Day 7 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 19-21
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GENESIS 19 – LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE
Genesis 19 tells of God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness. The passage focuses on Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who hosted two angels in his home. The city’s men demanded Lot to open the door so they could “know” the visitors. The angels blind the men and urge Lot’s family to flee. Lot, his wife, and two daughters left, but Lot’s wife looked back at the destruction and turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters fled to the mountains and lived in a cave, later engaging in incest to preserve their lineage.
Escape for Thy Life, Look Not Behind Thee
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. – Genesis 19:15-22
God Remembered Abraham and Sent Lot Out of the Overthrow
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. – Genesis 19:29
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GENESIS 20 – I WITHHELD THEE FROM SINNING AGAINST ME
Genesis 20 speaks of Abraham’s continued deception of calling his wife, Sarah, his sister. This time he is in the land of Gerar and the King Abimelech takes Sarah. God intervenes in a dream, warning Abimelech, who then returns Sarah, asks why Abraham lied, and after Abraham prays, God heals the women of Abimelech’s household of barrenness that had fallen on them. This shows us God’s protection of Abraham despite his failings.
For I Also Withheld Thee from Sinning Against Me
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. – Genesis 20:1-7
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GENESIS 21 – El Olam – the Everlasting God
Genesis 21 gives details of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. This fulfills God’s promise. However, this also leads to conflict and we see Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. The chapter tells of God’s provision for Hagar and Ishmael and a covenant of peace with Abimelech and ends with Abraham calling on the name of the LORD. He calls on El Olam – the Everlasting God.
The LORD Did Unto Sarah as He Had Spoken, Sarah Conceived
And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. – Genesis 21:1-3
El Olam – The Everlasting God
And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. – Genesis 21:33
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