Ryan: God is immutable and yet mutable. Genesis 18 recounts the first time (recorded) when someone intercedes on behalf of sinning people instead of cheering while God smites the wicked (a lesson to be learned there for modern Christians). God was all ready to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah before Abraham interceded and got the Lord to agree to not destroy it if He found 50 righteous people there (18:26). Of course, Abraham was most concerned with saving his nephew, Lot, and his family, but I do not doubt that he was also concerned with anyone else who might be innocent of the atrocities committed there. Abraham was even able to talk God down to ten righteous people to spare the city (he should have been a used car salesman), which still would have been enough to save Lot’s family and even future sons-in-law. In the end, though, there were not ten righteous people to be found, and God followed through with His initial plan. Even though Abraham was not able to spare the entire cities, it is truly amazing that God listened to his council enough to even entertain the idea. That is why we teach that, if it is within God’s will, you can ask Him to move mountains (Matthew 21:21).
Samantha: One of my favorite shows on the History Channel was Digging for the Truth. This show took a scientific approach to uncovering facts of archaeological myths and mysteries. The Indiana Jones-like host would travel around the world to work with archaeologists, historians, and Bible scholars as he gathered evidence and artificats about the topic of the episode. Topics included everything from the pyramids to Easter Island to the Maya; there were also several episodes on Biblical topics, including an episode on Sodom and Gomorrah. What I really enjoyed about the episode on Sodom and Gomorrah was seeing the modern day ruins in Jordan of Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira, charred remains of what could have been the actual cities God destroyed in our reading today. That area today is a barren wasteland full of sulfur, which they showed how to turn into brimstone–it’s quite flammable! There are also lots of salt deposits, being by the Dead Sea, and there is even one particular pillar that all the local children call “Lot’s Wife.” What a stark contrast to our reading from January 4th; when Abraham and Lot parted ways, Lot “saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah)” (Genesis 13:10). Today it exists as a warning to us to believe and obey God, otherwise Jesus tells us that “it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:24).
May I suggest “Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer for more information about who God is. I am reading it now and find it fascinating.
Thanks for the suggestion, Brian! I will add it to my Amazon wish list so I can remember it for later!