9.23.26 – Modern Day Sodom?

 Sukkot is a few days away! Wow—I remember when we were counting the Omer together and wondering if day 50 would ever arrive (LOL)! The peaceful, joyous season of Sukkot is upon us, and the world seems to be going to "HE Double Hockey Sticks" in a handbasket. Shootings, earthquakes, floods, mass death, and craziness all around… wow, bring on Sukkot!

But before we do, let us take a step back and put all the craziness of the world—and the apparent judgment—into perspective. By doing so, I think it will help us have a season of joy during this final Moedim of the year.

There is a tendency in me, when I see all the "crazy" happening in the world, to pass judgment from a biblically superior-minded position. Similarly, how individuals might have been with the judgment that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). The judgment was catastrophic. Fire and brimstone destroyed that city! Why? The immediate response is… they were such an aggressive homosexual society, and "by cracky" they deserved to receive the punishment that came to them. Today, we see our society is on the same track with the BGLT&Q forces mounting. However, before we start casting stones, we might want to dig a little deeper. Homosexuality and the like was not really the root issue as to why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Ezekiel tells us that Sodom was full of pride, had full bellies, and a lot of wasted time. Instead of taking care of the poor and the needy, they demonstrated a haughty attitude and committed abominations before the Lord. Interesting… homosexuality was just part of the iceberg, but not what was below the surface of the water.

What I have failed to do so often is remember that the only reason Yahweh Elohim is bringing up Sodom and Gomorrah through the Prophet Ezekiel is because He is making a comparison with His people. In fact, if we read carefully, we will find that the sins of Israel were comparatively worse than those to whom they were compared (Ezek. 16). Yeshua makes this clear in Matthew 11, when He says this to some of the people of His generation: "And you, Capernaum, who were exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for you." So once again we see that as vicious and as disgusting as Sodom, Gomorrah, and the people of that area were, God's people have the potential to be just as vicious, just as disgusting. And so, if we are not careful to listen to the voice of our Father and follow the example of the Messiah, we can be just as guilty as those we like to point fingers at. Happy Sukkot, right?

It really is easy for me to point fingers at those experiencing the "judgment," but really what Yahweh is graciously pointing out to me is, "How did they get that way?" Have I been the light that I need to be? Have I reached out the way I should have? Have I shown Messiah in such a way that they want what I have got? Have I been able to convince them with my words and actions that what I have got, they need? Was it not 2 Chronicles 7:14 that emphasized, "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves… then their land will be healed"? It is not waiting for the "world" to get their act together. I believe we are living in the days of Noah—the last days. When Yeshua testified His return would be during those "type" of days, He was not speaking for the world to wake up. He was speaking to provoke us into action!

As we prepare to enter the season of Sukkot—a festival of joy and celebration, having a good time with fellow believers and with our Creator—let us keep in mind that if He is going to be in our midst, then it is incumbent upon us to approach Him with a pure heart and clean hands, and to abandon this mindset and this thinking that it is everybody else's fault. We need to take responsibility for our actions corporately. We need to take responsibility for our actions so that we can be in true fellowship with Him. Let us not fall into the same trap as those He spoke to in Ezekiel—those who were just as guilty, if not more so, than the people of Sodom.

Even with everything being perfect—every believer walking in perfect fellowship with one another and the Father—there is still the potential for… well, you know ☺! Give yourself a checkup from the neck up! Eliminate stinkin' thinkin' and have an incredible Sukkot!

Chag Sameach,
Alan

lightintorah.org

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