O, Those Distressing Patterns!

May the mumbling commence!

As I think about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, I wonder:  What sin was reaching the ears of the Almighty One?  Many today would be quick to point out the sin of homosexuality or rape.  For today’s people, that is what stands out the most from Genesis 19.   But there are many things I find difficult to understand.  Like, why was Lot willing to give the mob his two virgin daughters rather than the men who had come to his home?  Why was it so difficult for Lot and his wife to part ways with the people of Sodom?

There is something deeper going on here in the lives of the Hebrew people at this time.  Hospitality was more than a nicety.  Hospitality was essential to survival.  Unlike today, when traveling is relatively easy, traveling puts the people into vulnerable situations.  People did not know cities much beyond their own and those they would pass through in their normal dealings.  They did not know about the bad parts of town neither did they know about bad towns.

For travelers to reach the town square without someone inviting them to stay with them is reproachable.  There were no Motel 6’s, where they leave a light on for you.  And where is the square?  It is in the center of town.  Only Lot took them in.  The other people (and perhaps Lot as well) knew what would probably happen once the sun went down…

The men of the Sodom would come out to take advantage of the strangers, who were so far from home.  Lot provided them with a home away from home, so he must protect them – even at great cost to himself.  Now, I can begin to see an underlying sin that people of the day would easily see.  A sin that would help explain some of the things I do not understand in this passage. 

How do we treat strangers who are passing through our town?  Our country?  I feel ashamed knowing that my heritage did not originally come from the United States.  I feel ashamed knowing that some of my not-too-distant ancestors traveled in this country as strangers.  I feel ashamed at the way we treat immigrants – those who are vulnerable because of the barriers of language and culture.  Many come only wanting to support their families…

Some may look at this passage of Scripture and think that the U.S. is bordering on the sins of Sodom because of the open acceptance of gay and lesbian people.  But God sees further.  God knows how we treat the vulnerable in our society.  These sins scare me much more than those committed by those who have a different sexual preference than I do.

Why is it so hard to break from these types of sins?  Because somewhere down deep inside, we believe that they grant us comfort of living.  Things are scarce, so we need to take our comfort at the expense of others.  It is a pattern.

Yes, if we earnestly look, we will see disturbing patterns in our lives.  Abraham was not immune to this either.  In Genesis 20, we see the lie of Abraham come to the surface again.  Sarah is my sister.  God, once again, chastises Abraham through the king of a city.  A city where Abraham was afraid there was no fear of God.  It seems that Abraham was a slow learner too.  Maybe there is hope for me!

And, in Genesis 21, the troubles continue when we try to “help” the Lord.  Yes, like Abraham, we grow tired of waiting and seek to help God fulfill his promises.  And troubles ensue.  After Isaac is born, Ishmael shows his disdain for this second-born son of Abraham.  Ishmael mocks, perhaps, because he thought he was heir to the promise.  Sarah and the Lord had other ideas.  Isaac was the son of the promise, the son of faith in action.

So separation happens again – this time for good.  Hagar and Ishmael go to the desert and a whole other nation arises into existence.  Ishmael marries an Egyptian wife chosen by his Egyptian mother.  Ishmael becomes strong and wild and produces twelve sons (remind you of anyone, maybe Jacob/Israel?).  And Ishmael and his descendants were in hostility toward their brothers who were born to Isaac (Genesis 25:18).

Perhaps, I should reexamine the premise of scarcity.  It is partly upon this principle that the machinations of capitalism rests.  If something is perceived as scarce and demand is high, then the price will increase greatly.  Think about crude oil.  But our Lord is a Lord of abundance.  God calls us to live in a giving way, not fearing for our own comfort but looking to the comfort of others…

Enough for now…

Peace Out