For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Gen. 19
God’s mercy is great. Lot, who had been enticed by the richness of the land in this pit of iniquity, was now sitting in the gates of Sodom. That means he was an active part of that city. How much longer before he would have been swept into their evil? It seems to me that God’s rescue came just in time.
Lot and his family were already a hot mess. While I commend Lot for protecting his visitors, I have to question his offer to throw his two daughters to the wolves. In addition to that, his two sons-in-law did not take his warning seriously, he and the rest of his family hesitated to leave, his wife looked back, he argued with the angels, and his daughters got him drunk and got pregnant by him. This was the closest thing to righteousness that God found in the city!
In spite of these massive shortcomings, God spared Lot and his daughters. “The LORD was merciful to them” because, “He remembered Abraham” (from Gen. 19:16 & 29). We are like Lot. We live in a sinful world, actively taking part in it and often getting enticed by its evil offerings. But Jesus, Abraham’s seed, intercedes for us. So God is merciful to us and will bring us out of the catastrophe that will overthrow this world where we live. God’s mercy is great.
Gen. 20
Once again, Abraham received a reward seemingly because of his bad behavior. Abraham deceived an entire group of people, putting them all in the crosshairs of God’s judgment, in order to protect himself. That reeks of a lack of trust in God to me. If God blessed Abraham this much in his folly, it makes me wonder what He would have done had Abraham trusted Him instead.
So I see that God blesses His people, even when they don’t get it right. But I see something else in God’s actions toward Abimelek. I have no idea what Abimelek knew of God, but he certainly responded to Him with humility and respect when God confronted him. Abimelek trusted Abraham’s deception and thus did his misdeed in innocence. And though God required a change of course and a healing prayer for him, God first protected him. God intervened to keep Abilelek from doing something he could not undo. So I see that God saves us in many ways. Not only did He send His Son to heal our repentant hearts, but He also often protects us from our own ignorance. God is good in so many ways.
Gen. 21
“The LORD came to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised.” (Gen. 21:1). That is a statement of God’s character if ever there was one! God does what He says He will do; He keeps His promises. This is the basis for the assurance of our salvation.
And there is more. God named the result of His promise Isaac, which my Bible footnotes say means “he laughs”. God gave this name when Abraham laughed at the improbability of the promise. Later, Sarah, too, laughed in disbelief. When the promise came, however, that laughter of disbelief became laughter of joy. In the same way, God transforms our hopelessness into grateful praise through the improbable yet sure promise of a Son.