"Is It Not A Little One?

  • Genesis 19:17 “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
  • 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
  • 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
  • 20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”
  •  

According to II Pt. 2:7, Lot was just. Yet, Lot really messed up his life and his family and future generations with wrong choice after wrong choice. Sadly, Lot lived the way many believers do. Like Lot, believers are “just” in Jesus Christ. But also like Lot, believers can mess up their life and their family and future generations with wrong choice after wrong choice. Like Lot, instead of living “according to Thy Word,” we might choose to live according to our own way.

In Gen. 19:17, God is about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrha. Through the two angels God sent to rescue Lot and his family, God gives Lot a command to “escape to the mountain.” During this dangerous time wherein Lot has already made a lot of bad choices, Lot has the audacity to disagree with God. “Oh, not so, my Lord.” Instead of living “according to” God’s Word, Lot makes an excuse of not being able to escape to the mountain “lest some evil take” him and he die. Lot was displaying both doubt in and disobedience to God and His Word. Lot then points out Zoar as an alternative. Lot’s reasoning for God to allow this change of plans and disobedience to God’s command? “Is it not a little one?”

One of the problems we have as believers in not living “according to” God’s Word is our excuse that our personal disobedience is not a big deal. “Is it not a little one?” that Eve simply took a bite out of the forbidden fruit? “Is it not a little one?” that Achan hid some clothes and money under his tent? “Is it not a little one?” when we watch a film with cussing or taking God’s name in vain? “Is it not a little one?” when our child doesn’t come the first time we call? “Is it not a little one?” when we take a verbal jab at our spouse? “Is it not a little one?” when we don’t go to every church service? What is so wrong with a little cleavage showing? A little thigh showing? A little wrong syncopation? A little copyright law broken here and there?

Dear reader, sin is never just a little sin. Murder is murder. Adultery is adultery. Cussing is cussing. Fornication is fornication. Immodesty is immodesty. It is never little to contradict God.

As soon as Lot stepped into Zoar, God rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot quickly learned his lesson and escaped to the mountain. God is merciful, dear reader, but we must not wait until it is too late to live “according to Thy Word.”