Lot's Choice

Those first few chapters of Genesis were packed with wisdom for dads. Much more than I ever noticed. Having started this journey of reading through the scriptures with this singular focus, I've realized how much more I get from reading God's word when I'm looking for something. I'm careful not to read into anything. I don't want to put something there that isn't, but so far I've found that God's instruction manual is not lacking when it comes to truth for fathers.

Genesis 19
Just how vile are the people of Sodom?

This passage of scripture has always disgusted me to no end. I'm sure that's the case for most readers.

Photo courtesy of sxc.hu/profile/ChanMuk

I shutter to think what happened inside 

those city walls before its destruction.

Here God has chosen to take a scalpel to the city of Sodom and extract what few righteous people remain, Lot and his family. It seems that an ax to the city was His preferred method, but because of Abraham's righteousness God sends two angels in after Lot's household before ridding the world of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The reaction the angels receive from the men of the city is (searching thesaurus for stronger word than 'disgusting') vomitous, (one word won't do) detestable, horrifying... They can't control their lust towards these two strangers. They smell fresh blood.

And Lot, fearing for their wellbeing, offers his two virgin daughters to these wolves in place of the angels from God. WHAT!?!?! Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I feel like jumping into the story, pulling Lot a side and saying, "You know these are angels, right? They can hold their own. They came out of the sky from the almighty God. Don't sacrifice your daughters to these dogs!" But alas, I can't. I'm just a neutral observer from the distant future.

So what can be gained from this story? What can we learn from Lot's choice and what that means about his leadership as a father?

It's evident to me that Lot had his priorities straight. Lot loved his daughters very much. After all, he lived in the most infamously sinful town in all of human history and his daughters were still virgins. He loved them and protected them. But Lot loved God more. Lot's loyalties were to God first and to his family second.

I struggle with this as a dad. When it comes down to it, if I must choose between time with family and time with God I choose family. Prayer time isn't a priority, but eating breakfast with my son is. Going deeper in Bible study isn't a priority, but watching a TV show my wife and I enjoy together is. I love the family God has given me, but He's my father. Just as I want to spend time with my son He wants to spend time with me.

My take away is this. I need to look at areas of my life where God has not been put first, because someday I will have to choose between Him and something else. And without a doubt that "something else" will be the lesser option.

Tell me...
What was your reaction to Lot's choice?
What things do you do to put God first in your day-to-day?

Repopulation

Genesis 9
It feels a bit like a public awareness campaign, doesn't it?

Noah and company step off the ark with this command from God, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." (vs 1). His command was the same just a moment before. "...be fruitful and multiply on the earth." (Gen 8:17) After all, who else was going to do it?

Only you can be fruitful and multiply!

So what does this command mean for us now? Is it still relevant?

I should think so. Who better to populate the earth than followers of God? Who better to raise up the next generation than followers of God?

God has only blessed my wife and I with one child, but whether we have one child or one hundred children we are still called to demonstrate Christ to them and show them the kind of love our heavenly Father shows us.

Tell me...
What does this command to be fruitful and multiply mean to your family?
Do you think it has any relevancy today?

Hard Verses: Part 1

Genesis 8
Every once and a while you read something that you just wish wasn't true.

"And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done." Genesis 8:21 ESV

Did you catch that? Sandwiched between God's pleasure in Noah's burnt offering and a promise to never again wipe out all living things is the most difficult verse thus far in the Bible's first book. It's only 11 words but it hits like a ton of bricks.

"...for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth."

Now, I've read this verse more times than I can recall. The rainbows and promises are what I've always taken away. I get the sense that God is both pleased with his choice of Noah to carry on the human race and possibly sad that he had to go to such an extreme measure to cleanse the earth. That's what I've always taken from this verse.

But fatherhood has a way of changing one's perspective.

What is God saying here? Could he really be implying even a child has evil intentions? From his youth? Surely he means from young adulthood, right? A teenager? Definitely. But not a child. Not my child.

If we are going to accept some of scripture we must accept all of scripture. Dads, we have to come to grips with the fact that our kids do not have good intentions. The NIV says "every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood." Their hearts are inclined toward wrong doing. They are inclined to sin.

I may or may not have met your child, but I know one thing about each and every one of them–they are sinners. That's right. Your sweet, precious child is a sinner.

I don't like to believe this. My son is innocent. He's barely three years old. He's not had a chance to become jaded by this world and willfully sin. My son has so much joy. My wife and I can't get enough of him. But then there are days when we've had enough of him. He can make us laugh so hard and he can push our buttons even harder.

When you accept the fact that your child is a sinner and his disobedience, occasional tantrums and outbursts are sin you begin to approach parenting in a whole new way.

My wife and I have just begun this journey. We are reading Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. The idea that your child's heart is inclined towards evil is central to Tripp's approach to parenting. He suggests your child's heart needs shepherding. Every act of disobedience must be addressed by examining the heart. It's not easy. It takes time, but it's helping us understand our son and more effectively correct him and point him in the way he should go.

Through our reading of the scriptures we'll come across verses that are hard to swallow. They are easier to ignore than to explore. But I hope we can avoid the temptation to conform to culture and let God transform our thinking.

Tell me...
What are the implications of a heart inclined towards evil?
When do you introduce your child to the concept of sin?
How do you explain the idea of sin to a child?

More Than a Boat Builder

Genesis 7
What does God think of my family when he sees me?

Chapter 7 opens with God instructing Noah and his entire household to enter the ark because his righteousness set him apart from the crowd. God is not only saving Noah, he's also extending grace to his entire family. Verse 1 stands out to me for this reason–Noah led his family.

All around Noah is wickedness. So much so that God regrets making man. REGRETS! My translation says he was "sorry that he had made man." I'm not touching that one–an all knowing God who regrets...but you understand the seriousness of the matter. Somehow Noah was able to navigate his family through these dark times, steering them away from evil and towards their Creator.

So God looks down on Noah's family–he, his wife, his three strapping sons and their brides–and a contented curl of his lips forms. He finds favor in him (Gen 6:8). Despite his disappointment with the rest of mankind, God saw Noah and his household and was pleased. He saw in Noah what he had intended for all mankind. Noah was a man that walked with God (Gen 6:9) and he had taught his wife and sons to do the same.

Could there be any greater affirmation for a husband and father that God would choose your family to repopulate the earth? I think not.

So I wonder, when God looks at me what does he think of my family? After all, they are entrusted to me. I am the head of the household. Does he find favor? Am I teaching my family to walk with God as Noah did his? For that matter, do I walk with God?

Tell me...
Who inspires you to be the spiritual leader of your household?
Is there a figure to whom you look up? Are you encouraged by your wife and children to lead?

NFL Playoffs--Who do you like?

The Chin could be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy once again. Boo.

I've got the Patriots and Falcons squaring off for the title of World Champs. I know it's a real stretch, but these have been the two most consistent teams all season. Is it just me or have the Patriots been quietly dominating all season?

As for who I would like to see in the big game...I'm pulling for the Bears in the NFC. I'm a Bear's fan by marriage and I'm all about keeping the peace. If you put a gun to my head and made me pick an AFC team to pull for I guess it would be the Ravens. My Broncos are years away from the playoffs and I have reasons to despise all the AFC team, but I like the style of football the Ravens play.

Tell me...
Who do you like to win it all?
When your team is down and out who do you pull for?