Chronological Reading Plan for Jan 18

Today's readings are Gen 19-21. Tomorrow's are Gen 22-24. 

As judgment approaches Sodom in ch 19. We see that Lot appears to be the only righteous man living in that city (Gen 19:4). Abraham negotiated with God and God agreed to spare Sodom if there were ten who were righteous(Gen 18:32-33). God destroys the city but spares Lot, his wife and his daughters, presumably because of Abraham's intercession (Gen 18:23; 19:15). We see that God will spare those who are represented by a righteous advocate or mediator, in Lot's case, Abraham. 

Note: The men of Sodom are so consumed by their lust that, even though struck blind, they continue to try to break into Lot's house. They are groping around in the dark. In contrast, at sunrise, Lot is led by the hand to safety. Those apart from the Lord are lost in the dark. Those who are with Him will be led into the light.

We have a telling contrast between Lot's wife, who disobeys the command not to look upon the destruction of the city and Abraham. She turns back to look and is turned into a pillar of salt. Meanwhile, Abraham, who has not been given the same commandment, looks on the destruction (Gen 19:27-28) with a vastly different outcome. In the story of Lot's wife, we see that it is not always the behavior, but the heart behind the behavior that condemns. There was obviously nothing inherently evil about looking at the city or the destruction. But there was in the disobedience of Lot's wife. Abraham is constantly portrayed as a man who, in spite of his weaknesses, wants to obey God.


Lot's daughters, with good intentions of perpetuating the bloodline, seduce their father and produce sons. Despite good intentions, this is still a sin. This will have long term impact on the dynamics of the region. Their offspring, the Moabites and the Ammonites, will live as enemies of God's people for centuries. As we have seen before and will see again, whenever one of God's people believe they have a better idea than God, or want to improve on His plan, it doesn't turn out so well. 

Abraham lies about Sarah again in ch 20, resulting in her being taken into King Abimilech's harem. Abimilech is a Philistine. God, being faithful to His promise to produce offspring for Abraham through Sarah, protects Sarah and prevents Abimilech from touching her (Gen 20:6) leaving no question as to who Isaac's father will be. Abraham receives grace even though he stumbles yet again. As flawed as he is, Abraham is being used in a mighty way as a vessel for blessing and curses. God uses flawed people to do His work!

While the Philistines will remain enemies of God's people as long as they exist, we learn two lessons about God in this incident. (1) He will use people who are not His in whatever manner He chooses. He not only protects Sarah but heals Abimilech, revealing that He has authority over even the Philistines. (2) His healing of Abimilech is an act of "common grace", the grace that is shown to ungodly people while God works His perfect plan out among those that are His. 

This is further demonstrated in ch 21 where God's promise to Abraham is fulfilled in the birth of Isaac. When Isaac is weaned, Abraham and Sarah turn Hagar and Ishmael out, apparently leaving them to starve to death. God promises to preserve Hagar and Ishmael, upholding His previous promise (Gen 16:10; 17:20) that Ishmael will be the father of multitudes. Reading Gen 20:12-13 carefully reveals that many nations will call Abraham their father (Rom 4:17-18), a prophecy borne out by today's current events as Ishmael's descendants as well as Isaac's consider Abraham their ancestor. This is the fruit of Abram and Sarai's decision to take things into their own hands.

God is faithful in all He says and does. Abraham and Sarah's sin impacts us today, just as Adam and Eve's does.