Have you ever felt like you missed the boat?
You had an inkling something needed attention, but you let it go?
Life stayed busy and you just didn’t get around to heeding that internal warning?
The disturbance in your gut became a full-blown storm.
A dripping faucet is silent because the well went dry.
That soft tire somehow goes flat first thing Sunday morning.
The chickens are loose in the road after the latch finally gave way.
It’s as if a small cloud on the horizon turns into a hurricane.
You battle the waves that threaten to drown you, alternating between fighting or fleeing.
You gulp for air. You do everything you can think of to address the problem. Finally you turn to the LORD. He reaches down and rescues you. You collapse on the shore in relief and gratitude.
Then a nasty little snake starts to whisper.
“If you’d only paid closer attention.”
“If only you hadn’t ignored the warnings you received.”
“If you’d simply responded to the smaller issue, none of this would have happened.”
Come on. Admit it. You’ve beaten yourself up for this kind of thing more than once.
You may even still be bruised from the last storm. Take a breath. There’s hope.
Yes, God wants us to hear, listen, and obey the directions He gives in His Word and in the promptings of Holy Spirit. Sooner rather than later. However, not doing so immediately the first time and every time does not mean He will abandon you instantly. Genesis 19 carries a rich reminder.
God sent two angels to warn Lot that the city where he was living would be destroyed. He ignored what they said and “dallied”. The next morning they warned Lot again finally grabbing his hands and those of his wife and two daughters, and led them out of the city.
The angels told Lot to flee to the mountains, but he said he was too frightened and wanted to go to a nearby town instead. Such boldness.
God granted his request and when Lot arrived there God kept him safe while He destroyed everything else on the entire plain of Sodom and Gomorrah.
In spite of Lot’s lack of attention.
In spite of Lot ignoring warnings.
In spite of Lot’s mediocre response.
God was merciful to Lot.
And in spite of your flaws He will be merciful to you.
“For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.”
Deuteronomy 4:31 NIV1984
Take a few minutes to read Genesis 19:1-29. Step into the scene in Sodom. How would you have responded to Lot? How would you describe God’s mercy to Lot? … to you?
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Thank you and God bless.