Deliverance, salvation and self-will are topics, today. Also, there is more on the meaning of sin and the Great Flood. A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers Canada” using the ID “Anonymous” (no information shared on Level or dates for membership) posted the following:
In Sodom and Gomorrah, why would God kill Lot's wife, Sarah, by turning her into a pillar of salt for simply looking in the wrong direction?
*Warning of impending sarcasm.* God is a merciful God, right?
THE BATTLE AXE: Sin and the Great Flood (11/03/2014)—(5.) The account of the Flood is more to be understood as a revelation of divinity appearing in the earth as the spirit substance of grace. Through the ministry of Adam, mankind was instructed to continue obedience of revealed law and the sacred practices that were to be known by the living as visible indicators for the active presence who is GOD. The Almighty was to be acknowledged as Creator of the material world, who continues having sovereignty over all the earth as a sphere of life. The Great Flood was more than a calamity or disaster resulting from natural cycles and routine mechanical processes for the earth. GOD had endured the agonies of love as sin and ungodliness began to overspread the earth until divine forbearance and longsuffering no longer could restrain divinity from taking decisive action. The Flood was a sacred event made to occur and controlled by GOD, where known elements and forces were combined with never before seen natural events (e.g., earthquakes, underground geysers, rain, whirlwinds), to further establish the divine identity as Judge over the weather with all else that exists. The operations of sin became so common and widespread that preserving the earth required a cataclysmic divine intervention. Despite multiple messages of admonition and a warning period of more than a century while Noah and others were building the ark, corruption and defilement continued to the point that divine intent could no longer be accomplished through the forms of life upon the earth. Obstacles to the fulfillment of the divine will would have to be permanently destroyed in order for there to be a future having divine opportunities and possibilities for divinity to be glorified through Creation. As would later occur with Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities of the plain, most of the living persons upon the earth became unrecognizable as created by GOD (we say, inhuman); and were to be eradicated and replaced. Consider again Genesis 6: 4-13, Ephesians 2: 1-10 and Isaiah 43: 16-21, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. (Joshua 24: 14-24, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Lot and the Angels (05/04/2014); Expulsion from Eden (05/05/2014); What Salvation Is (01/25/2014); Bible Justice? (01/26/2014); GOD Intervenes? (07/01/2013); Jericho Justified? (07/02/2013); Those Who Never Heard? (06/07/2013); If You Are Sent…? (06/08/2013)
“Anonymous”, sin may dominate awareness and self-will within created beings and living creatures. Here are a few points shared by clear-minded Christians who correctly see the glass half-full, rather than half-empty:
(1.) Christ has instructed those in new testament covenant to remember the mercy in judgment, the grace in salvation, and the freely-given deliverance extended to Lot’s wife. The joy and rejoicing in Christ do not come by focus upon death, ignorance, and human tragedy. When she and her family could not correctly comprehend their immediate danger despite direct warnings from GOD, and lingered under the threat of total destruction, the angelic messengers literally took her and the others by the hand, as one would take a small child crossing the street, and “forced” her to flee to safety. In effect, GOD has done the same for us today by granting us awareness of Christ upon the cross.
(2.) Apparently, the faith within Lot’s wife began to fade as she followed after her husband and children. For her it must have been affliction, hardship or struggle, for she did not set her heart and mind upon the peace and security offered by GOD, and hardened herself against letting go the things of her former life. Like the Apostle Peter—who was able to step out and walk upon the water after hearing the command of Jesus to come, yet, began drowning when he no longer saw a visible presentation of divinity—Lot’s wife lacked faith, and was granted a dispensation that required trust, focus and continuous gaze upon a revelation of GOD before her, rather than looking away, or turning back.
(3.) All the time that Lot and his wife were members in the household of Abraham and his wife Sarah, the pair experienced participation in covenant as well as worship that was approved by GOD. Once the influence of Abraham became distant and remote, the two increasingly were influenced by men, women and children around them, who endorsed defiance of divine law, doubt, lust, passion, self-promotion, and unbelief.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) While Lot and his wife demonstrated hospitality and unselfishness that were commendable and godly, neither were mature (we say, perfected) in their understanding of divine intercession for mankind’s benefit. Like many today, both lacked awareness of their own accountability within sacred processes such as deliverance, healing, judgment, and sanctification. Thus, her choice to look back, was a choice to leave the path set by GOD for her continued existence. Similarly, when told he would be relocated to a mountainous region for safety, Lot insisted to be taken instead to a small town that was nearby. In exalting his own choice (we say, voicing a preference), Lot also left the path set by GOD.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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