Wednesday: Abraham’s Mission
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 25th of October 2023
Read Genesis 19:1-38:1-29. What was the result of Abraham’s spirit of hospitality, love, and prayer?
The text gives an interesting indication about the position of Lot in the city of Sodom: “Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom” (Genesis 19:1-38:1, NKJV). This means he was an important character in the city, certainly a public officer, because sitting in the gate is a privilege of officers, judges, and kings (2 Samuel 19:8, Jeremiah 38:7, Ruth 4:1).
Genesis 19:1-38 almost parallels chapter 18 and the story of the angels with Abraham. Abraham and Lot were each sitting at an entrance or gate (Genesis 18:1, Genesis 19:1); Abraham and Lot each invited strangers to rest in their abode (Genesis 18:3-4; Genesis 19:2); Abraham and Lot each prepared food for their visitors (Genesis 18:4-8, Genesis 19:3). Whatever else his faults, Lot had some good characteristics, it seems.
“Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground” (Genesis 19:24, 25, NKJV).
We don’t know how many people were living in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah at the time of this account, but among these thousands of people only four left the city, and only three were saved. The same with the Genesis flood. We don’t know how many were alive then, but we know that most were not saved.
The small number of residents of Sodom who were saved has implications for our own mission: not everyone will be saved. We would like everyone to accept Jesus and His plan of salvation, but each person has free will. Our task is to invite as many people as possible to make the choice for Jesus. While we are carrying out our mission, God assists us through the Holy Spirit, but He will never go against the will of anyone. Free will means that, in the end, no matter what we do, no matter how much we pray, salvation comes down to each individual’s choice.
How can we learn not to be discouraged if we are not seeing the kind of results that we want when we do mission?
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How can we learn not to be discouraged if we are not seeing the kind of results that we want when we do mission ?
Focusing on "the kind of results we want", results in us losing focus on results that God wants.
I am just grateful that He makes me a fisher of men (King Jesus in Matthew 4:19 KJV).
We must remember that we cannot convert anyone, and God does not expect that of us. Conversion is the express work of the Holy. What God expects of us in making disciples for Him is to share the good news about Him. We must show them the goodness and love that God has for them by sharing how God has loved and blessed us, thus introducing them to the Master.
The last remark should be our encouragement. Fulfill your task, share the gospel message, leave the rest to the Lord. Matthew 24:14
Let's remember that this is not about us.
Our mission cannot be successful without prayer, intercessory prayer. After meeting someone, after giving a sermon or a Bible study, we must pray for the people we have been in contact with. God is heedful of these prayers in touching the hearts of the people we have contacted. It is not our words or eloquence that will convert our friends or acquaintances—it is the Holy Spirit. This is why in any mission in which we are engaged, we must pray for each person individually.
"...each person has free will... salvation comes down to each individual's choice."
Freedom of choice, we all have! God wants to save everybody, but not everybody wants to be saved. Thus, He respects mine and your decisions. May we do His will for our lives because He knows the end from the beginning - that's a bright choice! Mission in love is what we need to accomplish things. Where there is love, there is peace!
From the quote below, what is the use of Intercessory prayer?
The small number of residents of Sodom who were saved has implications for our own mission: not everyone will be saved. We would like everyone to accept Jesus and His plan of salvation, but each person has free will. Our task is to invite as many people as possible to make the choice for Jesus. While we are carrying out our mission, God assists us through the Holy Spirit, but He will never go against the will of anyone. Free will means that, in the end, no matter what we do, no matter how much we pray, salvation comes down to each individual’s choice.
Your (intercessory) prayer helps (through a process of humility) bring the proverbial horse to the (lake of living) water. It is still the horses' choice as to whether they will drink or not.
Abraham's mission successfully accomplished because atleast a soul or two were saved from the wrath of God and his intercession prayers bore fruits,nevertheless how fewer they may appear,atleast God remembered His conversation with Abraham on that mountain...
How can we learn not to be discouraged if we are not seeing the kind of results that we want when we do mission?
Pray for those we come in contact with individually. If we don't we can miss God,s mission, our mission.
While Lot and his family left the city, it is amazing that the Bible says they lingered there. The angels had to physically take them out! God is so merciful.
We often get caught up in trying to curate the result. But our work is to spread the seed and
leave the end result to God.
I am content in just being a co-labourer with God in this beautiful plan of salvation, and, while I'm not going to worry too much about the result, I know that victory is guaranteed!!
It is natural for us to want to see fruits from our labours,however as everyone said, its an individual choice. I remember going out knocking on doors to pray for individuals. One lady came out and and told us in no uncertain terms that she did not want prayer and we must move from her door now. One member was able to balance that comment that she was not just refusing us, she was refusing the Holy Spirit.
Because I think of mission differently, it does not sit right with me to consider what the lesson writer expresses as: “God ‘assisting’ us ….” We are not in charge, we cannot do anything good in our own power; all good things are from above and we walk in the newness of its light and life. I still hold that our new nature is being calibrated to be mission-minded in heart and spirit; we are ‘mission’ and live ‘mission’ by the Grace of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
One could consider that Lot was still more dependent on the acknowledgement and status a successful person receives from the people around him. Abraham on the other hand seems to have his identity firmly attached to the relationship and resulting interaction with his God and what He thought about his standing in the community. Though not perfect, God’s Spirit was vibrant and easily expressed in his life.
Lot seemed to still retain a semblance of godliness, but it was through trial and tribulation that he was spared together with his closest family members to survive and grow his tribe. Similar to Noah, they were children of his flesh, but not God’s children by their spirit. As long as there is the desire - willingness and satisfaction - of going after what the world offers, the desire will be to keep things the same.
Those who feel lost, disenfranchised, or feel repulsed by that which makes this world go-round are the ones potentially open to accepting a different gospel. Seeking after the 'riches' this world offers will make it difficult to enter the 'Kingdom of Heaven'- Matt.19:23-26. ‘Who then can be saved’ – Jesus’ reply: ”With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
*IN SUMMARY*
The small number of people from Sodom who were saved is a warning to us in our work for God. Not everyone whose life we touch will be saved. Of course, we want everyone to accept Jesus and be saved. At the same time, we must remember that each person has free choice. Our job is to invite as many people as possible to make the choice for Jesus. God will send His Holy Spirit to help us. But God will never force anyone to accept Him or go against someone’s free choice. Free choice means that the people we pray for are saved or lost because of their own choice.Amid his flaws, Lot & Abraham had some things in common; like Abraham, he sat at an entrance or gate (it means he was a public officer), both men invited and served strangers. Only Lot and his family (4) left the city and only 3 were saved among the many in the 2 cities; same with the Flood. Thus, we need to win more souls for God.
Luke chapter 10 deals with such a topic and gives encouraging insights on the attitude of any missionary.
Whether we are just lay missionaries or full-time missionaries with badges, we are always confronting evil forces, meaning we are at war and it‘s all about spiritual victory.
V.3: Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
V.4: And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house
V. 6: And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again
V.10-11: But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you.
Yet contrary to the discouragement facing negative results, it‘s also essential to remember that success needs to be dealt with as well.
When the 72 disciples returned with joy, having conquered spirits of darkness, Jesus told them:
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Would this imply that esteeming the honor of being saved should be the main motivation for our work for the glory of God?
Not discouraged! Never should we dishonor God with discouragement. But we may shed heart felt tears at the impenitence of those who stubbornly refuse the grace of God.
"With an agony of desire that words cannot express, he, (Noah) entreated them to seek a refuge while it might be found". ( Patriarchs and Prophets 97-98)
If there is a singular characteristic that delineates the unrepentant, it is making fun of the message. "Again they rejected his, ( Noah's) words, and raised their voices in jest and scoffing". (Ibid
Genesis 19:14 NKJV "So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, 'Get up, and get out of this place: for the LORD will destroy this city!' But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking".
In the days of the last king of Judah we see the same result. "'Should ye be utterly unpunished?' He inquired 'Ye shall not be unpunished.'" Jeremiah 25:29
"Even these words were received with mocking derision" (Prophets and Kings p. 459-450) The prophet must have sobbed,
"Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people." (Jeremiah 9:1)
And finally we have the example of Jesus,
"They, (the multitude) are surprised and disappointed to see His eyes fill with tears, and His body rock to and fro like a tree before the tempest, while a wail of anguish bursts from His quivering lips, as if from the depths of a broken heart."
(Desire of Ages p. 575)
The response of the anguish of Jesus was mocking cruelty. "Then they spat in His face, and beat Him, and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, 'Prophesy to us Christ! Who is the one who struck you?'" Matthew 26: 67,68 NKJV
And finally we come down to 2023;
"So today the servant of Christ, the reprover of sin, meets with scorn and rebuffs". (Desire of Ages p. 587-588)
So never should we yield to discouragement, but as those are more worthy, who have gone before us, we may feel the same deep sorrow, and shed the same sympathizing tear.
Steven - Thank you for sharing with us your encouraging insights!