It may sound obvious that traps would in unknown places, but what about the traps we set for others unknowingly? Genesis 20 tells of how Abraham trapped king Abimelech as a means of self-preservation. Likewise, each of us react or act in ways that set traps for people who cross our paths...unless we realize these tendencies and seek God's guidance for developing new patterns in our lives that provide clear paths for those our life intersects with.

When we pray for God to "lead us not into temptation", we realize that this request requires not just God's orchestration of keeping us from sinning, but also having the best intentions in everything we do. Genesis 20 provides an example as we read about king Abimelech and then we see this same truth displayed in 1 Samuel 25 as David is sparred from sinning because he too had good intentions.

We all fall into patterns in relationships, some more so than others, that eventually turn into scripted habits of how we relate to others. Genesis 20 tells of two men and their scripted patterns for dealing with situations that cause more harm than good, which provides us with an outside view of how we also may have scripts we need to be aware of regarding how they are muddling up our relationships.

What do you use to judge other's intentions? First impressions? Or, do you investigate and dig deeper to learn more about others before determining what the motives are behind their actions. Genesis 20 tells how Abraham wrongly misjudged the king of Gerar because he didn't take the time to get to know him and understand his heart for God and his people.

The compassion of the Lord isn't given to us because we are in a good place. Rather, it is a gift God extends to us in terrible places where sin and condemnation hold us, to pull us out and bring us somewhere we can't bring ourselves. Genesis 19 tells of God's compassion towards Lot and his family and we see this theme repeated again and again throughout the Bible text and our own redemption stories.

How we treat others usually stems from everything, but what God says should be the foundation of every relationship...His will. Genesis 19 tells of the birth of two nations who go on to complicate the lives of the nation of Israel. Later on in Numbers and Deuteronomy we get an even clearer picture of the complications that develop between these people groups, and how God's will works out the relationships they have with one another.

We can think we know what is best for both ourselves and others, but usually our thoughts are wrapped up in our arrogance or short-sided perspective of a situation. Genesis 19 tells of three individuals who thought they knew what was best, and by acting on their knowledge instead of the knowledge shared with them from God, they lost their lives and could not live out the best God had prepared for them.

Are you looking for an easy button to help you sail through life? More than likely you have already found them, but the downside of taking the easiest route out of our situations is these actions pull us further away from God and trap us in patterns of sin. Genesis 19 shows how Lot over and over choose the easy button in life and where those choices led him and his family.

Are you struggling with your call to lead? If you are a leader, your calling requires having followers. In fact, we see a person in a leadership position without followers as a judge rather than a leader, as we learn from the story of Lot in Genesis 19.

Are you looking for God to speak more into your life? Or maybe you fear if you ask Him to speak you won't be able to bear what He has to tell you. Genesis 18 tells of a conversation God has with Abraham about His plans regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. Through this exchange and a cross-reference to John 16, we gain insight into both ends of the relational spectrum we can have with God and how He meets us where we are at every time He comes near.