Don't waste time...

Words to live by… Genesis 19:17-21&30

In last week’s “Words to live by…,” we discussed Lot’s lingering when it was time to leave the sinful city of Sodom. The mercy God shows Lot is exceptional--as it is to all of us. As we continue to read the account of Lot’s deliverance from these wicked cities, an interesting situation is recorded in verse eighteen. The angel tells Lot to run to the mountains as fast as he can and don’t even take time to look back. Lot then begins to argue with the angel about how far he should go from the destruction. What an arrogant man! Somewhere between fear and selfishness, this man reasons that his opinion matters.
We have got to take a lesson from this story! Lot wants to tell the angel what works best for him, even though he’s the one who has totally rebelled against God and caused all this chaos for his family. When will this guy learn just to listen to God and obey? Even though he asked God to make an exception in his instruction to him, he doesn’t even carry out what he has asked God to allow him to do: He asks God if he can stay in a little city called Zoar instead of going all the way to the mountains. However, we find out in verse thirty that he did not, in fact, stay there.

The lesson: Listen to God and do exactly as he says. Trust him!

The reason: God knows us better than we know ourselves, and he always knows what’s best for us.

It would do us all well to instantly obey God instead of taking the time to debate with him. While we’re wasting time, God’s perfect plan for us, and possibly others, is being delayed. Still, he continually tolerates our insistence on having our own way even though he knows it is going to cost us. He wants us to learn from our mistakes. Isn’t he an awesome God?! How wonderful it is to serve a God so patient and kind!
Lot finally does leave Sodom and gets to the safety of the mountains. God’s mercy once again saves the day. We ought to obey God instantly and reap the benefits of his delivering hand. We should always deny ourselves the tendency to bargain with God, and experience the incredible blessing that comes with immediate obedience.