"(is it not a little one?)" Genesis 19:20

OLD TESTAMENT PARENTHESES (1)

"(is it not a little one?)" Genesis 19:20

THERE has been so much appreciation of the series on "Spiritual Parentheses" that I feel encouraged to embark now on the Old Testament, continuing to try to find spiritual values in phrases which are enclosed in brackets in our English versions. This one: "is it not a little one?" could easily have been passed over, for it is so insignificant. It centres on Zoar which itself means 'little'.

LOT was not an attractive character. Somehow the whining, wheedling request to be allowed to find shelter in Zoar seems to fit the man. It was the little prayer of a little man.

HE was little in the eyes of the Sodomites (19:9) as also in the eyes of his sons-in-law (19:14). He was little to his wife, for she seemingly walked out on him from Zoar and little indeed to those two daughters of his, who thought nothing of using him for their own purposes (19:32). His prayer about Zoar was answered, but did him little good, for he was soon afraid to stay there and went up into the mountains after all (19:30) only to get involved in those disgraceful episodes which produced two great enemies of God's people -- the Moabites and the Ammonites.

IT would hardly be worth writing about this little prayer if it were not for the background of the great prayer of Lot's kinsman Abraham (19:27-29). It is amazing that, in answering Lot's prayer, the destroying angel confessed that he was powerless to rain down the fires of judgment until Lot was safe: "I cannot do anything till thou be come hither" (verse 22).

IT was really Abraham's prayer that God was answering. The pettiness of Lot's plea about Zoar was completely swallowed up by the greatness of his kinsman's mighty persistence in prevailing prayer (18:20-33). I am inclined to despise Lot's self-centred prayer which was not about Zoar or even his family, but just about his own safety. I marvel that it received such acceptance and that Zoar was spared for his sake. Yet who am I to do that? Possibly I have often been a little man praying little and unworthy prayers, but even so I can testify that my prayers have been heard and wonderfully answered.

THE explanation of Lot's experience was that, in the presence of God, he had a kinsman-redeemer whose prayers were accepted and remembered. The same explanation is surely valid in relation to our prayers. We have the Lord Jesus, our great Kinsman-Intercessor ever living to pray for us. That is why we are not only to be saved but saved "to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25). That is why our prayers are so graciously answered.

LOT only prayed for selfish reasons but in fact Zoar was spared for his sake (19:21) and was still there as the last place which Moses saw when he surveyed the land from Mount Pisgah (Deuteronomy 34:3). What a wonderful prayer-answering God we have. Zoar may have been a very little place, but it brings us a big lesson about a great Saviour.

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