Last time we looked at the first mention of grace in the Bible, it was in relation to Noah. He found grace or favor with God. Because of this, when God decided to send the flood to end wickedness in the world, Noah and his family were spared to repopulate the world after the flood was over. The next mention of grace we find in Genesis 19:19 and it also uses the same Hebrew word as our previous verses. This time we find ourselves in the middle of the story of Lot. When he and Abraham had parted ways because of the size of their herds and the need for more land, Lot chose the land toward Sodom and eventually found himself living there. Lot was visited by two guests who were angels. They confirmed the evil in Sodom and it became targeted for destruction. The angels warned Lot to get out of this place for the Lord will destroy it. Let’s pick up in Genesis 19: 17-19, “As soon as the angels got them outside, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Don’t look back and don’t stop anywhere on the plain! Run to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” But Lot said to them, “No, Lord-please. Your servant has indeed found favor in Your sight, and You have shown me great kindness (mercy-Hebrew word Checed) by saving my life. But I can’t run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die.” (HCSB) Other translations choose either the word grace (Chem in Hebrew).
For further context, in the previous chapter these two angels along with a third met with Abraham prior to their visit with Lot. They shared with Abraham the condition of Sodom and their plans to see if the condition was as grave as it seemed. This is when Abraham pleads for Sodom- will you save it for the sake of fifty righteous? Forty-Five? Forty? Thirty? Twenty? Will you save it for the sake of ten? Amazingly, each time Abraham asked, God showed him favor/grace by responding yes, even for the sake of ten I will not destroy it. When the angels arrived, Lot, his wife and his two daughters appear to be the only righteous people they found. Lot and his family found grace with the angels and were warned to leave before the city was destroyed. This is a wonderful example of God’s grace to His people. All throughout the Old and New Testament we can find great illustrations of the richness of God’s grace extended His people.
May your day be filled with glimpses of His grace!
Living in His Grace 