FAITH CAPSULE: Lot’s insistence on hospitality paid off when he was rewarded with salvation from destruction.

Genesis 19:1-25

Hospitality in the midst of depravity delivered Lot from the rain of brimstone that came over Sodom and Gomorrah. Besides the fact that Lot left Haran with Abraham when God called Abraham out, nothing in particular points to Lot’s qualification for his salvation among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. When it was time for Sodom and Gomorrah to be destroyed because of their wickedness, God let it known to Abraham, but not Lot. The Bible mentioned that Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom when the angels arrived. By virtue of his hospitality, when he saw them, “…he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” (Genesis 19:2) The angels did not accept Lot’s offer but Lot insisted. The Bible described that Lot “…insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.” (Genesis 19:3) Lot was concerned about the safety of the angels while they were in Sodom and Gomorrah and the concern of Lot became reality when the people of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house at night demanding to know the angels carnally. Lot’s hospitality of using his daughters as providing security for the angels fell short of pleasing the people of Sodom. Eventually, the angels struck the people with blindness. After the ordeal that demonstrated the sinful nature of the people of Sodom, the angel requested Lot, his wife, son in-laws and two daughters to leave Sodom because of inevitable destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot had done well before the angel; he made good account of himself as one that lives in the land but not part of the land. The Bible recorded, “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” (Genesis 19:16-17) Lot’s insistence on hospitality paid off when he was rewarded with salvation from destruction. Though he lingered, the angels were persistent and prevailed by taking hold of his hand and his family unto salvation.

Prayer for today: Ask God to take hold of you out of every area of life; every area of decision making or location, which are not of God that you have been lingering.