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Your Past Doesn't Define Your Future

by MaryAnn Nguyen-Kwok on February 18, 2022

So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today” (Gen. 19:36-37).

Of all the stories in the Bible, this account of Lot is among my least favorite. There are just parts in Lot’s story that I wish I could cover up and never have to explain to anyone. But isn’t it interesting that God doesn’t try to cover it up? We know for a fact that God doesn’t condone incest (Lev. 18:6), and yet these events are still recorded here–not as an example to follow but just because it was a part of history. 

God doesn’t cover up, but God does redeem. 

The mention of Lot’s daughter’s descendants (the Moabites) gives us a window into God’s redemptive heart. In Israel’s history, Ruth is a famous Moabite. Her family background could’ve been held against her, but she was welcomed and accepted because of her radical faithfulness. She stands apart as a person of noble character, and consequently, she becomes ancestor of both King David and King Jesus. Put all together, I feel like this is a story that shows us that God can redeem any person and any situation. This is a story that shows that God will love and rescue and redeem and give purpose to anyone–regardless of your background, your history, or your past. With God, your past doesn’t define your future.

What a wonderful challenge for us when we are tempted to let the past cling to us and define how God might or might not love us or want to use us for Kingdom work! And what a wonderful challenge for us when we are tempted to rule out others from the Kingdom because of their past. 

Into this, I pray that as we continue to seek to be the people of God, we would seek always to allow God to do God’s redemptive work in us and in others.

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