Significance

Choosing Significance. Lot versus Abraham

Genesis 19:19-22
19 Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there( is it not small?) that my life may be saved. ” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there. ” Therefore the name of the town was called   Zoar.

When Abraham and Lot parted company, Lot selfishly chose apparently the best land for himself. Abraham, on the other hand had faith about the future and chose eternal inheritance. When God chose to destroy Sodom, he delivered Lot because of the righteousness of Abraham. Lot's lack of faith was demonstrated by his weak leadership of his family. His wife, walking behind him, was turned to salt when she looked back to see her prized possessions burned up by the wrath of God. His daughters, believing that their were no men left to marry, got their father drunk and raped him resulting in creation of one of Israel's primary enemies, the Ammonites.

Finally, he chose the small insignificant route when God was delivering him from the evil of Sodom.

Abraham, in contrast, chose faith in obeying God's call to leave his home and travel to a foreign land. He chose faith in the sacrifice of Isaac because he knew that God would honor his promises and resurrect Isaac.

Which will you choose: big or small. Significant or insignificant?

GO BIG OR GO HOME!

Starvation in Haiti

We just returned from our 27th medical mission to Haiti since the earthquake.  We had 23 wonderful team members working in the medical clinic, dental clinic and sewing school.  The children at the Children of Hope Orphanage looked great.  They were healthy and happy and loved for us to show them attention.  The couple in charge of the orphanage, Bobby and Lourdie Toussaint do a fantastic job taking care of these wonderful children.

As we worked in the surrounding village, however, we saw a much different picture.  Due to a recent crop failure, many men, women and children were starving.  Because they live at the margin of life on a regular basis, a small decrease in their food supply is devastating.  We identified 200 families who wouldn't survive the month without additional food and we bought and distributed enough food to them to last until we return next month.

Isn't it amazing that two hours from the United States, where obesity is the norm, there are people who are living so precariously close to starvation.