability to twist everything to our liking is stoopifying. And guiding a Christian, to maybe look at it again, only brings his wrath, which is so far out of line with the Bible, a 'tilted-head, What?', becomes an automatic response.
Do not be misled, He says.
So, which which is which?
Dead and prepared? Or, dead and gone?
Many people have made many comments concerning homosexuality. My three older siblings are homosexuals. This sinful deception stopped with me and my younger siblings and myself are hetero. I was unaware of my older siblings lifestyle at first, but once I was out of college I figured it out. I often asked "Why God guarded me and not them". It seems He set me apart for a reason. I was glad I was not very close to these sisters and so I did not hang out with the people they did when they were teens. That sphere of people were an influence on them to pursue this lifestyle. Many were the same age as my sisters or older. They are still friends with many of these people to this day after 50+ years.
I think that homosexuality is planted into innocent, vulnerable, impressionable young people by the devil through people who groom them or have similar feelings in common. That is what I saw with my sisters. When I recall the times (the 70's) and the situation (good athletes they played sports with) it was a ripe situation. When they were in junior high and high school, girls who excelled at athletics were seen as unsuitable to have as a girlfriend. So, they were not sought after by the boys around them. Other than basketball and tennis, they participated in other sports outside of high school. It was in these outside situations that they met their "mentors". My parents had no clue that this was the case.
I have always prayed for them over the years
Interesting that he went back to the place where he stood with the Lord to view the event that day.
It doesn't say if the mountain cave that Lot and his daughters was near to Abraham or not. I think it was further east. It is apparent that they did not feel very safe even in the mountains. They must have felt alone, but did not want to return to Zoar, which was spared. then, his daughters hatched a plan that they knew their father would never go along with. Lot made a mistake to drink with his daughters two nights in a row. They must have been traumatized, which can lead people to make irrational choices, overlooking the sinfulness of these choices. The daughters engaged in incest with their fathers. They didn't think that they would find anyone to carry on the family line. They didn't wait on God, like Sarah and Abraham with Hagar. I do not know what they meant by "as is the custom of all of the earth". Did it refer that the custom was that of sexual union between a man and woman, unlike the people of Sodom and Gomorrah or the customs was for daughters to have relations with their father in order to continue to lineage if the father had no sons.
When morning came, the angels said. "Hurry!" They stalled a bit too long and the angels had to grab them by their hands and pull them out of the city. Once outside the angels said that destruction was imminent and they needed to flee in order to escape for their lives and not be consumed. They implored Lot and family to go all the way to the mountains. Lot expressed a preference to go to another city in the plain instead. The angels brought them to this city, Zoar, but the devastation was going to be so extensive that they did need to flee to the mountains after all. On the way out of Zoar, the hail and brimstone began to rain down. They were warned not to look back, but Lot's wife did. I think it was really hard not to look back when disaster is on your heels. Unfortunately for Lot's wife, she was turned into an pillar of salt.
I wonder if anyone has found this pillar of salt in this area from any archeological digs. Anyone know? Some people ask why a pillar of salt? I think that the pillar of salt was God's reminder to God's people not to sin as those in Sodom and Gomorrah did. Lot's stone wife was a memorial stone.
I have read all of the comments on this chapter and admit that this is a disturbing chapter. But then again, should it be more disturbing to us that in Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned? No, not really. However, are the sins of Sodom and Gomorah grave sins? Yes! Primarily, the sin of homosexuality. The text highlights this sin when God was ready to bring judgement on these cities. Some asked why Lot was sitting at the gates to the city. I think that his home was most likely outside of the gates of the city. he was in a way "separated" from the inhabitants of the city. I think at first when me chose these plains to live and tend his flocks, Lot continued in the ways of the faith that Abraham brought him up in under Abraham's guardianship. These people lived in tends and travelled around the area to keep their flocks fed and watered. At some point Lot built a house and settled near the gates of the city. He began to know of the ways of these cities and it grieved him. He may have witnessed to the people of these cities, but they didn't heed his preaching and devised more ways to be wicked. Yet, Lot decided to stay instead of shaking the dust off of his sandals and moving to another city in the plains. he did not remove his family from the wicked influences of these places. He failed a as a patriarch in this way and I'm sure was torn between living for God and keeping his family unaffected by the wicked ways of these people and trying to make a living among them. I don't think that Lot ever participated in the sin of homosexuality. It doesn't say where and when he found his wife and married her. Was she from these cities? She wasn't from the kin of Abraham because Abraham did not have an heir until Ishmael was born and he was still a youth. Maybe he went back to Haran to take a wife from their kin like Isaac and Jacob did. We don't know. And his daughter's husbands? Where from? Sodom.