Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Sarah's Daughters

Been wanting to write this a couple weeks now. (Reading Genesis still). I finally came to Lot's wife the other day in chapter 19, and realized I really needed to get these thoughts down. I think all of us can empathize with missing "things" that we once held dear. Right now it seems like people are losing so much that these thoughts seem timely. So here goes...

Lot's wife was living in Soddom and Gomorrah where literally everyone was having sex with everyone it seemed. Two angels came to town and ALL the men came to rape them, thinking they were just men. So, lot offers his daughters to them instead, and tried to protect the angels (great dad huh? More on that in another blog maybe?)

When he (Lot) hesitated, the men (angels) grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. (19:16)

They all got out! They were safe. Their home was destroyed. All they had was gone. The wealth Lot thought he'd always have (remember he chose the green well-watered garden like land when he split from Abram) was gone (13:10). BUT THEY WERE ALIVE. Until...

...Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Gosh, don't you just want to shake her! (Before the shaker of salt she became-Sorry, bad joke!) Seriously though, haven't I done this in my own little world. Whenever I think, "What are we going to do now? How will we survive this? Look at what I am losing. That was my security. That was what I trusted to help me through things. My house, my city, my job, my_____." You fill in the blank. I know it's hard. I am struggling through my own hardships too. I don't want to become a pillar of salt though!

Thank God for Sarah. She laughs at what the Lord says about her bearing a child at 90 years old! I think I would have too. Just remember Abraham laughed when God first told him about Isaac too! (17:17) And this was before the Lord told Sarah.

The thing about Sarah is that she went with Abraham before all these other kings and did exactly what her husband told her to do-say she was only his sister! Now, I know you must be thinking-whoa, I would never do that. That's what I'm thinking. Well, she trusted and respected him enough to be leading her in the right direction. (That's not an easy thing for me to do-how about you?) Two kings were diseased and almost killed because of what Abraham did (chapters 12 and 20). BUT ultimately, Sarah and Abraham were blessed somehow through all these circumstances. And they did have Isaac at both of their ripe old ages!

Now Lot's wife and Sarah may or may not have known each other. As I have read through Genesis the last few weeks I have really been drawn to the women of this period. Specifically, look at Hagar (ch. 16). She met "the God who sees." Then there are Lot's daughters (19:36). Whether their parent's actually lived godly lives before them, we don't know. Apparently the environment of Soddom and Gomorrah left them stained enough to commit this sexual sin though. (Their fiancee's laughed at Lot when he tried to tell them to leave the city! 19:14)
Where is the hope in all of this you may ask?

Well, now we have Jesus and so many other godly women in the Bible and our lives to look at. This verse constantly comes up in my heart when I am struggling with things. (1 Peter 3:5-7)
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

The beginning of these verses are reminding us how to do it-It's not easy! The most important part for me is to always remember not to "give way to fear." Once I do this, I am free to trust God, my husband, and even that my circumstances will change, but My God won't. Sarah probably never even imagined how many daughters she would have!

PS. For our guys: Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for visiting my blog! I loved what you posted. How easy it is to look back at what's behind instead of looking forward to what's ahead. Lot's wife should've been anticipating not reminiscing. But that's human nature. I've learned a lot about reminiscing after divorcing after 21 years of marriage. It's difficult but I remember that He makes all things new (for me...better than before!)

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  2. Wow! What a great post--you just walked through the word and that is so refreshing! The Word of God is full of Life! I have a journal I jot my bible notes in and I've been wanting to post some them--and you inspired me to do just that! I look forward to reading more and to get to know you! I'm definitely a 1/2 intro 1/2 extro kinda gal too : D That's why writing is so wonderful.

    Thanks for your lovely comment!

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  3. Thank you so much for sharing what you are learning! This really touched my heart. I needed to read this today! God definitely led me to your blog this afternoon.

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  4. Hi Jenn, thanks for visiting my blog! So wonderful to see all the portions of God's word you have posted here.I will be following! :) Blessings, Jen

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