For Grasping Angels

Lot didn’t make the best choices.  When Abraham offered him any land he wanted, he chose “the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley” (Genesis 13:10, NLT).  The land was productive and beautiful, ^“but the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the LORD” (Genesis 13:13).  Lot had to know that but still chose to move his entire family and settle near Sodom.

It wasn’t long before he’d regret it.  The very next chapter tells how marauders captured Lot “and carried off everything he owned” (Genesis 14:12).  But even after Abraham rescues him, Lot returns to Sodom and this time moves into the city itself.  He’s sitting at the city gates (which usually indicates a position of prominence) when God sends angels to destroy it (Genesis 19:1)

You have to wonder what compromises Lot made to become a prominent citizen of Sodom.  When the men of the city want to assault his guests, he refers to them as “brothers” and offers them his “virgin daughters” instead (Genesis 19:7).  And when the angels tell him to leave because the city was about to be destroyed, Lot “still hesitated” (Genesis 19:16).

But in spite of his terrible choices, “the Lord was merciful.” “The angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city” (Genesis 19:6, NLT).  Why?  Someone was praying for him.  Genesis 19:29 makes this clear:  “But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.”

As the parent of a prodigal, I love those verses.  God intervenes powerfully in the life of someone making terrible choices because of His kindness to hear and answer prayer.  And it wouldn’t have happened if Abraham hadn’t asked.

If you’re the parent of a prodigal, I hope you’ll take that to heart.  Keep asking.  Persevere in prayer even when your child’s choices seem to go from bad to worse.  God still answers prayer, and He still sends angels to people who aren’t where they should be.  Oh for His mercy to take our loved ones by the hand and lead them home!