DAY 21
What does the Word of God say about Sodom, Gomorrah, and Lot? 2 Peter 2:6-8 explains: God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked; (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) Help us, Lord, hear and heed.
A.M. Reading: Genesis 19
Genesis Questions Worth Pondering:
As Genesis 19 begins, we learn more about the men who had visited Abraham.
Who were they?
Recall why they were going to Sodom. What were they going to find out?
Why was Lot so insistent that the men stay at his house?
What did the men of the city do?
What were they demanding?
How did Lot respond to them? What word did he use to describe their behavior?
Desperate to protect the visitors inside, what does Lot offer to this sexually demanding crowd?
(Note: NOTHING indicates that Lot’s offering his daughters was RIGHT! He should have been protecting them as strongly as he was protecting the men inside. Yet, this was how he was attempting to turn away this wicked crowd.)
What do the wicked men of Sodom accuse Lot of?
How often do we hear this spoken today when wickedness is confronted?
What do the wicked men threaten to do to Lot?
How do the angels inside respond?
How can we see their “supernatural” abilities?
Through the preceding events, what have the angels determined about Sodom?
What had the Lord sent them to do?
When warned of the destruction, how did Lot’s extended family react?
How did the angels convince Lot and his wife and daughters to leave?
What were they instructed to do?
What happened to Lot’s wife?
(Note: Many, through the centuries, have disputed that this actually happened to Lot’s wife. Yet in Luke 17:32, as Jesus warned of impending judgment, He said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” If Jesus believed this account to be true, we can be absolutely certain that it is true.)
Isn’t it amazing that Lot asked to go to another city, which was also going to be destroyed?
Why didn’t he stay in Zoar?
By what means did God destroy Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding plains area?
How thoroughly were these cities destroyed?
Recall Noah and the flood. What similarities can you see in these two accounts?
After all the destruction, where did Lot and his daughters finally go?
What did his daughters do?
How can we see mankind still possessed a fallen, sinful heart?
A “think” question: How can you see the daughters’ deeds as a work of their own hands … a work of the flesh? Can it produce goodness?
Think upon these truths … man’s sin … God’s judgment … God’s mercy … man’s desperate need for God and His righteousness.
P.M. Reading: John 11
John Questions Worth Pondering:
John 11 relates one of the most amazing events, further revealing who Jesus is.
Describe the situation at the opening of Chapter 11.
What was the purpose of Lazarus’ sickness?
(How is this similar to the account of the man who was born blind?)
Why does Jesus wait to go to this family?
Why do the disciples question him going to Judea?
Did the disciples understand Jesus’ description of Lazarus’ “sleep”? Why not?
How long had Lazarus been in the tomb?
How did Martha react when Jesus arrived?
What did Jesus reveal about Himself to Martha?
(Add to your list of who Jesus is.)
How did Mary react to Jesus?
How did Jesus react within His heart? How did His heart show outwardly?
What evidence do you see that neither the people around them, nor Martha understood Jesus?
Why did Jesus pray aloud in the hearing of the people?
What command did Jesus give Lazarus?
What then occurred?
(Add to your list of miracles.)
Read verse 4 again.
A “think” question: How was this sickness for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it?
How did many of the Jews respond?
But how did the other Jews respond?
What was the true concern of the chief priests and the Pharisees?
From that day on, what did they plot to do?
What command did they give?
With every miracle Jesus performed, the more dramatically He revealed that He was indeed the Son of God (God in the flesh) sent from the Father above. At every miracle, there were people who believed. But at every miracle, the opposition grew stronger and stronger!
Now that Jesus had raised someone from the dead, how can you see the chief priests’ and Pharisees’ fear, selfishness, and hatred intensify?
A “think” question: Recalling that the inward heart produces outward actions, what kind of actions can we expect from these religious leaders?
On the other hand, what inward heart and outward actions should be evident in all believers?
May the Word of Christ dwell richly within!
Wisdom and Kindness 