January 7 – Today’s Readings – Genesis 19-21 and Psalms 7
Reading through the account of Lot, the nephew of Abraham, really made me think of the decisions people make – for better or for worse. This man was so wealthy and prosperous in every way that he outgrew the land he was sharing with Abraham. He must have been one of the most blessed people on the face of the earth at that time! I find it fascinating that there doesn’t initially seem to be anything wrong with him leaving the household of Abraham. As a matter of fact it seemed a prudent business decision. He chose well too – took the well-watered plain with great grazing for his flocks. The Scripture doesn’t refer to his wife at that time so he may have married her after he moved near Sodom. It may even have been her hometown because this is where the angels found them when they went to check it all out. He had two daughters of course, probably both born to him while he lived in or near Sodom.
At the time of the angels’ visit, he seemed to have a certain sense of “doing the right thing” because he made the visitors stay with him and took care of them even though they protested. BUT this is when things got unbelievably ugly!
First, all the men of the city “both young and old” (probably including Lot’s sons-in-law to be) invaded Lot’s home and demanded to have sex with the newcomers. If you stop for a moment to reflect on this you can only assume that these men would have left the visitors dead from being gang raped and sodomized all night long. To his credit Lot stood his ground against these perverted criminals but then did something unimaginable – he offered his own two virgin daughters to these pigs. How horrific! Remember – there is no right way to do a wrong thing!
Thank God the angels stepped in and dealt with the Sodomites and then asked Lot an all-important question: “Do you have anyone else here – anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” [Genesis 19:12]
Question – Who belongs to you and to whom do you belong? The answer to this question can spell the difference between life and death but more importantly between eternal life and separation from God!
At this point in the account, Lot left his home, possessions, wealth, and relationships behind, trying also to persuade his blinded sons-in-law-to-be to leave town with him. They thought he was joking. Obviously he and his girls were not choosing their spouses very well. The angels were both insistent and urgent in their demands but Lot hesitated between the expressed will of God and his love for this place of sin. The angels had to physically force Lot, his wife and their two daughters out of the city.
Remember these words when trying to break free from any sin – “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away” [Vs.17]
Questions:
1. Please explain how such a godly, blessed man could end up in such a mess.
2. Please comment on Lot’s parenting and how it could have gone better for him.