Genesis 19:20

New Living Translation (NLT)

See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”

Meditation

I don’t understand Lot. His resident city was going to be destroyed by fire. God had mercifully sent His angels to deliver him. Lot was given specific instructions to flee to the mountains or he would be swept away in the fire. Why did he hesitate to leave? Why did he ask permission to rather flee to a small town nearby, but still in the plains, instead of the safety of the mountains? His reason for asking is baffling as the request itself.

“Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved” (Gen. 19:18-20).

Now wait! Wouldn’t the angels have waited until he got to the mountains before destroying Sodom? So what was Lot’s problem? If God had been so merciful to him, why would He have denied him the grace to reach the mountains?

It reminds me of the story of a woman who was returning from the farm in a scorching sun, carrying a heavy load of foodstuff. A kind man driving in her direction stopped to offer her a ride. To his surprise, the woman jumped into the back seat with her load on her lap when the truck had been popped open for her.

“Can I put your load in the trunk for you, madam?” the man said.

“Thank you, sir. You have been kind enough. I am comfortable as it is,” the woman said.

She had her load on her lap, while the trunk of the car was empty.

1. Is that not how we act some times?
2. Haven’t we failed to tap into the available grace of God on many occasions?
3. Why have we chosen to stay so close to the world in spite of the looming danger?
4. Don’t you think we are too comfortable with mediocrity in our faith walk because we love the world too much?
5. Don’t we have enough grace to move us far away from the enticement of the world?

I pray you move far away from this dying world and settle for nothing short of God’s best for you this year.

So: May the Lord open your eyes to the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus; and may you enjoy His bounty to the fullest and delight yourself in Him completely.

Don’t shortchange yourself in Christ; for God has lavished the riches of His grace on you in Him. Enjoy it to the fullest.

Shalom