Bible Talks: Abraham the man of faith-Genesis 19:27-38

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Genesis 19:27-3827And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: 28And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29And 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. 30And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. (Genesis 19:27‑38)
“And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.” verse 30. Lot had asked for the little city of Zoar, rather than the mountain of refuge, but he found it a fearful place, too. There is no lasting peace in anything that this world offers.
Sad and tragic the end of this man and his family—his life a miserable failure; his final days hidden in a cave in the hills. What a contrast is found in the Apostle Paul who, nearing the end of his earthly journey could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” 2 Timothy 4:7,87I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7‑8).
The path of faithfulness is a path of vigilance, not of ease; a path marked by separation from, not joining with, the world. It may not bring riches or earthly attainment, but will produce eternal reward. It will not be marked by selfishness, for love delights to spend and be spent for others. It will not be popular with the world, but it will place one in communion with his Lord and Saviour. In short, the path of faith is the only true course for the believer who wants to enjoy the good of his position as a heavenly citizen. Lot forfeited all these blessings with a selfish and useless life. At the end of his history his daughters have sons by him; Moab, the head of the Moabites, and Ben-ammi, the head of the Ammonites, both of whom became the enemies of God’s people at a later date.
“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.” verse 29. Does it not touch our hearts to learn of Abraham’s intercession on behalf of his erring nephew? The faithful man who “stood before the Lord” had spoken earnestly on behalf of Lot and God heard and answered his request. In this loving example of intercession the saint of God is reminded of One who ever intercedes for His own at the right hand of God. (See Romans 8:3434Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34).)
Much has been said in the foregoing concerning the believer’s danger in getting involved with the world. But perhaps the reader is not himself a child of God through faith in Christ. The world may be all you know. It is hoped that if this is so you are concerned about the judgment that will soon fall upon this world and all who are not saved. Is there an intercessor for you, too? Yes indeed. Abraham, interceding for Lot is a picture of the Saviour who died to redeem sinners from their iniquity, to deliver them from “the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:1010And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)). “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25).
ML 10/03/1965