A Sweet Amora

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

A SWEET AROMA

Gen 13:10-18

10 Lot looked up and 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.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. 14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." 18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.

NIV

Well, we know what is going to happen in Sodom because the men of Sodom were wicked and sinned greatly against the LORD. Was it by chance that Lot chose the plain of the Jordon and set out toward the east, or was it planned by the LORD? IF Lot had chosen the other direction, it would have been Abram who would have been near Sodom. However, Abram had another visit from the LORD in some manner, as we are told the LORD spoke to Abram and told him to lift up his eyes, and that as far as he could see in all directions, the LORD would give it to his offspring forever. From a worldview perspective, Israel has had and will continue to have the land God promised to Abram. We have another promise from the LORD. However, this promise is for whosoever believes in Jesus Christ, will not perish, but have everlasting life. That eternal life will be spent in the place Jesus has prepared for those who accept him as their Lord and Savior. That is the new paradise, the new city of Jerusalem that will come down from heaven. It will be on the mountain of God, just as the existing Jerusalem sits on Mt. Moriah, although the new mountain will be much larger, wider, and higher. In a sense, because Abram will become Abraham, the man of faith, we are also his descendants, and we will inherit this new land forever. As Abram built another altar to the LORD, we are supposed to be an altar, or, as it is put, a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. That is, we offer ourselves to God, to do with as he pleases. Abram may have sent up a sacrifice that would have been a sweet aroma to the LORD; we are supposed to be that sweet aroma before the Lord. How is that possible when we get so distracted by self? Let us remember who we are supposed to be: a sweet aroma before the LORD.