# 172 Infatuation With Sex

The Book of Genesis

Day 172

Ge 19:31 Now the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth.  32 "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father."  33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.  34 It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, "Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father."  35 Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.  36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.  37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.

There’s something really fishy here. Lot’s older daughter is the instigator, and she evidently has been tainted by the sexually immoral atmosphere of her environment.  ( I mean, when did  sex become a custom?) For whatever reason, she wanted to experience this thing that the Sodomites had made such a big deal about.  They had a “no holds barred” attitude toward sexual activity and their approach to sexual activity must’ve had a profound impact on her.  That may seem like a harsh judgment on my part, but she knew what she was doing,  even to the point of getting her father drunk enough to pull it off.  

Now, you might say here, “but she was married, surely she knew what sex was all about.”  Not so fast!  The RSV and the ESV Bibles rightly state that the daughters of Lot were betrothed or “engaged”  to be married. By Jewish tradition they were considered to be married, but were to remain virgins until their wedding night!  Ge 19:14 makes this clear as we read, “So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, "

Lot’s eldest daughter was determined to try some sex, and in her view, she was locked up in this cave forever with only one man in sight, she thought this was her only chance…and the unthinkable became a reality.

Sad to say, we have a multitude of Lot’s daughters and sons in our sex crazed culture of the day. They have grown up in a culture that glorifies no holds barred sex on billboards, movies, magazines, and even television shows that claim to be family friendly. You can’t watch a sporting event as a family without viewing commercials that use sex as a selling tool!   Add to that the availability of sexual exploration available on the internet and you begin to see why our young people have an unhealthy view of the God-given gift of sexuality that He has reserved for man and woman in marriage! Yes, we might even say that sex has become a custom rather than what God intended it to be!

Our kids have grown up with a view that sexual activity is a badge that proves one’s worth or value! Many wonder what’s wrong with them if they are 13 and still a virgin. How do we turn this thing around? I wish I had the answer.  We can’t live in caves…that won’t work. Maybe we can check our own exposure to the world’s infatuation with sex and try to keep it to a minimum.  Surely, we ought to take the time to speak to our children about God’s plan for sexual activity as opposed to the customs of the world, and begin talking about it in an age appropriate way early on. 

Let us seek to lead by example and pray that God will help us get the following truth through to our kids: Heb 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Pray: Open our eyes to the beauty of waiting to “know” our spouses on our wedding night! It’s what You want in marriage, and You only want what is best for Your children!

# 171 Sin Will Track You Down

Day 173

Ge 19:30 Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.  31 Now the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth.  32 "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father."

This is the same Lot who begged the Lord to spare Zoar because he was afraid to move to the mountains! (Gen 19:17-20) Now he can’t wait to get out of it!  What was it in Zoar that made Lot so fearful that he was willing to flee to the mountains and live in a cave?  The Bible doesn’t say, however, we know that Zoar was originally destined to be destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah.  Need we say more? I mean one thing we should all know about sin by now, if left unchecked it rages and only gets worse!

So here’s a single father with two widowed daughters trying to start a new life in Zoar. A city overflowing with sin.  So he takes his daughters to the mountains to live in a cave….surely they will be free from sin there right?  Wrong! Sin is ever present in this world and it will track you down no matter where you live!

The Sin of the Daughters

What were his daughters thinking? How could they even consider such a plan of action? They were thinking that all of their days would be spent in a cave with their father, and they would have no opportunity to find a husband and bear children. Bearing children and keeping the family lineage alive was a conditioned response in their culture, and of course, no holds barred,  sexual immorality was also a “conditioned response.”  Sex was what you did. 

Their actions were triggered by fear, and fear gave in to the perverted expediency of the world!

The daughters had observed the world around them in Sodom well. They had seen the persuasive power of wine in action before, and they decided to use it as an ally in their wicked plot. .Even though the Levitical laws against incest had not yet been handed down, these girls somehow knew it was wrong and that’s why they knew they needed wine to carry out their evil deed.

Here’s the thing about wine and alcohol. One of the first areas of the brain that it goes after is that part of the brain that controls our ability to say no.  Personally, I learned this the hard way after two OWI convictions, but I’m glad I finally learned it! I pray that if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse that this truth will strike home!

Once you understand how alcohol works on your brain, you will be well on your way of staying clear of it, because overindulgence will leave you as unchecked as the city of Zoar and your sin and misery will only increase!

Pray: Father, sin is ever present in the world. Give us the power to resist, and help us to turn away from all things that would sap our spiritual resolve to resist.

# 170 Peace in the Midst of Unanswered Questions

The Book of Genesis

Day 170

Ge 19:27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.  28 Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.  29 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 which Lot had dwelt.

We don’t know why Abraham went to the exact same place where he had stood before the Lord and interceded for Lot and the cities. Perhaps his view of Sodom was best from there. Perhaps this would become a favorite place of prayer for him. (By the way, I hope you have such a place!)

But can you imagine the emotions that Abraham was experiencing as he looked toward Sodom and saw the smoke. “Really God?  Really?  You couldn’t find ten righteous people in the whole city?”  “Did Lot make it out?”

The Bible never mentions Abraham going down to the city and picking through the ruins. It is silent on whether Abraham ever saw Lot again. We know Lot was spared, but did Abraham know? All we are told is that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow.  Since there is no more recorded discussion with God about the matter, all we can assume is that Abraham left this special place of prayer in peace.  A oneness of spirit, a quietness and rest in the will of God! This is a peace that can only come from the Lord.

Remember Job? Remember his great losses and remember what he said, , “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job was at peace with the sovereign will of God!  And God said, “ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”

Sometimes our unanswered questions can rob us of peace and keep us from what is important.  After Jesus had risen from the dead, He told Peter of the martyr’s death that awaited him, and then commanded Peter to follow Him! Peter asked about John and his death, and Jesus replied, “If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”

There are many unanswered questions in our lives. Things God has not chosen to reveal to us. If we dwell on them unnecessarily, we sacrifice our peace and we allow kingdom work to go undone, as we follow after our questions, rather than following after Jesus. His advice to us for things out of our control is to trust God, and get on with following Him.

Pray: Father, help me to be content with simply knowing that Your ways are not our ways. Your ways are always guided by perfect love. A love that we won’t fully understand this side of heaven.

# 169 Salt Is Not For Shakers.....it's "Forsakers!

The Book of Genesis

Day 169

Ge 19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

As we mentioned last time, this was one of the most important events in the Old Testament and Jesus used it to warn us all of what we need to consider in light of the Final Judgment. He said in Lu 17:32 "Remember Lot's wife.

 Here's the thing about salt. It is a forsaker. It gives itself up for the service of others. It sacrifices itself to purify your water. It sacrifices itself to turn ice into slush. It sacrifices itself to preserve meat. Salt is a forsaker and Jesus said, “You ARE the salt of the earth! You ARE a forsaker. It identifies you as a follower of Christ.

One of the ways we remember our beloved public figures is through statues and monuments. Lot’s wife is such a monument that the Lord wants us to remember. But why was this statue made of salt?

Because salt is not just for shakers….it’s for sakers!

Let us learn from Lot's wife in the matter of forsaking. She looked back! She was not willing to forsake the lifestyle of Sodom and Gomorrah and God turned her into a pillar of salt. How fitting a judgment. It's like He was saying, if you don't want to be salt, (a forsaker) I will make you salt (a forsaker) Lot's wife is a monument set before the eyes of all who refuse to forsake all and follow Jesus. He must be the most important thing in your life.

Speaking of salt, Jesus said in Mt 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.”

You and I are to be the “forsakers” of this earth, but if we refuse to “give ourselves up,”  we will be “thrown out” with all the others who refused to forsake all and follow Jesus.

I can’t over-emphasize this truth! It’s not enough to acknowledge Jesus as God, (Even the demons believe and tremble, James 2:19) we must yield ourselves to Him, believing and trusting His Word (Him) to rule our lives.  At some point we must say, “not my will…..but Thine be done!”

Will we do this perfectly? Of course not! But that’s where confession of sin comes in and a willingness to pick ourselves up and try, try, try, again!

Pray: Lord, thank You for giving me the desire to forsake and follow You. But it is a battle! Help me to wage the war of “forsaking” and forgive me when I fail. You “forsook” all for me, help me to “forsake” all for You!

# 168 Remember Lot's Wife Part Two

The Book of Genesis

Day 168

Ge 19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

As we mentioned last time, this was one of the most important events in the Old Testament and Jesus used it to warn us all of what we need to consider in light of the Final Judgment. He said in Lu 17:32 "Remember Lot's wife.

What do we need to “remember” about her? First of all she looked back, and secondly because she looked back, she was turned into a pillar of salt. A forever monument to those who do not forsake all to follow Jesus! Jesus said in Lu 14:33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Lot’s wife is a stark reminder that God wants us to go “all in” with Jesus. We can’t have one foot in heaven and one foot following the world!  Jesus calls us “give up” our ways and the ways of the world! He wants us to surrender the lordship of our lives to Him. This is imperative! He is not only our Savior…..He is our Lord! In surrendering to Him and His Lordship, we allow Him to decide what stays and what must be forsaken in our lives!

Lot’s wife, like the rebellious Israelites in the desert, desired to go back to Egypt.   Ex 16:3 And the children of Israel said to them, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Remember Lot’s wife! Jesus is not just our Savior, He is our Lord! It is necessary for you and I to surrender the lordship of our lives to Him. He decides what we keep and what we forsake and He does that in His Word.

Don’t forget, Abraham didn’t just believe IN God, He BELIEVED God and it was accounted to him as righteousness, and Jesus also told us in Lu 6:46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?

The Lord specifically told Lot and his family to not look behind (Gen 19:17) but Lot’s wife chose “not to do the things that the Lord said,” and paid the price.

Beloved, “remember Lot’s wife….surrender to Jesus, bow your knee to Him as Lord. Ever seeking to keep His commands, and when you fail, (as you certainly will) turn to Him as your Savior and receive His forgiveness!

More lessons from Lot’s wife next time!

Pray: Father, help us to see the end of rejecting You as our Lord and Savior, by the power of the Holy Spirit bring us to the point of surrender and keep us there!

# 167 Remember Lot's Wife

The Book of Genesis

Day 167

Ge 19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

There is so much that needs to be said about this event. It is much more important than the average Christian thinks. Most people, believers or not, can identify this story. They know that Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back at Sodom, but they never consider the ramifications of this event for their own eternal destiny.

Most everyone knows the answer to the trivia question, “What’s the shortest verse in the Bible. It’s Jesus wept! (Jn 11:35) But do you know the second shortest verse in the Bible? It’s Luke 17:32, Jesus is speaking and He says, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Just three words, but they are vital for anyone who wishes to be a follower of Jesus!

Let’s look at the context. Due to the length of this portion of Scripture. I am going to ask you to be patient for the next couple of days as we dive in. Trust me….it’s important!

Lu 17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;  21 "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  22 Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 "And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them.  24 "For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.  25 "But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  26 "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  27 "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;  29 "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 "Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed  31 "In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  32 "Remember Lot's wife.  33 "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 "I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 "Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 "Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

Jesus is talking about two events here. The first event is the destruction of Jerusalem which took place in 70 A.D. and the second event is His second coming or the final Judgment Day! Both events are swift and sudden! They occur in the midst of normal day to day activities. These are cataclysmic events and Jesus with great mercy and compassion is issuing warnings for the people of His day to escape the destruction of Jerusalem, and the people from all days to escape the final judgment!

In the first case (v31) people are told to get out of the city in a hurry! Don’t go back to the city, escape as Lot did, to the hills!

Remember Lot’s wife!

In the second case (v34-37) even as we remember Lot’s wife, we are preparing ourselves properly for the second coming of Christ in which believers are taken just as Enoch was taken in Ge 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Right in the middle of these two events that Jesus prophesied of, we have the warning to remember Lot’s wife. As I said, this is important stuff, and we’ll continue looking at it next time.

Pray: Father, may your Holy Spirit give us a sense of urgency as we remember Lot’s wife.

# 166 When God Overthrows

The Book of Genesis

Day 166

Ge 19:24 Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.  25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

The Lord caused it to rain fire and brimstone from the heavens. This fire and brimstone destroyed everything! God “overthrew” those cities.  The word “overthrew” is very interesting, and serves as a reminder to us of how God carries out perfect justice.  The word means “to overturn or pervert.”  The idea being that Sodom and Gomorrah were turned into something they were not meant to be…..cinders!  So you see, they were perverted! These cities and their perverted behaviors,  were  themselves justly perverted by God.

 Remember the sins of these cities! Learn from them!  According to Jude 1:7, they included sexual immorality and  going after strange flesh . (read that homosexuality)  In Ezek 16:49 the sins of pride, idleness, and refusal to help the poor even though they had an  abundance of food, were listed.  These are all “perverted” behaviors, in that God did not create us to live like that!

This “overturning,” or annihilation by God is warned of in several places in Scripture. In 2 Ki 21:13, God warned Jerusalem that He would “turn them upside down,”  'And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

He warned the Gentiles that He would “overthrow” them as well in Hag 2:22, “I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down,”

The citizens of Ninevah knew what it meant to be “overthrown and when Jonah warned them about it….they repented!  Jon 3:4 says, “ And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

There’s only two choices folks!  In the end, Prov 12:7 tells us: “The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.”

We were not meant to live apart from God, that is a perversion! A perversion that can be remedied by faith in Jesus Christ!

Pray: Father thank You for the gift of life offered to us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us be like the citizens of Ninevah and take these warnings to heart!