QT 9/12/2025 Gen 19:14-22, We are all stubborn

Genesis 19:14–22 (ESV) —

14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

 

NOTE: Wow, why do we argue with God so much? I realize that Lot was arguing with the angels, but I'm sure they had direction from the Lord. Lot lingers in the city. He did try to get the son-in-laws, but they would not listen. He doesn't want to go to the hills, but later we will find out that he does go to the hills. Why does he want to stay in the city? His apparent business is probably based on cities: maybe finances or trades -- it is not clear. But the key thing, he does not want to let go, almost to the point of his own death.

 

We are stubborn like Lot. We have our own idea of what is best for our lives. We don't want to listen to God. We want to be god deciding on the course and direction of our life. We want to change God's will to fit our idea of what God's will should be. We are so foolish. How do we fix this tendency? I think the greatest tool we have is the word of God. We need to be soaked in God's word. We need to read it every day. Only as the word seeps deeper in our life do we have any hope of listening to God instead of being stubborn to God.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my main source of instruction about God, other's opinions or the Word of God?
2. Where am I being stubborn? And where do I need to be listening to God more than to the world?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I am stubborn. I know the sinful nature affects me. I know too that you Holy Spirit is changing me. I am not the person I was, not am I the person I will be. Thank you for the sanctifying impact of the HS on my life.