The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 19:1-11, “Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
2 And he said, ‘Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.’ They said however, ‘No, but we shall spend the night in the square.’
3 Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;
5 and they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.’
6 But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him,
7 and said, ‘Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly.
8 Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.’
9 But they said, ‘Stand aside.’ Furthermore, they said, ‘This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.’ So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door.
10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.
11 They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway.”

This incident in the life of Lot and his family runs parallel to events in our own day. So wild and ruthless were Lot’s homosexual neighbors that they wanted their “pleasures” without respect to Lot and the hospitality he extended to his visitors. There is no indication in the Scripture that these homosexuals knew that the men that had come to Lot’s house were in fact angels sent from God.

Hospitality was top priority in those days. In fact, it remains so in various areas of our world today. Missionaries learn such things quickly. It was hospitality that prompted Lot to offer to give his daughters to the men instead of his new visitors. It always bothered me that Lot called these evil men “brothers,” until I learned that the Hebrew word ??? ach could also mean “fellow countrymen.” Remember, too, that Simon Peter called Lot “righteous” (2 Peter 2:7) when the LORD rescued him, using the two angels.

Two major factors stand out in this recorded experience: first, sensual activity is always seeking to undermine whatever is godly. Such has been virtually unleashed in our world today! Second, the LORD always stands ready to rescue His own. Lot was far from perfect, notwithstanding his hospitality to the angelic strangers; Still, Lot was the LORD’s. Thus, he and his family were delivered.

We must never put ourselves in any situation that would smother our Christian influence. Yet, when situations that are beyond our control arise, we can always count on the LORD for our rescue. Be always spiritually prepared!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom