Jan 6: (Gen. 19-21) The Orthodox Study Bible
(Chapter 19)Two angels came to Sodom in the evening. They feasted with Lot. The Sodomites, (men both young and old) surrounded Lot's house demanding Lot turn over the two men so they could have relations with them. Lot offered his daughter's "who have not known a man, only do nothing to these men who have come under the protection of my roof." The Angels struck those at the door, pulling Lot inside the house, with blindness and they grew weary of trying to find the door. The angels decided to destroy this place, asking Lot if he had relatives. They were led outside of the city with the warning not to look back by the angels. When Lot arrived in the city of Zoar, the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from heaven. Lots wife became a pillar of salt, having looked back. (The sin, disobedience). Lot lived in a cave with his two daughters. The eldest daughter bore a son named Moab. The youngest's son, Ammon, both from the seed of their father, Lot, having made him drink wine and unaware.
(Chapter 20) Abraham journeyed south. To protect himself from death he said Sarah was his sister. King Abimelech sent and took Sarah. God told him "Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is a man's wife." Abimelech had not come near her and said she didn't tell him "he is my brother", claiming to have done this with a clean heart and righteous hands.
God said to him in a dream "Yes, I know you did this with a clean heart; and I spared you that you might not sin against Me. Therefore, I did not allow you to touch her." Abraham is then confronted by Abimelech, and admits that Sarah is his wife, but also truly his sister, (daughter of his father, not of his mother.)For the sake of honor Abimelech gave Abraham goods and restored Sarah to him. Abraham prayed to God on behalf of Abimelech and healed Abimelech, his wife, and female servants. Then they bore children; "for the Lord closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah.
(Chapter 21) Abraham dwelled in the land and Sarah bore him a son, Isaac, in her old age. When Isaac is weaned, a feast was made. Hagar and Ishmael are sent away by Abraham, giving them a skin of water and bread. When the water was used up, she placed Ishmael under a shrub, and wept. Then the angel of the Lord called out from heaven telling her God has heard, promising that "I will make him a great nation." She found water and they dwelt in the desert. His mother took a wife for him from Egypt.
Abraham makes an agreement with Abimelech, at the well of oath, where Abraham planted a field. And there they stayed in the land of the Philistines many days, where he called on the name of the Lord.
My Notes: It is clear that certain behaviors are not to be tolerated by the Lord and of which end up with divine intervention from heaven. It is also clear that our actions are noted.
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