January 6, 2025 -Evil Hearts

GENESIS 18:1-21:7

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Genesis 18:15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Have you ever tried to lie to God? I know I have. What a waste. He knows the truth. He will call us out on our sinfulness even the ones that we don't really think are sin. I would guess that when Sarah lied about laughing she didn't think anything of it. In fact she probably wanted to believe that it was true. Maybe she thought I did say those things but I didn't laugh about it. I was just being realistic. After all if God was going to give me a child why would He wait so long? From her limited perspective it was not something that was likely to happen so in her eyes it was a reasonable response. Or maybe she didn't think it was a big deal. If it is a sin it is a little one. But no matter how we justify our sin it is still sin.

Genesis 18:20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

Now if Sarah was comparing her sin to the sin in Sodom and Gomorrah (S & G) her lie was nothing compared to that sin. He also knows the depth of everyone's sin. And He knows the hearts of the sinners. Sodom and Gomorrah was filled with evil people who had no heart for God. Sarah loved God and did believe in and trust Him but was distracted from that faith by the limitations of our human perspective. The people of S & G were evil in their hearts and that is why their sinfulness was so great. The further they turned from God the more evil their thoughts, words and actions became. There was no hope for them. He knew their hearts were evil and that that evil had to be destroyed.

Genesis 18:32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

Abraham concerned for his nephew Lot and his family negotiated down to 10 righteous people thinking that not destroying S & G was the only way to save Lot and his family. Again his perspective was not able to see the big picture. God was okay with saying that He would not do it for the sake of 10 after all He knew there were not 10. He also knew why Abraham was negotiating and already had planned to save Lot.

Genesis 19:4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”

Just as God cannot stand to be in the presence of evil, evil can't stand to be in the presence of God. I think that the evil had such a stronghold on the hearts of the people in S & G that when the angels of God came into the town their reaction was to try to destroy them because they couldn't bear to be in their presence. We have a world that says what is evil is right and they lash out against anyone who speaks truth. We need to hold firm to God and His word because the more that God does in our lives the more that the evil in the world will try to destroy it.

Genesis 19:9 “Get out of our way,” they replied. “This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.

When we stand up to evil the opposition may be worse.

Genesis 19:10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door. 11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.

But God is more powerful than anything the enemy can throw at Him and His people or angels. He can do the same for us. Things may get scary in this world but God can protect us and overcome the plans of the enemy.

Lord heal our land. We live in a land that is falling deeper and deeper into sin and further and further away from you. Lord send your angels to protect your people from the attack of the enemy. Protect your people and direct them to where you would have us go. When we are in places and times where we could be caught up in the consequences of this sinful world help us to turn away and follow you without looking back. When the enemy is beating on our door to try to stop us from following you keep us safe and strong and overcome the enemy in your power and might. Lord Jesus heal our land. Amen.