Are you Headed for Zoar?

Are you Headed for Zoar?
Obeying God is often easier said than done. We can all fall into the trap of trying to ‘bargain’ with God, particularly during
those times when He impresses us to do the things we would rather avoid.
In Genesis chapter 19, we read about the frightening destruction of the twin cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. We also read
about the mercy God shows to one man and his family. As we read the chapter, it becomes apparent that the man in question, Lot,
was a person who lived ‘carelessly.’ This is seen in the way he had put himself in a vulnerable position, by living in a ‘bad
neighbourhood’ where every kind of sexual perversion surrounded him. Lot’s life in Sodom was indeed a daily confrontation with
temptation and licentiousness.
However, to his credit, Lot lived differently from the rest of Sodom’s inhabitants. He was a man who sought to live a righteous
life before God. Then one day, two visitors to Sodom knocked on Lot’s door to deliver a ‘life-changing message’ to him. These
visitors turned out to be angelic hosts, sent by God to rescue Lot and his family from the impending judgment against Sodom and
Gomorrah for their mounting wickedness.
While the angels were delivering the message, the depraved men of Sodom suddenly encircled Lot’s house, and threatened to
violently enter his home, with the intention of sexually violating Lot’s visitors. In his attempt to be a ‘good host’, Lot pleaded with
the men to take his two daughters instead. God intervened before the horror could unfold and the angels ‘blinded’ and ‘confused’
the men of Sodom, so they could not even find the door to Lot’s home (v.11).
God’s angels then urged Lot to escape to the mountains with his family, so to avoid the imminent destruction of their home
(v.17). But instead of submitting to God’s plan willingly, Lot pleaded to be allowed to go to Zoar, a small town nearby. The reason
he offered was that he did not ‘have time’ to get to the mountains, before the full brunt of God’s judgement upon Sodom
overshadowed him. Lot’s insistence clearly demonstrated his lack of trust in God’s ability to lead and guide him and his family
safely to the mountains. Eventually, the angels gave in to Lot’s repeated requests and allowed him to go to Zoar.
Before we are quick to judge Lot for his lack of faith, we need to pause and examine our own hearts. If we are honest, we would
admit that we too are vulnerable to ‘contesting’ with God over His directions for our lives. At times, we think we know better than
Him, particularly when He leads us away from something we desire such as a ‘work promotion’ or a ‘relationship’ we are keen to
pursue. Sometimes, it may appear that God wants to ‘rain on our barbeque’ by sending us to the mountains instead of letting us go
to Zoar. The point to remember is that God knows what is best for us; in return, He only asks us to trust and obey His plan for us.
For Lot, the mountains represented an ‘unknown’ and distant place, he was unfamiliar with. Zoar, however, represented a place
of ‘security’ and comfort. The mountains would have required Lot to step outside the realm of his own comfort zone and to venture
into something new, whereas Zoar would be far more predictable.
Travelling to Zoar was not God’s original intention for Lot. The problem was that Lot thought he could have everything his own
way. However, his insistence to go to Zoar would later have serious consequences.
And so it is in our walk with God, that our integrity is demonstrated not in how often we attend church or how often we read the
Bible, but in whether we truly ‘submit’ to His will. Jesus taught us that submission to God may inconvenience us, or may even cost
us our lives. On the eve of His arrest, Jesus embraced the awfulness of what lay ahead for Him, because He was willing to submit
to the will of the Father. He had come to a place where He could declare, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Matthew 26:39).
The second part of the angel’s message to Lot was that he and his family were not to “look back” to Sodom after leaving.
However, Lot’s wife seemingly could not resist a quick glance behind her shoulder as they fled the city. Judgement fell instantly on
her for disobeying God and she was turned into a “pillar of salt” (v.26).
It appears that Lot’s careless lifestyle had negatively influenced his family, seen in the way Lot’s wife had “turned back” to
follow her own curious desire rather than the Lord’s command. Eventually, carelessness would also show up in the lives of Lot’s
daughters who would go on to marry men who held no respect for the Lord.
Lot and his two remaining daughters eventually arrived in Zoar. It is interesting that the name Zoar means “bringing low”, and it
would be in Zoar where Lot would indeed be ‘brought low.’ This is the town where Lot’s two daughters would later get him drunk,
with the intention of leading him to commit incest with them, so that they could bear children from him (vv.30-38).
In short, Lot’s life stands as an example of the inherent dangers of living a ‘careless’ and ‘compromised’ life. It offers a lesson
on the problems which can beset a person who refuses to submit to God’s leading.
The careless life which Lot lived meant he was unable to leave behind a great ‘legacy’ for future generations to read about.
He drifted from being ‘named’ with Abraham, the giant of faith, (who had also tried to help him earlier), into being someone who
failed to amount to much. In like manner, he finished up in Zoar because he had ‘always’ contested God as to where he was to live.
When we fail to obey God’s direction completely, we leave ourselves wide open to our own ‘sinful’ tendencies which are often
destructive. If you find yourself resisting God’s will, it may be a good time to ask, “Do I really believe that God knows what is best
for my life?” If you can answer ‘yes’ now is a good time to begin demonstrating your trust in God by venturing to the places He
directs you.