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Post Info TOPIC: Alert and Oriented Times 0 (Not Enough)


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Alert and Oriented Times 0 (Not Enough)
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Not enough. If I were going to explain why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in two words, that would be it. Not enough. Two entire cities destroyed. Fire and brimstone ravished an area doing such damage that to this day the area is still barren. All because of those two words not enough. But I get ahead of myself, lets back up and look at what really happened.

The first thing we need to see actually takes in a neighboring area. God is visiting with Abraham and he lets the man in on his plans. Abraham knows Lot is down there and doesnt want to see his nephew killed. So he asks God if the city would be spared if fifty righteous people are living there. God says OK. Now if I were asking for something in a barter society I would intentionally ask much lower than what I actually wanted to spend. I would do this expecting the seller to go high. Part of the social interaction of the day was to try through argument, debate, persuasion, and cajoling to come to agreement. If I asked and it was accepted immediately I would know I asked way too much.

I can almost picture Abraham thinking the same thing on hearing Gods first answer. So he backs up a bit. Wait, God. Perhaps I was a bit too hasty with this. Forty-five. What about forty-five? Would you spare the city for that. And God says, Sure. Abraham backtracks again 40? Yes. 30? Fine. 20? No problem. 10? Yup. Do you see whats happening here? In his intercession, Abraham is bartering. But God is giving ground. I can almost see God eagerly prodding Abraham along to go lower. But Abraham stops. Later on God Himself says that he was looking for one righteous man to stand in the gap that Israel might not be spared. If one man had been enough for a nation, could it not also hace been enough for a couple cities? Abraham didnt intercede enough.

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You know, Lot always seems to get a bad rap. I guess thats the problem with being a contemporary of Abraham. I mean, how do you compare yourself to that guy. If three thousand years from now all the history books talked about me in conjunction with Mother Theresa I guess Id end up a villain too. Lot was a righteous man. Dont take my word for it. The Bible itself says Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard.

When the two angels who were heading into town to see what the city was like, they came upon Lot at the city gate. This tells me that Lot was a respected member in the community. The city gate was where all business transactions occurred and where disputed were settled. The townspeople saw something in Lot they respected. Unfortunately it wasnt enough for them to want to emulate it. The angels wanted to stay there for the night but Lot knew it wouldnt be safe for them. At risk to himself he cared enough about these strangers to offer them his roof and protection.

The problem comes when the angels tell Lot it is time to leave. We see two words that are so convicting to me: he hesitated. God has called us to be light to the world, but often our exposure to it instead allows the darkness to begin creeping into our lives. He has called us to be salt. Salt flavors. The world without Christians doing their job should be recognizably dull. Salt preserves. It is our job to prevent the worlds natural inclination into decay and decadence. Salt melts cold hearts. But when Lot left nobody came with him. Even his wife turned back (and turned to salt!) and his daughters proved by their actions that they brought a part of Sodom with them. There was not ten righteous people or even two, because Lot was not salty enough.

- - - - - - - - - -

And finally we look at the citizens of Sodom themselves. We look at those who are alert and oriented times zero. When night came, all the men of town headed over to Lots place to um introduce the strangers into the communitys ways. When the situation begins to grow tense for those inside, the angels strike everyone with blindness, get this, so that they could not find the door. OK, if Im doing something evil and God strikes me blind for it, I would hope to have enough sense to stop. But these guys were so blind to their sin that a literal blindness wouldnt even get them to stop. They were like dead men walking. They just didnt know it yet.

So what was Sodoms sin? They didnt care enough. Dont believe me? Listen to what God says in Ezekiel: Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned. They did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

Arrogant - They felt they were the only ones worthy of concern. Who cares about those people in other countries or cities. They can look after themselves.

Overfed - They were indulgent, fat, and lazy. According to the NCHS, almost two thirds of Americans over 20 are overweight or obese. But its not just food. We are indulgent in every aspect of our lifestyle. The worlds population living in the 20% richest countries consume 86% of the worlds resources. We can only maintain our lifestyle by keeping the poor, poor.

Unconcerned - Apathetic. Sodom simply did not care enough. And therefore they were destroyed.

God, help me to care. Let me be a voice that is not afraid to speak out in a dead and dying culture. Help me to be salt. Help me to curb the decay I see all around me. Help me to be an intercessor. Let me be the one standing in the gap. Let no one say of me Not enough.

-- Edited by Beejai at 14:59, 2009-02-16

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Anonymous

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BJ,
Your thoughtful insight has inspired me to study Ezekiel after work:)
Thanks for the note!


-- Edited by Beejai at 14:59, 2009-02-16

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Anonymous

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Thank you BJ. Thank you thank you thank you.


-- Edited by Beejai at 14:59, 2009-02-16

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