History repeats itself

I couldn't believe how history repeated itself in the story I read in Genesis today.  Isaac told his wife Rebekah to make sure everyone thought he was her brother when they visited Abimelech, king of the Philistines in Gerar.  Abimelech then mistakenly takes Rebekah into his household but is told by God that she is Isaac's wife.  Abimelech is angry with Isaac and sends them both on their way to avoid punishment.  Funny thing is, this exact same scenario happened years earlier when Isaac's father, Abraham, came through Abimelech's land.  He had Sarah pretend to be his sister, Abimelech takes her, God reveals the truth, and Abimelech gives Sarah back.  Abraham leaves with some of the king's spoils as gifts to get him out of the area.  What's the deal her?  Perhaps Isaac had heard the story and decided to take a page out of his father's book in order for some extra bounty from the king?  How would it have felt to be Sarah or Rebekah?

It's interesting to see who God uses to further his kingdom.  Let's take heart in the fact that God delights in using broken vessels, so we can all help out in his kingdom work.

A pillar of salt

I took an Old Testament course a while ago and learned something new about the story of Lot escaping from Sodom and Gomorrah.  In that course, the professor suggested that Lot's wife may not have actually been turned into a pillar of salt.  Salt piles were common in that area, and a story teller would use this commonality to engage with his readers.  I've just done some digging around (just Google search Lot's wife and pillar of salt, and you'll come up with a myriad of ideas), and some theories are that Lot's wife may have been gloating over the destruction of the city and didn't retreat fast enough and therefore was consumed in the hailstorm as well.  Perhaps she was actually more interested in staying than leaving, and so didn't escape in time.  Likely, she didn't just give a quick glance while running away, and get punished for it.  For some reason or another, she was probably delayed in leaving the doomed city and was caught up in its destruction.
Hint for us?  When God gives you a way out, go for it with all your heart!