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Here, World, Take My Children – part 1 of 3 This is the contemptible proposal Lot made in Gen. 19:8 to a perverted mob in Sodom when he offers to prostitute and sacrifice his daughters to them in order to secure social custom, pragmatic peace, and personal gain. "I have two daughters which have not known a man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes; only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." How could any parent, especially Christian, (II Peter 2:6-8) ever make such a proposition? Let us see how Lot came to his tragic hour, and how he developed such a mean and selfish character causing such a wicked proposal. The destruction of Sodom and the surrounding cities is a picture of coming final judgment. We may expect conditions then to repeat themselves now in increasing measure until the final judgments begin to fall. Those conditions include Christian parents with hearts and attitudes like Lot. History According to Gen. 11, Lot went with his grandfather Terah and uncle Abraham from Ur after his father Haran dies. Enroute to the land of Canaan, they dwelt in a place called Haran where Terah died. From there the Lord called Abraham on to Canaan, promised the land to him, and promised to make of him a nation and a blessing to all nations. Lot went along as one of the family. Perhaps he was already married and had some children by the time they reached Canaan. In Gen. 12:10, Abraham went into Egypt because of a famine, and Gen. 13:1 says when Abraham left Egypt, Lot was with him. Following the sojourn in Egypt, Abraham was very rich (13:2). Lot had accumulated some possessions also (13:5). While the riches did not turn Abraham's heart from the Lord, Lot acquired a taste for money and the fleshpots of Egypt. As a result of increased possessions there was strife between their herdsmen (13:7,8). Rather than having strife, Abraham suggested they separate and generously offered the first choice of territory to Lot (13:9). Lot could have asked to settle the strife and stay with Abraham, or he could have asked counsel from his godly uncle. At least, he should have gone to Abraham's altar (13:4) and called on the Lord, asking for divine direction. But Egypt (type of the world) was already established in his greedy heart, and he saw the well watered, money-making acreage of the lower Jordan valley with cities, including Sodom, where he could sell his products (13:10). God, who sees not as men, saw a place filled with men who were sinful and wicked (13:13). Sodom suited Lot even if it did not suit God and, "he pitched his tent toward Sodom" (13:!2). Satan always decorates the road to ruin and makes it attractive, so Lot unwisely moved his family toward Sodom and finally into Sodom (14:12). Lot's children were at that crucial age when they needed spiritual guidance and examples. Had Lot made the right choice, his wife and children could have been led in paths of righteousness with godly standards and goals. Instead, Sodom filled their hearts. In Gen. 14, Lot did have a special warning from God and an opportunity to leave Sodom. When enemy kings captured and took Sodom captive, Abraham, with 318 of his loyal servants, rescued them. Instead of leaving the city, Lot moved back and even used the incident to further establish himself in the city. Gen. 19:9 indicates Sodom tolerated Lot as a judge and reprover, perhaps because his uncle had delivered Sodom. Prayer: Help us to keep our children from Sodom-like temptations, lusts and distractions. Help us to remember that our explanations of why we do what we do are not God’s explanations nor His perfect will for our family’s lives. Help us to teach our children not to follow the big, the new, the exciting, the attention, the approval, the affection, the affiliation, the authority, the flattery, the riches, the wealth, the provisions, the promises, etc. of the world. To be continued… -Pr. S. Chad Ross Published with permission from William W. Hall, D.D. February Newsletter 2006 | Self-Examination | Understanding Habits part 2 of 2 Pastor's Journal February 2005 | Here, World, Take My Children part 1 of 3 | God's Breath part 2 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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