Genesis 65 – The Story of Lot (Part 3)

God's Word is from Genesis 19:15-23:

 

“As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” But Lot lingered. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And when they had brought them out, they said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” Then 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. Flee there quickly, for I can do nothing till you reach there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.” Amen.

 

Lot's Hesitation: Our Reflection

In Genesis 19, we are examining the story of Lot, Sodom, and Gomorrah, focusing on what Sodom's sin was and how Lot reacted to it. Today, we're looking at the beginning of that judgment. As dawn broke, the angels urged Lot, telling him to get up and take his wife and two daughters out, lest they be destroyed along with the city in its wickedness.

 

What's interesting is Lot's reaction. Lot had already warned his sons-in-law that night, saying, "Hurry and leave this place; it will be destroyed." But the Bible records that his sons-in-law thought he was joking. Yet, when the angels made a very similar statement to Lot, his reaction, according to the passage we read, is very different from what we'd expect. Verse 16 begins with, "But Lot lingered." The original Hebrew emphasizes this as a standalone sentence, highlighting a sudden shift in Lot. Why did he hesitate? He knew Sodom was facing destruction, and angels were urging him to leave. The Bible presents this event to us with a clear purpose today.

 

Lot's incomprehensible hesitation isn't just Lot's story; it's ours too. Despite hearing the angels tell him to go outside the city, Lot seemed to think inside the city was safer. Perhaps he mistakenly believed being inside was safer because the angels had previously led him inside his house to save him. But where was truly safe for Lot? Inside the city, or outside? This story is easy for us to judge since we know the outcome, but for Lot at that moment, it must have been confusing. In his judgment, inside seemed better. He might have thought there were places to hide, and if he went into the house and concealed himself, he would survive whatever happened.

 

Where is True Safety?

What do you think? Where is a safe place for us? Where is a safe place for a believer? We sometimes seek the Lord when our businesses face difficulties. This isn't something to be ashamed of. However, we sometimes feel it's petty to seek God only when our businesses are struggling, or we try to improve the situation ourselves before approaching Him. But this is the true sin. It's the same when we have deep emotional wounds or difficulties. It's easy to think, "I'll go to God once this is resolved," but on the contrary, that's precisely when you should go to Him. God is who we need at that very moment.

 

Sometimes, encountering the Lord helps both believers and non-believers resolve their difficulties. When our businesses recover, our illnesses are healed, or peace returns to our hearts, we thank God. But if this is the end of what we call our "testimony"—if the recovery of a business, the healing of a disease, or peace of mind is the ultimate goal of safety and peace—then where would your safe place be? It would probably be a successful business, a healthy body, a resolution to your inner conflicts, or that very moment or state where you feel joy and happiness. Is it wrong to find peace of mind at church? No, but if that's your ultimate goal, then that peace would be your safety.

 

However, at the same time, you might think: What if my business struggles again? All humans, no matter how healthy, eventually get sick. What if I get sick again? And while there are times of peace, there are also times during worship when nothing registers, and you struggle with inner conflict. In such cases, your composure is shattered, and you have neither safety nor stability. Is it really true that inside the house is safe and outside is dangerous? Is Sodom safe and outside Sodom unsafe? Or the other way around? In fact, today's story gives us a very important first lesson in that regard.

 

The True Purpose of Healing: To God

We talk a lot about healing these days because many people live with wounds. Emotional wounds, in particular, can linger and be incredibly painful. Although strong-willed individuals sometimes appear to overcome them, we often find that even they carry deep emotional scars. As a result, the word 'healing' has become very significant.

 

So, what is the purpose of healing? While the word 'healing' itself seems to imply its purpose, should simply having my heart find peace again, receiving treatment, experiencing peaceful or happy feelings, or having past wounds heal be the only purpose of healing? In fact, the true purpose of healing is not healing itself. The purpose of healing is God.

 

If peace of mind becomes our sole purpose, then when that peace is shaken, we'll have nothing to hold onto, and we'll live on a daily rollercoaster. The purpose of healing isn't our peace of mind, but rather God, who gives that peace. This is the true purpose of healing. The healing the world offers isn't the end of what we consider healing.

 

There are times when we gather together, pray, and share our hearts. When we are struggling with relationships with spouses, or the countless wounds and resentments from our lives, or difficulties with parents or children, and we gather to speak of our pain, we experience what we call 'healing.' This is because we realize we are not alone, we reflect on life anew, and we often find new strength. However, we must not stop there; we must look beyond that. That is not true healing.

 

Your true healing occurs when you know God, who holds your life in His hands, and go to Him. For there, true healing of soul and body is found. The reason I say this is because inside or outside the city wasn't what truly mattered. What mattered was that very place where the angels extended their hands, took Lot's hand, and walked out with him. The place where God was with them, leading him out. The place where God walked with him. Why? Because God was with him, that place was safe. That was the place where the greatest healing occurred, more than any other.

 

It was because God was there. Because God's promise was with him. Because God accompanied him. The place made safe by God was the true safety of the believer. But because we often forget this and are easily swayed by other things, we tend to think, "If we do this, we'll be safe." This is like the following analogy.

 

The Trap of the 'Yellow Pencil' Faith

When I was a kid, back in my day, there was a Korean pencil brand called Dong-A. We mainly used their HB pencils in school. But because Korea was poor back then, the lead wasn't very strong, and it broke easily. I used to play a game where we'd try to break pencils, and I never won with a Dong-A pencil. The pencil that dominated everything back then was the yellow pencil—an American brand. They still use them today, those standard yellow pencils. When that one showed up, it won every competition. So, the yellow pencil was the best.

 

Now, imagine this scenario: A child repeatedly scores 10, 15, 30, or 40 on tests using a Dong-A pencil. Then, one day, they take a test with that American yellow pencil and score 100. So, the child comes home and tells their mom, "Mom, from now on, only buy me yellow pencils! I scored 100 on the test with a yellow pencil. I'm only going to use yellow pencils from now on!" Should the mother really say, "Oh, so if you use a yellow pencil, you'll get 100," and only buy yellow pencils? You all know the truth. The child probably studied hard that day, and that's why the yellow pencil "worked." But if the child, unknowingly, carves their name into that pencil, ties a ribbon on it, decorates it with flowers, puts stickers on it, and declares, "This yellow pencil is everything," that child will soon be disappointed, and the parents will be upset. You and I know very well that's not how it works.

 

However, you and I often do something similar. We pray, and an illness is healed. Then we focus all our attention on the prayer itself. We say, "I prayed this way, and the illness was healed." We might even say, "If you had done an all-night prayer vigil, this problem would have been solved." Why? Because that's what you experienced. The 'yellow pencil' you used that day was 'prayer.' Someone else might say, "Read the Bible more, why aren't you serving diligently at church? I did that, and my business recovered. Therefore, don't focus on your business problems; come and serve at church, and God will restore your business." Our experience speaks to us. So, that becomes the 'yellow pencil.' What could possibly outweigh your own experience when it tells you, "If you do this, this will happen"? What could be more certain than what you've experienced?

 

Because of this, countless 'principles' emerge and continue to emerge among us. And we unknowingly start to forget that these become new laws, and that they become more important. To what extent does this go? As you well know, there's a saying, "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." So, some people, when doing good deeds for the church, actively refuse to have their names mentioned. "Don't mention my name. My left hand shouldn't know what my right hand is doing." They insist on anonymity. This is a good attitude; there's nothing wrong with it. However, the problem is that the person who acted anonymously begins to feel very proud of themselves. "I'm not like those people who put their names out there; I do things quietly," they start to boast to themselves.

 

When Jesus teaches us, "Do not pray like this, but pray in your closet," many people think that if they pray in their closet, everything will be resolved. But if praying in your closet becomes another law for you, it's no different from the previous one. One person prides themselves on praying in the street, and I pride myself on praying somewhere else. Praying in the closet becomes my pride. Ultimately, we forget what's truly important and go off in the wrong direction.

 

Reformed Faith: Avoiding the 'Yellow Pencil' Trap

Reformed faith is a precious spiritual heritage to me, a legacy of countless reformers who shared our confession of faith. We are truly blessed by these spiritual ancestors. However, if you think, "I am different because I have this 'correct' faith, unlike them," then both you and I are mistaken.

 

If "correct faith" doesn't bring humility, joy, and delight into your life, but instead becomes merely another thing you've learned that drives your faith, then you've simply replaced an old bad thing with a new one. You've exchanged a prosperity gospel for another form of pride.

 

Perhaps you think, "I'm more educated and refined now, so I'll abandon that ignorant faith of the past, the kind that squabbled in the marketplace." In doing so, you might be falling into another deception that appears cultured, impressive, and devout. This doesn't mean our faith has truly advanced. You've simply found another 'yellow pencil.'

 

Such a faith will not help you; instead, it will surely hurt you and lead you astray. This is because you need to truly "study," but you're clinging to and admiring another 'yellow pencil.' That 'yellow pencil' will not give you genuine answers.

 

Therefore, you and I must strive toward the true essence of faith. If something helps us grasp that essence, then our many spiritual predecessors deserve our respect, but that something itself should not become another 'yellow pencil' for you. How many such misunderstandings and attitudes do we see around us?

 

Offerings and Tithes: Are They Just Another 'Yellow Pencil'?

Friends, aren't offerings and tithes similar? Many people are so zealous about tithing, often because they've heard countless testimonies and firmly believe it's a command from the Bible. I, too, have heard countless times, until I was tired of hearing it, testimonies like, "Because I never missed tithing, God blessed my work." Of course, for those individuals, that's a genuine experience.

 

So, we should conduct a Gallup poll. I'd like all believers in Korea and America to write down whether they tithe diligently and what happened as a result. You might be more surprised than you think. If you look at the statistics, do you think there are more wealthy Christians in Korea, or more wealthy Buddhists, or more non-religious people and atheists? You'd probably be surprised by the statistics. You'd wonder, "How could Christians, whom God is with, receive fewer blessings than those who don't know God?"

 

Friends, the real problem isn't the statistics. The real problem is us, believing that this is just another 'yellow pencil' and clinging to it. We worship God out of fear. We serve Him believing that through this method, we can reach Him. No, that's why we never truly get to love God. This is the greatest loss. More lamentable than whether we go to heaven or receive salvation, while we are on this earth, is never truly experiencing the overflowing emotion and joy that loving God brings. Instead, we spend our days bickering, saying, "Why don't you use this yellow pencil?", "Why is your eraser red?", "Why didn't you sharpen your pencil?" How painful and impoverished is that?

 

If your diary has hardly any stories of love shared with God the Father, and is instead filled with daily entries about "how well I kept the law today" or "how hard I tried to obey God's word," then I would rather say, "God, today I fall and stumble, and I am covered in wounds, but I am so glad that I have a Father where I can rest my body and find shelter." That would be far better. What truly constitutes good faith? Is it a faith that draws closer to the cross, or a faith based on how well I performed? Shouldn't we reflect on this once more?

 

Lot's Dilemma: 'Still Sodom'

Did Lot not know about the coming destruction? Did he not know he shouldn't be in Sodom? He knew Sodom wasn't everything. We all know that. We know this world isn't everything, money isn't everything, health isn't everything. We know all that. But even if it's not everything, for Lot, it was 'still Sodom.' It's the same for us. Do you know what the most profound knowledge you and I have learned in this life is? It's 'still money.' It's the most profound because nothing can overcome it. Faith? Doesn't even come close. Your faith, where does it falter? We all know money isn't everything. But still, it's money.

 

Sodom isn't everything to Lot. Don't underestimate Lot. He was called a "righteous man" in the Bible. Yet, he still needed Sodom. 'Still Sodom.'

 

Please, always remember this: No matter how safe a place appears before your eyes, you are not safe because of it. Even if money seems to protect you and save you, it doesn't. It's not about being inside or outside the house, inside or outside the city. You are safe because God holds your hand, because God has promised you, because God is with you and holds you so that the world cannot harm you. That is why you are safe.

 

Lot's Hesitation: Where His Treasure and Heart Were

If Lot's first problem was where he felt safe, then it naturally leads to the second reason: Why did he hesitate? Because everything he had was in Sodom. It's a natural reaction.

 

He had spent over twenty years in Sodom. All his possessions were in Sodom. His reputation, which had defined him, was in Sodom. His honor was there, and the people who recognized him were in Sodom. His time belonged to Sodom, his property was in Sodom, and his name was known in Sodom. Simply put, all his treasure was in Sodom. He couldn't help but hesitate.

 

You probably know this passage from the Lord even if I don't read it to you. It appears twice in Matthew and Luke: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." How does it end? "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 

When I was a child, I heard sermons like this at revival meetings. The revival speaker may not have intended it this way, but that's how I understood it: "Ah, so I need to store up treasures in heaven. That means I need to give offerings diligently and bring my most precious things to the church. I need to do that wholeheartedly, and that will be how I store up all my treasures." That's what I felt and learned. So, the Sunday after the revival, I brought my most precious treasures to church.

 

Those treasures were 1,200 collectible game cards (ddakji) and 150 marbles (which we called 'dama' back then). If you attended Sunday school, you'll remember the attendance book where teachers would call out names, draw a line, and then write down the offering amount next to it, like 'five won,' 'ten won.' (It's okay if you don't know this.) That day, I went to store my most precious treasures in heaven, so many that they wouldn't even fit in the designated column of the attendance book.

 

True Treasure Stored in Heaven

Friends, we know now. True treasure in heaven isn't about that. It's about how, even as you spend your time on this earth, you lean on the Lord one more time, think of the Lord one more time, and ponder how you will walk with God in this time that is not truly yours. Those are the moments you are truly storing up in heaven.

 

Sadly for Lot, his twenty years were spent storing up treasure in Sodom, even though he knew about God's salvation and held the title of a "righteous man" in the Bible, living in that wicked place called Sodom. All his time was treasure stored in Sodom, and his wealth was no different.

 

We come to church and contribute offerings for the building where we can comfortably worship, and for many other aspects of the church environment. We try to help those in the church who lack material possessions, and we use funds for children's education and church maintenance as needed. Your offerings are precious and important. Do you know why? Because they are serving the saints.

 

But if that's not the reason, then this isn't storing up treasure in heaven. You're coming to God to offer a bribe, to say, "Please look favorably on me." "God, I've given this offering to You, so please don't pretend not to know me later." How heartbreaking, impoverished, and sorrowful is such faith? And how easily we can fall into such a spiritual life!

 

Truly storing up treasure in heaven means using your resources to bless your neighbors, and recognizing that not only your church offerings but all your possessions belong to God. It's about how you use them for God, for your children and family, how diligently you work to support your household for God's glory, and how you help your neighbors. That is ultimately how you store up treasure in heaven.

 

Similarly, when you understand that your name exists not for yourself but for God's name, you are in fact not storing up earthly wealth but heavenly treasure.

 

Lot's Plea: Fear of Disaster

Lot pleaded with the angels, showing how difficult his situation was: "No, please, my lords. Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills; I'm afraid that disaster will overtake me and I will die. Look, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is a small one. Let me escape there—is it not a small one?—and my life will be saved!" This was Lot's desperate request. That's how difficult the situation was for him.

 

Genesis 19:19 records: "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." Here, the phrase "lest the disaster overtake me and I die" can be more accurately translated as, "The disaster is still pursuing me, and I am so, so afraid."

 

Friends, before we wonder why Lot acted that way, consider whose hand Lot was holding. Lot was holding the angels' hand as he left. And he was saying, "Your kindness is so great." Yet, what was he saying? "I'm afraid that the curse, this terrifying judgment, this disaster, will pursue me and cause me to die." He was saying this while holding God's hand.

 

Lot Within Us: Anxiety and Worry

Here's how this applies to you and me. We say, "Lord, the cross of Jesus has saved me. Thank You. Thank You for allowing me to participate in this worship. Lord, we worship You. We praise You, God." Yet, despite all this, you and I still carry worries and anxieties. This is, in fact, more terrifying and powerful.

 

If you look at yourselves, knowing God's promises and understanding what God's blessings are, yet you lack peace and tranquility in your hearts, why is that? Why are you anxious? If you truly believe God's word, why are you still anxious?

 

So, let's be honest. Let's confess that we are also like Lot.

"This life that pursues me is so difficult. I'm afraid it will swallow me. I worry about my old age, and I'm very anxious about what will become of my life. I'm anxious about my business, and the daily struggles make me anxious. God's promises are so beautiful, thankful, and wonderful, yet, Lord, disaster is clinging to me now, and I am utterly terrified. Is there nowhere to rest in between?" Are Lot and we really that different?

 

God's Amazing Mercy: The Meaning of 'Hemera'

I was surprised by Lot's actions, by his situation, and by the fact that this passage is recorded. I thought, 'This really can happen,' and discovering my own reflection in it made me even more surprised and frustrated. But the real surprise wasn't actually that. What surprised me even more was God, who didn't let go of Lot's hand, saying, "Okay, if you go, I will save even that city of Zoar," even though Lot, who initially wanted to go to Zoar, ended up going to the mountains.

 

Friends, please look at verse 16 one more time. Let's read Genesis 19:16 together: "But Lot lingered. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city." Do you get the feeling here? The angels are taking his hand and leading him out because he is lingering. And then it says, "the Lord being merciful to him." The word 'mercy' here, while appearing countless times in the Korean Bible, appears only twice in the Old Testament in the Hebrew Bible. It had to be translated as 'mercy' because there's no perfect equivalent in Korean, nor in English. It's a word unique to Hebrew. If you want to remember it, you can call it 'Hemera'.

 

This word appears twice. In the first instance, the meaning isn't immediately clear, and we just think, 'God was merciful.' But in the second instance, you can understand its meaning a bit more. That's Isaiah 63:9: "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."

 

The word 'mercy' here is used in a very profound way. This is a story of salvation, about God saving Israel. The word 'salvation' appears multiple times, and the preceding and succeeding clauses form a parallel structure. Both clauses speak of salvation, and they express the same meaning. That is, the phrase 'love and mercy' expresses the same meaning as 'in all their affliction he was afflicted and he sent his angel.'

 

So, what does this word 'mercy' mean? First, it means that God participated in all their affliction. God didn't just watch them; He was with them in all the hardships they faced. That's the meaning of this word 'mercy.' In other words, God was with Lot in all his pain and tears. And the latter part of the verse is similar: 'all the days of old' (this would include Lot's story, Moses' story—who would be left out?) means 'He lifted them up and carried them.' This is the meaning of mercy. It means God lifted him up and carried him.

 

'No One Stirred Themselves to Take Hold of the Lord'

However, 'He lifted them up and carried them' is crucial. Here, God showed mercy, but the next verse says, "But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit." This is what Isaiah is saying. Even though God lifted them up and carried them, they grieved the Holy Spirit. And Isaiah 64:5 (which is the last part of verse 5 in some translations, or the beginning of verse 64 in others) says: "How then can we be saved?" In our language, it's like saying, 'Even a flea has a face, and even an anchovy has guts.' It's a cry of, 'How can we possibly be saved?'

 

The following passage is even more shocking: "For we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You." This is Isaiah's description of Israel and of ourselves.

 

When I read this verse, I thought, 'Israel is really too much. And it's true. Their righteousness is indeed like filthy rags, so we are dirty, and I confess I am a sinner, so we are all like unclean beings. We are like leaves that wither and have no strength when cut off. Yes, that's what we're like.' But then, at the very last part, I was truly surprised: "And there is no one... who stirs himself up to take hold of You."

 

Thinking about that, I truly had nothing to say before God. Have you ever stirred yourselves up to take hold of the Lord? When I first read this verse, I felt as if I had received an electric shock. 'I've never truly stirred myself up to seek the Lord.' As a pastor, I diligently read the Bible, because I had to preach every week. There were times when difficult things happened, and I struggled, and I prayed diligently because of ministerial difficulties. But I don't recall ever, when nothing was wrong, stirring myself up to go to the Lord and say, "Lord, I will love You alone." What about you? When you were at peace, when nothing was wrong, did you ever, out of pure love for the Lord, out of a strong desire to draw closer to Him, stir yourself up to go to Him? I don't really remember. Surely, there must have been, but I don't clearly recall. So, the moment I read that verse, it was truly a moment where I felt like falling to my knees. I had nothing to say. 'We are truly like this.'

 

'But You, Lord, Are Our Father'

And because of the next verse, my heart was so moved when preparing the sermon, and during the first service, I cried so much that I couldn't preach properly. It's this verse. It begins with 'But.' This is what Isaiah says: "But you, Lord, but you, Lord, even though I am so unclean and do not draw near to God, but you, Lord, are my Father."

 

Friends, is this possible for you? Can you do this? This is what it means to be a believer. "When I look at myself, Lord, even if I were struck down by lightning right here, even if I received all of God's judgment right here, even if the fire of Sodom fell on me, Lord, I am a truly unclean person, a person clothed in filthy rags, with nothing to say. But You, Lord, are my Father. I am the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand. Lord, do not be too angry, nor remember our iniquity forever. Please look, please look!" (He says it twice) "We are all Your people."

 

Friends, to know yourselves like that, to understand who you are, to the point where you cannot lift your face, but to still be able to say these words—that is what it means to be a believer. "Lord, even if You cast me away, even if You say I am not Your child, even if You tell me, 'You are not Mine, get out of My house!', You are my Father. I come to You, please look, please look upon me, who knows only how to wear these filthy rags. I am Your people." This is mercy.

 

God's Waiting for Our Salvation

So, to Lot, who had no choice but to linger near Sodom, the Lord said, "Lot, yes, in that case, I will save that city for you." And then He said, "Flee there quickly, for I can do nothing until you reach there." I cannot throw fire on Sodom and Gomorrah because of you. I cannot destroy all this. I cannot judge this world. Why? Because I have you.

 

I will stop all this and wait until you are safe, until you are alive, until you, as a child of God, can laugh in the place of God's grace, and delight in Me, and be satisfied in Me. "My beloved son, my beloved daughter." Isn't it true that for our salvation, the Lord is willing to postpone even the judgment of this world and wait? Shouldn't you also have called upon God in this way? "But, O Lord, are You not my Father?!"

 

Let us pray.

 

Lord, Zoar was not safe. Not only Sodom and Gomorrah, but no place was safe. Only the Father's embrace is safe. Therefore, Lord, You are my Father. Please look upon me. We long for our eyes to behold You, even for a moment.

 

You are my Father, so where shall I go from You? May Your love hold Your beloved saints, and may Your hand cover these children who are here, listening to Your word and confessing to be Your children, wherever they may be, O Lord, with Your love. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.