November 5, Genesis 19
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. - Genesis 19:1
Chapter and verse divisions are fairly recent innovations. Sometimes a chapter break occurs at just the right place in a narrative or logical argument. But sometimes the break seems arbitrary, and may break an ongoing line of thought at an unfortunate place.
I think that's true about Genesis 18 and 19. The sharp contrast I believe we're intended to see is blurred by dividing the story of the heavenly visitors into two episodes.
Consider the stark differences between the settings for the events. It was high noon, the heat of the day, when the three strangers came to Abraham's house. But it was dark night when the two angels got to Sodom. That difference between light and darkness goes far beyond literal in this story. There was moral light in Abraham's household. It was a home and family characterized by righteousness and faith. Abraham was the dominant influence in his household. On the other hand, the darkness of immorality prevailed around Lot and his family in Sodom. The neighbors were very wicked, and this story shows just how depraved they were. Sadly, the story also reveals that the evil influence of Sodom had infiltrated the hearts and minds of Lot's family as well.
In Abraham's home, there was joy over the prospect of a miraculous baby being born to fulfill God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. It is sweet and encouraging to imagine their faith and confidence in God's promise and power being strengthened day by day as Sarah's pregnancy progressed. Just think of the overflowing joy they would experience when the boy who would be named Isaac finally arrived.
There are babies on the way in the dark setting, too. But the babies that Lot's daughters would bear were not very much like Sarah's son at all. The boys were conceived in incestuous dishonor, drunkenness and shame. They would grow up, have their own families and develop into nations who would be bitter enemies to Abraham's descendants. Their dark idolatry and immorality would infect and destroy generations of people born into Abraham's family.
Lot was better than the people around him. Peter called him "righteous Lot" and said he was dismayed by the wickedness around him every day. But the evil environment influenced Lot and his family. The men of Sodom wanted Lot to give them the strangers who had come to his house. They wanted them to abuse them and satisfy their unholy desires. Lot tried to protect his guests. That was good. But his proposal to give his daughters to the wicked men instead of surrendering his guests went beyond hospitality to sinful failure as a protective father. Where did such an idea come from? His other daughters were already lost to the sons-in-law who mocked the warning, sad casualties of the evil environment. The angels had to urge and then physically remove Lot, his wife and remaining two daughters to get them to leave. Lot's wife lost her life when she looked back.
After Lot and his daughters escaped to the hills, the girls' idea to have children by their own father shows that the environment had skewed their moral compass. They knew Lot would not do what they wanted if he was sober, so they got him drunk to go along with their plan.
What a sad and powerful contrast we have between the ending scene and the beginning of this story! The Lord visited Abraham and Sarah and spoke of great blessings that would come to this household of faith. Lot and his family had moved into a place of corruption and ungodliness. It cost some of them their lives, others their honor. Instead of blessing, the message from God to Sodom was destruction.
Oh, how we should trust and obey God, and not follow our own perception of what seems good! We are supposed to walk by faith and not by sight. One way is the path of blessing; the other way leads to destruction. We should consider our path, listen to warnings and live by our trusting faith in God. May God bless us with clear vision, deep faith and strong commitment to walk with him.
Copyright © 2021 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—November 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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