Genesis 19-21

The challenge in blogging through the history of the OT will be where to focus, wow, so much in these three chapters. I feel however that the part most striking to me is the contrast of what at first glance appears to be between the grace of God and the judgment of God.

We have an entire region that is consumed by fire, don't forget that includes children, innocent. Then, we have a man who lies, manipulates, untrusting, and disobedient, that's Abraham. How can this be? As I have blogged before, I don't believe that we see God's judgment in the OT and His grace and the NT. The judgment of God is only ever out of His grace, in an effort to bring people to repentance or to protect them from a future where possibly they would have only suffered. I think of the story of Lot's daughters, getting their father drunk, having an incestuous relationship with them, how could this be? Well, when we read about the dynamic in their home, we shouldn't be surprised. If your father is willing to throw you into a sex crazed mob in deference to being hospitable to strangers, no wonder there was a glaring absence of character in them. If I believe the sovereignty of God then I must embrace that if He allows innocent children to be destroyed, as He did in Sodom and Gomorrah, that was an act of grace on His behalf and not indifference. We must not see His invitation to them to enter into their eternal bliss as an act of a callous deity but rather the compassion of a loving God.

So why is He so patient with Abraham who appears to be so very flawed? I believe there is an important distinction here. Abraham's flaws did not characterize him. Did he make the same mistake twice, sure, but does two times characterize? Have you lied twice in your life in similar circumstances? Does that earn you the label of liar? I believe we see a pattern throughout Scripture and that is God's loving judgment comes once we have crossed the line of characterization.

Judas and Peter are a great example for us. Did they not ultimately commit the same sin? Did they not both betray their loyalty? There is however a grave difference, characterization. Judas was characterized by it, he was dishonest more than he wasn't. God knows the heart of every person. Peter, however flawed as we all are, was not characterized by dishonesty and betrayal. He made mistakes but was ultimately always growing and maturing, not just availing himself to forgiveness but to transformation as well.

Who gets to decide the difference between the two, characterization and momentary laps of character? God. Jeremiah 20:12 says, "Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause." He is the only one who is allowed judgment because He alone knows the heart.

Pastor Fred