Lot - The Smell of Smoke on His Clothes

Lot – The Smell of Smoke on His Clothes!

>>> Read Genesis 19 <<<

 

What do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? . . .What can a believer share in common with an unbeliever? . . . Therefore come out from them and be separate says the Lord.

         2Cor. 6:14-15, 17

 

The opening verses of Genesis 18 and 19 present a striking contrast.  Abraham is shown sitting at his tent door (18:1) and Lot is sitting "in the gate of Sodom" (19:1). One believer enjoys his earthly pilgrimage while he waits for a better place, and the other associates with the judgment-doomed world. What actually brought the judgment of God down on Sodom?  Since God did not go from city to city destroying them because they were ungodly, we could ask why Sodom was singled out (along with its sister city, Gomorrah).

 

Sodom had a particular element that was odious to God – it was the presence of a believer holding a place of honor in the city (the city leaders held meetings at the gate). Lot's 'righteous' presence in the city mocked God in the eyes of his 'friends' (verses 7-9). Remember, we only refer to Lot as 'righteous' because of 2Pet. 2:7.  While it is true that God will judge the wicked who reject and mock Him, He will also deal with those who claim to know Him while their lives contradict that assertion.

 

Today many believers, rather than witness to the grace of God, prefer to be associated with the world. God calls people to enter into relationship with Him so that they can represent Him as they become conformed to the likeness of His Son. When they tolerate the things of the world, they mock divine things. Today's churches are full of people like Lot. Evangelical leaders share the public platform with apostate religions as they seek to bring people together in the name of politics, morality or 'fellowship.' We must not be fooled by those who tout the name 'God' but who cannot utter the Holy name of the Lord Jesus and claim Him as their life.  It will never be acceptable to God for His children to have fellowship with those who reject His Son.

 

It is not necessary for us to try to determine the saved or unsaved state of others (after all, if I were to judge Lot, I would say he didn't belong to God at all!), but we need to be clear about the state of our own hearts.  It is also important that we associate ourselves with those who have some evidence that they know Christ personally. Lot didn't partake in the evil deeds of the people of Sodom, but he had no witness for God among them. There is no evidence that he had fellowship with God or that his family had any regard for God whatsoever. 

 

When it came time for Lot to leave Sodom, he hesitated; the angels, who came to save him from judgment, had to drag him out of the city. His wife had such longing for the city that she turned to take one last look despite the warning not to do so. Lot could not even follow the angels when they tried to get him completely away from the cities and into the mountains. Fear drove him; he could not trust God to keep him safe. Lot had no power to influence others for God, no ability to show forth God's presence, no communion with God and no confidence in God to keep him safe. He was spared from judgment with the smell of smoke on his clothes! In the end, he left behind a posterity that became the constant enemy of God's chosen people (the Moabites and Ammonites).

 

When we think of Sodom, we focus on God's judgment of the city. However, this chapter focuses on Lot. Lot followed Abraham, the man of faith, out of Haran and stayed with him for a time, but Lot was no friend of God or man of faith. Lot followed Abraham, but he did not follow God. He shows us the plight of the believer who gets his foot in the door of justification, shares acquaintance with strong believers, yet has no desire to cultivate a  relationship with God for himself.

 

While it's true that weak believers are easily led into corruption, the point of this chapter is to show God's disdain for the worldly-minded believer who would even settle down among the defilement of the world. Lot wanted to profit by the world yet retain the authority to bear testimony against its wickedness (Gen 19:7). Although we are told that Lot was vexed by the world around him, Scripture does not record the words, "by faith Lot did such and such…"

 

On this side of the cross, with the Holy Spirit as our teacher and the written Word of God as our resource, we have greater accountability than Lot, for he had limited revelation of God. We are told, "Because you are lukewarm … I will spit you out of My mouth" (Rev. 3:16). This is God's word to us – we live in the age of the Laodicean church, as described in Revelation 3. God is serious about His testimony upon the earth – we should be serious about it as well. We need to be earnestly seeking the Lord and interceding on behalf of the Church – praying that her members would wake up to the delusion of Lot that exists today.                                                             LJ 10/09

Abraham – God Opens His Heart to a Friend

Abraham – God Opens His Heart to a Friend

>>> Read Genesis 18 <<<

 

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you. 

Jn 15:14-15

 

In Genesis 18 God unfolds four wonderful privileges enjoyed by the person who understands, and walks with, El Shaddai (the God who bestows blessing in the face of difficult circumstances). First (vs 1-8), he enjoys personal contact with the Lord; then, (vs 9-15) he gains assurance that promises will be fulfilled; next (vs 16-21), he is treated as a friend in whom God confides; and finally (vs 22-33), because he is near to the heart of God, he can intercede on behalf of others. (General outline from Hamilton Smith)

 

We are shown that Abraham is still dwelling in a tent. Each time his tent is mentioned, it is a reminder that he has not settled down to enjoy the world (as Lot did in Sodom); instead, he is separate from it. As a result, Abraham has developed spiritual discernment so that he is able to distinguish the Lord from the two angels. Furthermore, Abraham has progressed to the place where he can enjoy intimate fellowship with the Lord, who has come to confirm the birth of his son, Isaac. Fellowship is shown by the sharing of food, shade and personal refreshment for the guests. 

 

The Lord gives Abraham and Sarah firm reassurance about the coming birth of Isaac, then turns to another topic as He and Abraham survey the fertile valley from the mountain. The Lord says an amazing thing to Abraham, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" How is it that the God of the universe would consider revealing His secrets to a mere man? This is an expression of how God values His friendship with Abraham. He is speaking face to face with Abraham – speaking as a true friend. Notice Abraham's response to what the Lord confides – he boldly intercedes for the "righteous" in Sodom.

 

My point here isn't to explain why Abraham stopped at the number 10, or to discuss the righteousness (or the lack of it) of Lot and his family. I want to direct your attention to the intercessory relationship that Abraham had with the Lord. This is the first example of this kind of relationship in our Bible, so it requires some consideration. Abraham clearly recognizes to whom he is speaking – this is the Lord!  He has been invited to enter into God's business; and somehow, he has realized that the Lord is giving him the privilege of intercession.

 

We know, because we have the whole Word of God, that the Lord was able to entrust such a privilege to Abraham because he has demonstrated spiritual growth – as evidenced by obedience (circumcision). He has kept himself separate from the world and has walked by faith (this is how God views Abraham!).

 

Since Lot is referred to as a righteous man (2Pet. 2:7), we can assume that he represents a forgiven, justified man in God's eyes. However, justification is one thing and producing the fruit of faithfulness and obedience is another. Who does the Lord confide in (reveal Himself, His thoughts and His plans to)?  In the words of the New Testament, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." The secrets of God are not thrown out to anyone who claims to know Him; and the privilege of intercession is not for those who have only a passing acquaintance with the Lord.

 

The way to know the divine purposes about this present evil world is not to be mixed up with it, in its schemes and speculations, but to be entirely separated from it. The more closely we walk with God, the more we shall know His mind about everything.                                  C.H. Mackintosh

 

The Lord came to Abraham and confided His plan to him; this shows that He wanted Abraham to use this intimate relationship to intercede for Sodom. Now, think about all the Lord has told us about His plans in the whole Word of God. Many people read it, but only those who seek to know God and submit to Him in faith and trust, can truly understand His ways, His purposes and His plans.

 

Are we saints of the tent or of the city? In other words, do we have more invested in the world, or in our communion with the risen Lord of glory? We live in a day when we are being exhorted to intercede for our nation as well as the unsaved. Intercession is a privilege set aside for those who seek God's heart; it is for those who have learned how to listen for His voice and who know when He is speaking. The Church is in need of intercessors today – but first we need to focus on the Lord and what He wants.  We cannot allow frenetic activity on the one hand, or the fear of continuing decline on the other, to keep us from resting in the Lord and waiting for Him.                                                                              LJ 10/09

Abraham – Leave It Up to Me (God)!

Abraham – Leave It Up to Me!

>>> Read Genesis 17 <<<

 

The path of faith for Abram began when the God of Glory called him to leave his homeland and family – but Abram failed to stay on the path when he settled down in Haran with his father (evidence that he failed to acknowledge the separated relationship that he was called to). Then, we find him in Egypt counting on the world to satisfy his needs in time of famine – he did not yet understand that God was a trustworthy friend.

 

Next, we see Abram demonstrating faith when the kings flex their earthly muscles against their neighbors. God reveals Himself as the Most High God (El Elyon), possessor of heaven and earth and Abram has a spiritual victory when he responds to God by refusing the world's riches. Later, God appears to Abram in a vision and reveals Himself as Abram's Shield and Great Reward, assuring Abram that he will have numerous seed. God explains to Abram that suffering will be required of them in order to enter into the promise.

 

Genesis 16 records the sad account of Abram and Sarai devising their own solution to the problem of old age and barrenness. God does not speak in this chapter, for Abram has chosen to depend upon human resources to accomplish God's purpose. In fact, God was silent for 13 years. During this time, Abram developed deep affection for his son and Sarai had to contend with Hagar. Finally, when there was no question that Abram and Sarai's bodies were dead as far as producing offspring, God comes to Abram reaffirming that His purpose will be accomplished according to His power.

 

God broke His silence with the words, "I am El Shaddai (God all sufficient) walk (habitually) before Me with integrity (blameless, having nothing to fill the heart except God Himself)." When a believer truly knows God, he will say with the Psalmist:

 "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken" (Ps 62:5-6).

 

El Shaddai is the name God presents when He comes to His people to enrich them – to make them fruitful; God All Sufficient satisfies and strengthens His people. Strength is necessary because fruitfulness is connected with chastening. We're not talking about judgment, but a purifying that leads to greater fruitfulness as with Job in whose story we see this name used 31 times (ref C.I. Scofield). In this wonderful revelation, Abram does not offer sacrifice or make a request of God; instead he falls down on his face – a posture that acknowledges his nothingness. Now that Abram understood his own weakness and inability, he was ready to allow God All Sufficient to act in him, for him and through him.

 

The revelation of God as Abram's shield and exceeding great reward (chp 15) disclosed what God was for Abram - this caused Abram to think of himself and what he would receive from God. He felt confident in God's love and was therefore able to pour out his needs and desires. However, Abram has had enough schooling – it is time for him to walk in the knowledge that he has been given. Prostrate on the ground, he listens,, for God is revealing who He is in Himself.

 

In this revelation, Abram's attention is directed toward El Shaddai rather than himself and his needs. As God tells this old, old man who has an old, old wife (see vs 15-19) that they will be "multiplied exceedingly," and will be made "exceedingly fruitful," all the years of instruction come together for Abram.  As a further indication of what God will do, He changes Abram's name (which means exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude), and Sarai's name (my princess) to Sarah (a princess). El Shaddai, the One who satisfies, strengthens and makes fruitful – commits Himself to be the God of the promised seed. Kings will descend from Abraham and Sarah; furthermore, God's covenant is an everlasting covenant – the fruit of Abraham's faith will go on forever!

 

Now God gets very specific in the details of His promise to Sarah. He declares her child's name even before conception takes place, and puts the date of his birth on the calendar!  However, God requires something from Abraham. He expects Abraham and every male in his household to be circumcised. This rite speaks of Abraham's responsibility to, and faith in, God; it speaks of death to the flesh and accountability to God. Abraham demonstrates his faith by obedience to God as he himself, and every male who is with him, is circumcised.

 

Abraham understood that Isaac would be the son of Promise, but he loved Ishmael and wanted blessing for him as well. God did promise to bless Ishmael, but there would be no covenant for him. With the promises made clear, the covenant sealed and the sign of obedience in place, the root has been planted. It would grow into a people who would be set apart to God – set apart from the other nations and from the ways of the world. In essence God has said, "Leave it all up to me, everything will exceed your expectations!" That sounds so simple, doesn't it?                                                    LJ 10/09

Abraham - Straying from the Path of Faith

Abraham: Straying from the Path of Faith
>>> Read Genesis 16 <<<

GOD WANTS TO reveal His amazing Person and His wonderful ways (the deep things of God) to us:

. . . No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1Cor. 2:9, 10

HOWEVER, there is a problem:

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Cor. 2:14

The child of God, operating within his own capacity, can only know the things of man. We have seen this truth lived out in the contrasting lives of Abram and Lot. Abram shows us the person who is growing in faith. He is learning about the dangers of the world and the consequences of pursuing life without God – and he continues to respond to God. Lot depicts the worldly believer who lays aside the knowledge of God so that he can enjoy everything the world provides. Lot did not set out to enjoy the evil things of the world when he went to Sodom; he set out to avail himself of its comforts and conveniences. However, it is the place where God is not recognized or honored, and that leads to evil of all sorts. Lot chose to stay in Sodom, thinking he could ignore the wickedness of its residents, but he was swept up into the world’s conflicts (Gen. 14), and tormented by what he saw and heard (2Peter 2:6-8).

Now, in Genesis 16, we see the life of the natural man. We have already seen examples of the natural man taking charge in Abram’s life – every time he went his own way without God’s leading, he was acting in the power of the natural man. The natural man usually leads us right to the world – where we seek resources to solve our difficulties without waiting on God. Whereas the worldly man would immerse himself in the pleasures and ease of the world, the natural man resorts to ‘religion’ (his own best efforts) plus use of the world’s resources to accomplish his purposes. The worldy man and the natural man are equally offensive to God.

Abram is put to the test when his wife suggests that he father a child with the Egyptian handmaid. Did Abram lose confidence in God’s promise? Did he think that God had left him to act on his own in order to fulfill the promise? Not necessarily – Abram’s actions expose the feeble nature of the human soul toward God; it is more natural for us to apply human effort to a situation than it is for us to rest in God alone. We feel a certain sense of security when we take a situation into our own hands and control the outcome (or think we control it). Sarai was seeking this security; it made sense to her. After all, God did not say that Sarai would be the mother of nations – His promise only mentioned Abram.

Sarai had not personally received a revelation from God, she was not involved in building altars with Abram – she just wanted a baby and this sounded like a reasonable solution to her. Abram listened to his wife and took her suggestion (Does this sound familiar to you? Insert the name “Adam” for Abram’s name in that last statement). It is a persistent failing of human nature to reach for something that sounds good, and to fall back on our own efforts, when God has already said He would “give us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him” (2 Pet. 1:3).

Think about what Abram had already learned from God – how God had reinforced and confirmed His promises. Do you see how easily Abram is drawn away from the path of faith, and how effortlessly he could act as though he hadn’t learned a thing from past experience? It is no different for you and I. This is the state of the human heart; human nature is quick to turn away from what is known of God and settle for the quick solution. So, why does God ask us to wait? Waiting on God is a part of the faith-learning process; and it exposes to us our own level of trust in God. We could say to Abram, as Paul said to the Galatians, “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?” (Gal. 4:9)

The path of faith always includes trials and temptations. We cry out to God to give us relief from them, but He has put those things in our path – we need them there in order to develop precious friendship with God. Without them, we would drift away from God, depending upon our own talents, gifts and resourcefulness to get through life. As a Father who is training His children, God will take time to develop patience and endurance in us so that we learn to rest in Him. Abram is not an example of perfect faith; he’s an example of the believer who, while learning to walk by faith, finds himself on the path of human effort, and then gets back onto the path of trusting God. He’s an example of how faith is learned. May we embrace the purposes and ways of God, submitting to Him so we won’t be long on the path of self-effort.
LJ 9/09

Abraham – The Waiting Heir

Abraham – The Waiting Heir

>>> Read Genesis 15 and Romans 4:16-19<<<

. . .  "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.    James 2:23

 

. . . Friendship with the world is hatred toward God . . . anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.      James 4:4

 

So far, we have seen that God rewards Abram for each step of faith he takes; continually providing more revelation of Himself and additional details of His promise. We are learning some important things about God's ways through this living illustration.

 

Abram's story has been recorded in the Bible so that we can learn how God develops faith in the lives of His children. He arranges events in your life so you must count on Him – and when you exercise faith in Him, two things happen: first, your spirit becomes open to receive more revelation about Him; and then He rewards you with a deeper understanding of who He is and what He has planned!  This revelation will carry you to the next level if you keep your eyes fixed on Him. This sounds like a solid basis for friendship to me – He asks us to count on Him, and then He follows through with trustworthy actions!

 

We have seen how, with each new revelation of God, Abram depends less upon the world and more upon God. This is a vital function of faith. Often, we do our best to shun the things of the world, thinking that then our faith will grow stronger; but that is a reversal of God's order. It is only as we know Him intimately, and trust Him without question, that we are able to release our hold on everything the world offers. The more we become God's friend, the more He discloses His plans to us. Nonetheless, the Scripture does not call God our friend, we are called His friend. (Think of other endearing ways He refers to us: we are the sheep of His pasture, His children, His bride . . .)

 

As God continues to reveal His character to Abram, Abram's confidence grows; the more Abram's confidence grows the more he responds as a trusting friend.  In verse one, God encourages Abram by telling Him that He is his shield (which God demonstrated in the previous chapter) and his great reward. As Abram's shield, God provides protection and security; He is Abram's defense against any worldly foe (including the foe of temptation). Knowing that there is a reward causes Abram to hold onto a future hope, and gives him a reason to exercise patience. We do not pursue the things of the world when we have our mind on the glorious reward that God has promised.

 

God had promised Abram offspring, and now Abram asks Him about it. Knowing his body was as good as dead (Rom. 4:19), Abram thought God would provide offspring through his servant, Eliezer – according to the custom of the day. However, God makes it clear that "a son coming from your own body will be your heir" (Gen. 15:4). Then God draws Abram's attention away from his 'dead' body and up to the stars in the heavens. In this way, God directs Abram's mind away from His own human thoughts and onto higher thoughts about God; however it is the waiting that will strengthen Abram's feeble faith. By the time Abram fathered his true son, there was no doubt his body was, by nature, not capable of doing so.  Here we see that Abram believed God and God added that to Abram's 'faith account.'

 

Abram, looking around and seeing all the inhabitants of the land (vs19-21), asked God about the land he was promised. God told Abram where the boundaries of the land were (no boundaries had been given prior to this). But, before He did that, He gave Abram a very interesting picture of the future of his offspring. The picture involves a smoking furnace (suffering and trial) and burning lamp (the light of Jehovah appearing for their relief). God informs Abram that his descendents will be enslaved for 400 years (Egyptian bondage) before they possess the Land. Keep in mind, Abram never possesses this land for himself.

 

In the history of Israel, first there are sons (Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and their offspring) and later there are heirs. Generations of Abram's offspring lived and died before his descendants became heirs to the Land. The family grew into a great nation, but they did so in Egypt, not in the Promised Land. In Egypt (the world), they were slaves until their redemption by the blood of the Lamb. When they left Egypt, they entered the wilderness where they were tested and tried.  When did they become heirs of the promise? Not until they had been tried in the furnace of suffering. It is no different for God's people today. It is the discipline of God – wrapped in His love and infused with the anticipation of promises fulfilled – that separates us from the world and makes it possible for us to know Him intimately as Father. Knowing His ways (as illustrated in these Old Testament saints) and purposes (as He has unfolded them throughout the ages) will give us confidence in Him and keep us from being consumed by the 'furnace' that is the world.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.   Romans 8:17                                                                               LJ 9/09

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Devotional Studies on The Purpose and Ways of God