Arguing with God
This morning after a Chiropractor appointment, I made a trip to Westminster to pick my mother up at her sister’s retirement home. She will spend the night with us and I will take her home tomorrow, after a visit to her sister’s in Greeley. My mother’s sister Hida is 100 and seems to be doing good. My mother is 90.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “At daybreak the angels urged Lot on: “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he hesitated. Because of the Lord’s compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters. Then they brought him out and left him outside the city.” Genesis 19:15,16 HCSB
As I was reading once again of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, I was struck at the degree to which Lot hesitated at the deliverance the Lord was providing. We read how Lot, “…chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other…Lot lived in the cities of the valley and set up his tent near Sodom.” (Genesis 13:11,12 HCSB) Lot went from being “near” Sodom to being in the heart of the city that was known to be wicked.
Lot’s choices impacted his family. When the angels came with the message of destruction, his son-in-laws scoffed and laughed off the warning. (Genesis 19:14) We then see that when the time came for God’s judgment, that Lot hesitated to the extent that the God, in His mercy, allowed the angels to force him and his family to leave the city.
Once outside the city, Lot was told to “run to the mountains” – but Lot argued.
“But Lot said to them, “No, my lords—please. Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by saving my life. But I can’t run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. Look, this town is close enough for me to run to. It is a small place. Please let me go there—it’s only a small place, isn’t it?—so that I can survive.” (Genesis 19:18-20 HCSB)
The angels permitted Lot to escape to Zoar. But what happened after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? “Lot departed from Zoar and lived in the mountains along with his two daughters, because he was afraid to live in Zoar.” (Genesis 19:30 HCSB)
How often do people today, how often do you, argue with God? The writer of Hebrews puts out a challenging question, “…how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” (Heb. 2:3 NIV)
Some may argue with God over His plan of salvation. “It seems to easy.” “The life is too restrictive.” These kinds of thoughts and words often echo in people’s minds.
Some like Namaan of old rest God’s ways. Remember the Syrian commander the prophet told to go “wash in the Jordan” to be cleaned from his leprosy? At first he was insulted, but finally obeyed and was healed. Do we are argue when what God say seems to go against our thoughts, preferences and logic?
God’s mercy and grace saved Lot and it saves us today. For that we can be thankful. But we need to learn that “God knows best.” What we find is “ours is not to reason why” it is to us to obey and trust the One who knows how to provide for, guide and protect His children.