Today’s scripture: Genesis 19:12-29 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Jeff Miner):
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah has been misused by many to argue that homosexuality is a sin. As a result, whenever people discuss Genesis 19, the conversation usually devolves into a debate about homosexuality — and in the process, we end up missing the real spiritual lessons the story was originally intended to make. If you worry that today’s passage is meant to condemn homosexuality, please take some time to listen to my sermon found at the following link:
http://wouldjesusdiscriminate.org/biblical_evidence/sodom_and_gomorrah.html
But let’s not get stuck there. Let’s move beyond the false notion that Genesis 19 condemns gay people and instead focus on the real lessons meant to be conveyed.
Imagine if you woke up tomorrow morning and were suddenly ordered to flee your home with nothing but the clothes on your back. That’s what Lot and his wife faced. Sodom had become their home. Their friends, social network, livelihood, and physical residence were all located in Sodom. It was their home. Without warning, they were asked to leave behind everything familiar and comfortable.
In verse 17, the angel admonished them not to even look back. Then comes the drama of verse 26: “But Lot’s wife… , looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” The morale of the story isn’t subtle:
People who get stuck “looking back” in life become ossified.
When I was in Bible college, I loved it so much I wanted to stay. I decided I would finish my undergraduate degree, go to graduate school, then become a professor and spend the rest of my life teaching at that very same Bible college. It was a vision for life that was familiar and comfortable.
But God had other plans. Through a complicated set of circumstances, it became impossible for me to put down roots at my beloved Bible college. Life forced me up and out. At the time, I was profoundly disappointed. “God, why won’t you let me stay here!” I felt like Lot and his wife being forced to leave the comfort of the familiar for the uncertainty of the hill country.
With the benefit of hindsight, I can now see that if God had let me stay, I would have become ossified. To grow into the fullness of who God created me to be, and to accomplish my God-given purpose in life, I had to let life take me where I didn’t want to go. I’m so glad I didn’t look back.
Thought For The Day: People who get suck looking back become ossified. Embrace the future with gusto!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.