Snatched by Grace

Scriptures: Genesis 19:15-17

When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city." But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD {was} upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city. When they had brought them outside, one said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away."

Commentary:
Because of the sin of the city of Sodom, the judgment of God was pronounced. However, before the city was destroyed Abraham had prayed to God on behalf of the city that it would not be destroyed. God said that He would spare the city if he found ten righteous living in the city, even though the city was exceeding wicked. However, the outcry of wickedness prevailed, and two angels were sent by God to destroy the city, where Abraham's newphew Lot lived.

When they arrived at Lot's house, they wanted to stay in the square, but Lot urged them to stay with at house; so they did. Before they went to sleep the men from the city, young and old knocked at Lot's door; because they wanted to have sexual relations with the two men. As the pressure escalated, and the men became exceedingly more persistant, the angels of the Lord casts blindness on the men that were at the door; trying to force their way. Those who were struck blind, wearied themselves trying to still find the door.

Then the angels told lot that it was time to gather his family, and leave the city because they were going to destroy it!  However, when it was time to go, Lot hesitated because of his heart was moved with the compassion of God for the people. But the wickedness of the people called for destruction, and the angels grabbed Lot's hand, his wife and his daughters, and snatched them out of the city before they destroyed it.

Reflection:
God knows our hearts; and our desire to see people that we care about saved, as we are. However, because He knows the heart of humankind; He knows already the decisions of their hearts.When we experience heartache or tauma in our lives, and we cannot see our way out, God will snatch us out of the situation, and remove those around us; so that we will not be swept away because of their disobedience.

Because of His grace, and  His mercy for us, He gives everyone a chance to be saved. When we reject what He has said for us to do by living lives that are not pleasing to Him, destruction will ultimately come. When we listen, and do what He instructs us to do; the blessing of the Lord will overtake us.

Strong's Concordance Definitions: Genesis 19:16

But he hesistated: 4102
1) (Hithpalpel) to linger, tarry, wait, delay

So the men: 372
1) man

a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
b) husband
c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
d) servant
e) mankind
f) champion
g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)

Seized: 2388
1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore
a) (Qal)

1) to be strong, grow strong
a) to prevail, prevail upon
b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure
c) to press, be urgent
d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)
e) to be severe, be grievous
2) to strengthen
b) (Piel)
1) to make strong
2) to restore to strength, give strength
3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage
4) to make strong, make bold, encourage
5) to make firm
6) to make rigid, make hard

c) (Hiphil)
1) to make strong, strengthen
2) to make firm
3) to display strength
4) to make severe
5) to support
6) to repair
7) to prevail, prevail upon
8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support
9) to hold, contain

d) (Hithpael)
1) to strengthen oneself
2) to put forth strength, use one's strength
3) to withstand
4) to hold strongly with

hand: 3027
1) hand
a) hand (of man)
b) strength, power (fig.)
c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
d) (various special, technical senses)
1) sign, monument
2) part, fractional part, share
3) time, repetition
4) axle-trees, axle
5) stays, support (for laver)
6) tenons (in tabernacle)
7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
8) wrists

for the compassion: 2551
1) mercy, pity, compassion

of the Lord: 3068
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136

was upon him; and they brought: 3318
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
a) (Qal)

1) to go or come out or forth, depart
2) to go forth (to a place)
3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
5) to come out of
b) (Hiphil)
1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
2) to bring out of
3) to lead out
4) to deliver
c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth

him out, and put: 5117
1) to rest
a) (Qal)
1) to rest, settle down and remain
2) to repose, have rest, be quiet
b) (Hiph)
1) to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet
2) to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down
3) to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place
4) to let remain, leave
5) to leave, depart from
6) to abandon
7) to permit
c) (Hoph)

1) to obtain rest, be granted rest
2) to be left, be placed
3) open space (subst)

him outside: 4480
1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than
a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of
b) out of

1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)
2) (of material from which something is made)
3) (of source or origin)
c) out of, some of, from (partitively)
d) from, since, after (of time)
e) than, more than (in comparison)
f) from...even to, both...and, either...or
g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)
h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

the city: 5892
1) excitement, anguish
a) of terror
2) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
a) city, town

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Beginnings - Genesis 19 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 7 Jan 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=19&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2009). Snatched by Grace. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com