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THEME: DEVASTATION AND NEW LIFE 

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 19:30-38

Lot and his two daughters seek refuge in a cave and Lot’s daughters commit incest with him.

REFLECTION 

The theme for reflection is devastation and new life. Devastation means great destruction or damage. After the devastation of Lot’s place of abode in Sodom and the loss of his wife, he and his two daughters went to sojourn at Zoar where the Angels asked him to seek refuge when they were about destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. It is a natural desire to start a new life after one has experienced devastation. The key question is after Lot and his family had experienced the devastation of Sodom what kind of new life did they envisage? A new life on their own or a new life with God?

It is important to note that Lot had an option after the devastation to go back to his relative Abraham to start a new life but Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. (Genesis 19:30). Lot knew that Abraham had a covenant with God and was blessed. One would have thought that Lot will direct his attention to Abraham but he rather chose to go live in a cave with his two daughters. In life, we are bound to experience devastation in different forms but God always makes provision by providing benefactors to enable us to start a new life. Sometimes we must make the effort to go to our benefactors, this must be done in total humility. Lot acted as if he was alone and did not have any family member, this attitude will lead him to start a new life in the cave.  

Again, Lot should have remembered that God saved him from the devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah therefore God was able to lead him and his family to start a new life. And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords.  Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!”  He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. (Genesis 19:18-22) What was Lot’s fear in Zoar that he could not rely on God for direction but decided to start a new life in a cave with his two daughters? It is important to always look back and remember God’s mercy and grace which has brought us this far and still rely on Him for His protection even if we feel insecure in our current situation. We cannot go through devastation without God, in the same manner,  we cannot start a new, successful and meaningful life without God. The result of moving into the cave was the abominable act of incest orchestrated by Lot’s daughters. After the devastation of Sodom, Lot completely took out God from the picture. Paul reminds us that “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) No matter the condition we find ourselves in, let us always be guided by the fear of God and our faith in God because He is the God of devastation at the same time the God of new life,” for In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)  Shalom 

PRAYER 

ALMIGHTY GOD, STRENGTHEN US TO TRUST AND OBEY YOU INCLUDING TIMES OF DEVASTATION AND NEW BEGINNINGS. INDEED, WE HAVE NO POWER OF OUR OWN BUT FULLY RELY ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES YET TO COME. WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY FOR THE NEW LIFE THAT AWAITS US. AMEN

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)