When The LORD Says Go and You Say No

Recently I was engaged in a conversation or two with someone who was interested in continuing to work with an organization that had poor leadership. With all this individual's efforts, they tried convincing the leadership of their specific skillset and value to the organization. This individual wanted to argue the case to anyone who would listen. ""Magnify my strengths and not my weakness," this person pleaded. Equip me with assistance and watch everything flourish. Support the program and the mission you say you want," this individual lamented!!!

This person went from one individual in leadership to another seeking someone who would hear the case. But each person turned out to be of no help and no avail. Perhaps this institution might be on the brink of facing the LORD's judgement. No one knows. But what I know is this: When there are no righteous people who can hear your plea, there might be angels of the LORD in route.

The leadership was not interested in the least in listening. In fact they grew quite annoyed. Though, what was being offered by the individual was of great value, it was not what that place valued. I tried to urge the person to realize that these people did not care. I knew this was a no win situation. It was heartbreaking to watch. One person wants to stay, but all roads are leading to an exit. This person has been me from time to time and might be you as well.

Hence, we turn to the story of Abraham in Genesis 18 v 20-33.

 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[b] 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[c] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

We know how this story ended, right?! This is an entire city GOD destroys. Do not think for a minute GOD would not destroy a company, a college, or an institution. If you find that the environment you are in is toxic and unrighteous, and you are looking to find at least 10 righteous people and discover there were none or less then 10 (you just didn't connect with any of the 10 or they had very little influence), you might want to count it all joy. The angels of the LORD are on their way to rip your hand from your doorpost like they did Abraham's nephew, Lot.

Don't resist in the end an exit you may not want to make. GOD has greater plans in store for you. Go with the Angels of the LORD and... Don't Look Back!

Blessings~