Understanding Judgment, Death, and Salvation.
Memory Verse:
“Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
Sermon Sentence: A proper view of God must contain both His extreme love for us and also His extreme disgust of sin.
“Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
Sermon Sentence: A proper view of God must contain both His extreme love for us and also His extreme disgust of sin.
Day 1
Read Joshua 6:15-25
This week, we are trying to tackle the tough questions that come up in the Jericho story, and to be totally honest, other places in the Bible too. Growing up, I was taught to fear the idea of questioning the Bible. The older people would disparage the younger people asking questions. As I have gotten older and experienced a different culture, I wonder if that presentation was due more to the reality that the older generation didn’t have answers to the questions that were being asked more than was realized. You should ask the questions that deserve being asked. Not only that, you should wrestle with them. The wrestling match will drive you further into the word of God, and rarely is that a bad thing! Of course, you should beware the desire to Google the answers and go with the first thing that you find. The real value is in the journey of learning.
Not every battle is like Jericho. Not every battle is mandated with total destruction. This one is. Sodom and Gomorrah, where we will do a lot of studying this week, is. For this story, I simply call you to focus on this weird phenomenon that seems to accompany everyone of these destruction narratives. Even when everyone is called out to experience total destruction, there is a compassionate picture that emerges of salvation for the one that asks for it.
Why do you think that the writer of Joshua is adamant that the story of Rahab is repeated over and over again in this narrative?
How does this idea parallel the rest of the story of the Bible?
As we approach Easter, and we are thinking about inviting friends and family to church to hear the Gospel message, who are you praying for God to help you reach?
This week, we are trying to tackle the tough questions that come up in the Jericho story, and to be totally honest, other places in the Bible too. Growing up, I was taught to fear the idea of questioning the Bible. The older people would disparage the younger people asking questions. As I have gotten older and experienced a different culture, I wonder if that presentation was due more to the reality that the older generation didn’t have answers to the questions that were being asked more than was realized. You should ask the questions that deserve being asked. Not only that, you should wrestle with them. The wrestling match will drive you further into the word of God, and rarely is that a bad thing! Of course, you should beware the desire to Google the answers and go with the first thing that you find. The real value is in the journey of learning.
Not every battle is like Jericho. Not every battle is mandated with total destruction. This one is. Sodom and Gomorrah, where we will do a lot of studying this week, is. For this story, I simply call you to focus on this weird phenomenon that seems to accompany everyone of these destruction narratives. Even when everyone is called out to experience total destruction, there is a compassionate picture that emerges of salvation for the one that asks for it.
Why do you think that the writer of Joshua is adamant that the story of Rahab is repeated over and over again in this narrative?
How does this idea parallel the rest of the story of the Bible?
As we approach Easter, and we are thinking about inviting friends and family to church to hear the Gospel message, who are you praying for God to help you reach?
Day 2
Read Genesis 18:16-33
These “men” that are in this story may need some context. They have just delivered the message of the miracle child that Abraham and Sarah were going to have. So they are delivering that message, and where your reading picked up, was right after that conversation. The Lord doesn’t want to keep what He is about to do from Abraham. That is a neat thought…God doesn’t desire to hide messages from His people. He is open and transparent, and for some reason, invites us into the conversations with Him. That is the theme of behind what we are studying this week- God is openly delivering His message for us to wrestle with. That is what Abraham does with this message of judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah. He struggles with it and it bothers him so much, that he launches on a negotiation tactic with God. “Total destruction!? Yeah God, surely that is not your character if there are just 10 righteous people there?” It took him a while to get there, but that is the “deal” he finally seems to strike with God.
For this devotion, I want you to notice the heart of God. The message is jarring, and it should be. Who wouldn’t be appalled at the idea of a total annihilation like this? The willingness of God to even allow this negotiation to go on shows us the heart of God. He is bothered by this reality as well. “Then why not stop the plan?” There has to be justice. And justice, although it delights the heart of God, the reality of it also pains the heart of God. This is no light decision that has been stumbled upon or a even a moment of fuming anger that is misplaced and simply because of a foul mood. For the sake of even just 10 people being righteous, God would relent to compassion and hold back. But, there were not even 10.
How have you negotiated with God and appealed to his compassion in your prayers?
Why do we struggle with the idea of a city or two not even having 10 people worth being considered as righteous?
What do you learn about the world that you live in from the themes of this story?
How is your heart stirred toward the lost that need saved after this part of this text?
These “men” that are in this story may need some context. They have just delivered the message of the miracle child that Abraham and Sarah were going to have. So they are delivering that message, and where your reading picked up, was right after that conversation. The Lord doesn’t want to keep what He is about to do from Abraham. That is a neat thought…God doesn’t desire to hide messages from His people. He is open and transparent, and for some reason, invites us into the conversations with Him. That is the theme of behind what we are studying this week- God is openly delivering His message for us to wrestle with. That is what Abraham does with this message of judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah. He struggles with it and it bothers him so much, that he launches on a negotiation tactic with God. “Total destruction!? Yeah God, surely that is not your character if there are just 10 righteous people there?” It took him a while to get there, but that is the “deal” he finally seems to strike with God.
For this devotion, I want you to notice the heart of God. The message is jarring, and it should be. Who wouldn’t be appalled at the idea of a total annihilation like this? The willingness of God to even allow this negotiation to go on shows us the heart of God. He is bothered by this reality as well. “Then why not stop the plan?” There has to be justice. And justice, although it delights the heart of God, the reality of it also pains the heart of God. This is no light decision that has been stumbled upon or a even a moment of fuming anger that is misplaced and simply because of a foul mood. For the sake of even just 10 people being righteous, God would relent to compassion and hold back. But, there were not even 10.
How have you negotiated with God and appealed to his compassion in your prayers?
Why do we struggle with the idea of a city or two not even having 10 people worth being considered as righteous?
What do you learn about the world that you live in from the themes of this story?
How is your heart stirred toward the lost that need saved after this part of this text?
Day 3
Read Genesis 19:1-22
There is always a story of salvation. Noah and his family are saved from the flood. Rahab was saved from Jericho. Lot and his family are saved in this story. God is always saving those out of the destruction. That is a theme that you want to hang on to. The strange thing about this one is the blindness that Lot and his family are experiencing that keeps them from seeing the dire situation they are in and the incredibleness of the salvation they are experiencing.
Obviously this story is working as a parable teaching us things as well, right? If you look at it carefully you will be able to draw them out. It is a compassionate God that reaches into the filth and disgusting nature of this place to save those that need to be brought out. I mean, can you even imagine a place that could produce a story as disgusting as the men of the city displayed in this story? It has to be the most grotesque and disgusting display of a civilization that we could imagine. And Lot’s family lived in the middle of that mess. Every day they didn’t even realize how much more they had become ingrained in the chaos. But God, in His compassion, saw them there, knew them and who they could be, and saved them from the judgment of that place. When you have the chance to escape judgment, you should run. Don’t look back and don’t second guess it. Accept the grace and run!
How is your testimony like the story of Lot?
How does this story help you understand God’s story of salvation better?
Who does this story compel you to pray for as you are sharing the gospel this week?
There is always a story of salvation. Noah and his family are saved from the flood. Rahab was saved from Jericho. Lot and his family are saved in this story. God is always saving those out of the destruction. That is a theme that you want to hang on to. The strange thing about this one is the blindness that Lot and his family are experiencing that keeps them from seeing the dire situation they are in and the incredibleness of the salvation they are experiencing.
Obviously this story is working as a parable teaching us things as well, right? If you look at it carefully you will be able to draw them out. It is a compassionate God that reaches into the filth and disgusting nature of this place to save those that need to be brought out. I mean, can you even imagine a place that could produce a story as disgusting as the men of the city displayed in this story? It has to be the most grotesque and disgusting display of a civilization that we could imagine. And Lot’s family lived in the middle of that mess. Every day they didn’t even realize how much more they had become ingrained in the chaos. But God, in His compassion, saw them there, knew them and who they could be, and saved them from the judgment of that place. When you have the chance to escape judgment, you should run. Don’t look back and don’t second guess it. Accept the grace and run!
How is your testimony like the story of Lot?
How does this story help you understand God’s story of salvation better?
Who does this story compel you to pray for as you are sharing the gospel this week?
Day 4
Read Genesis 19:23-38
Have you ever looked back? This story seems to keep going and going and it doesn’t seem to end like it was supposed to. Rahab, in the Joshua story, had a much different ending that felt a lot better. Rahab, the prostitute, was saved from the destruction and had a legacy of change that mattered. She found herself in the lineage of Jesus Himself, reminding us that salvation and adoption are so closely related to what God is doing. But this family goes from the belly of the beast to their own filth. Was it too late? Did God’s grace even matter to this family? Lot’s wife looks back on the way out of town and instantly turns to a pillar of salt. Then, the family falls apart with this story that seems to have no place but brings about an incestuous lineage. If you know your Bible history, you know that these two kids have ancestors that create a LOT of problems down the road.
Was God’s grace wasted in this story? Rahab was a person of all sorts of sexual perversion that was saved and had a life change. These jokers lived in sexual perversion, was rescued out of it, but then found themselves living exactly like the place they came from. We don’t get many answers to that. But it is a reminder that there is always way more going on that we just don’t get. This sin thing is a nasty mess and it is ever destroying us and those around us. Eventually, Ruth, who is described as a Moabite woman, shows up in a story about rescuing God’s people and bringing salvation to the nation of Israel. Oh yeah, she is also listed in Matthew’s genealogy as a direct descendant of Jesus.
How have you seen people saved out of something only to look back and be distracted by what they came from?
How have you seen people rescued from sin only to return to living like they claimed they were not going to be anymore?
How does this study today become part of your prayer?
Have you ever looked back? This story seems to keep going and going and it doesn’t seem to end like it was supposed to. Rahab, in the Joshua story, had a much different ending that felt a lot better. Rahab, the prostitute, was saved from the destruction and had a legacy of change that mattered. She found herself in the lineage of Jesus Himself, reminding us that salvation and adoption are so closely related to what God is doing. But this family goes from the belly of the beast to their own filth. Was it too late? Did God’s grace even matter to this family? Lot’s wife looks back on the way out of town and instantly turns to a pillar of salt. Then, the family falls apart with this story that seems to have no place but brings about an incestuous lineage. If you know your Bible history, you know that these two kids have ancestors that create a LOT of problems down the road.
Was God’s grace wasted in this story? Rahab was a person of all sorts of sexual perversion that was saved and had a life change. These jokers lived in sexual perversion, was rescued out of it, but then found themselves living exactly like the place they came from. We don’t get many answers to that. But it is a reminder that there is always way more going on that we just don’t get. This sin thing is a nasty mess and it is ever destroying us and those around us. Eventually, Ruth, who is described as a Moabite woman, shows up in a story about rescuing God’s people and bringing salvation to the nation of Israel. Oh yeah, she is also listed in Matthew’s genealogy as a direct descendant of Jesus.
How have you seen people saved out of something only to look back and be distracted by what they came from?
How have you seen people rescued from sin only to return to living like they claimed they were not going to be anymore?
How does this study today become part of your prayer?
Day 5
Read Deuteronomy 9:1-12
I truly hope this week has helped you to be able to process some of the thoughts surrounding these really difficult passages in the Bible. Remember, my goal is not to answer all of the questions, but at least to give some framework with how to process this all through. It seems that most people’s minds start to go to the idea that in these annihilation passages, God must be replacing a bad people for a good people. I am also aware that the information we have worked through might lead you to think this. This has not been my point, nor is it the point of the Bible. Clearly, in many places, like these passages that we read today, God makes it a point to spend some time explaining that this is not what is happening. Israel is not a superior race or nation morally, and therefore they win the game of occupation.
Our good deeds do not equal enough of anything to make a difference for our sins. That is a really important reminder that is needed to keep salvation, as provided by Jesus for us, in perspective. We did not help God pay for our debt. It wasn’t our gift plus His gift and that equaled enough. God paid the full price. We accepted the gift given to us. This is also a reminder that keeps us humble and where we need to be. God is good. We are not. We received good, but only from the hand of God.
How have you noticed the grace of God in your life this week that is undeserved?
Why do you think it was important for Israel to remember these things found in this passage?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
I truly hope this week has helped you to be able to process some of the thoughts surrounding these really difficult passages in the Bible. Remember, my goal is not to answer all of the questions, but at least to give some framework with how to process this all through. It seems that most people’s minds start to go to the idea that in these annihilation passages, God must be replacing a bad people for a good people. I am also aware that the information we have worked through might lead you to think this. This has not been my point, nor is it the point of the Bible. Clearly, in many places, like these passages that we read today, God makes it a point to spend some time explaining that this is not what is happening. Israel is not a superior race or nation morally, and therefore they win the game of occupation.
Our good deeds do not equal enough of anything to make a difference for our sins. That is a really important reminder that is needed to keep salvation, as provided by Jesus for us, in perspective. We did not help God pay for our debt. It wasn’t our gift plus His gift and that equaled enough. God paid the full price. We accepted the gift given to us. This is also a reminder that keeps us humble and where we need to be. God is good. We are not. We received good, but only from the hand of God.
How have you noticed the grace of God in your life this week that is undeserved?
Why do you think it was important for Israel to remember these things found in this passage?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
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