In his commentary on Genesis, Victor Hamilton says this about Lot: “Lot needed to be pulled out of Sodom by the scruff of his neck. He needs no assistance, however, in getting out of Zoar.
“Does the cave provide more security than the open spaces of Zoar? Having been delivered by the mercy of God, must he now fend for himself?”
Now Lot went up out of Zoar and settled in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar, so he lived in a cave with his two daughters (Genesis 19:30).
When we are separate from God and living according to self-will, we will be willing to argue with angels. Lot’s actions in Genesis 19:16-22 are a good example of this behavior.
When we think about it, how often have we ignored the “still small voice” of the Spirit and headed off on our own?
Lot’s Drunkenness
The first two instances of drunkenness depicted in the Bible, involving Noah and Lot (Genesis 9 and 19), resulted in severe and unfortunate consequences.
And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the world.
Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, so that we may preserve offspring through our father.”
So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; he did not know when she lay down or when she rose.
On the next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Look, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, so that we may preserve offspring through our father.”
So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger rose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she rose.
Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father (Genesis 19:31-36).
Throughout the Sodom narrative, Lot’s daughters remain silent. However, their silence does not mean they were unaffected by the events. It appears they learned lessons of deception and self-interest from observing their father’s actions.
Earlier in the story, Lot had shown a willingness to offer his daughters for sexual purposes without their consent. In a disturbing parallel, the daughters later use their father for sexual purposes without his consent.
You may remember the song by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, “Teach Your Children.” It came to mind when I thought of how Lot’s daughters learned from him.
You, who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so, become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye
Teach your children well
Their father’s hell did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you’ll know by
The lessons the children learn from their parents are often turned on them later in life. Clearly, this happened with Lot’s daughters.
Teach your parents well
Their children’s hell will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you’ll know by
Ancestors of Lot
The daughters produce two sons from whom nations of people arise.
The firstborn bore a son and named him Moab; he is the ancestor of the Moabites to this day. The younger also bore a son and named him Ben-ammi; he is the ancestor of the Ammonites to this day (Genesis 19:37-38).
The older daughter gives birth to a son and names him Moab. In this context, Moab may mean” water,” “seed or progeny.”
The younger daughter gives birth to a son whom she names Ben-Ammi, “son of my kinsman.” In this way, Lot becomes the father of the Moabites and Ammonites of today.
In his old age, Lot emerges as a pathetic figure. By contrast, Abraham is blessed by God in his old age and can start a second family.
It is said of Abraham in Genesis 25:8 that he died in a good old age, an old man full of years. This is not said of Lot.
This is the tragic end of Lot’s story. Nothing more is written of him in Genesis.
Reflections
The lesson for us today is clear: we should not imitate Lot’s lifestyle.
Instead, we should follow Abraham’s example, living a life of faith guided by God’s direction. Although Abraham occasionally faltered, he maintained his faithfulness to God and consistently sought the Lord’s guidance.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 