The pain of Lot

 September 1, 2020 (Tuesday)

 

In chapter 13 Abram gave Lot the choice of which direction to go… He took the fertile Jordan valley, which is described in Genesis 13:13, “Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.” [NIV]

 

At this point, I want to trace Lot’s slide from his culture to a cave. In Genesis 12:12b we read, “…Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.” [NIV] Notice his first step was to choose to move the direction of sinful culture. The second step was to pitch his tent near Sodom.

 

In Genesis 14:14a, we read, “When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive…” [NIV]. Then, Lot found himself in the middle of a conflict. It was not necessarily his fault to be part of this war, yet he became a victim.

 

After Abram rescues him, we find him in Sodom. Specifically, “… Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city...” [Genesis 19:1b NIV] What we might miss, due to our modern culture, is "sitting in the gateway" meant Lot was a leader or judge in the city. This is confirmed in Genesis 19:9 when the men of the city say, “…“This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! …” [NIV]

 

In the chaos of destruction, Lot flees to Zoar. However, life continues its slide, “Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.” [Genesis 19:30 NIV] This is what we call a “roller coaster” ride.

 

He moved from safety. He became cozy with a sinful city and its culture. After some time, he is taken captive with its people. Notice a lesson: the righteous will suffer when their city and culture suffers. After being rescued, Lot moves to a position of respect and leadership. Unfortunately this did not save the city or him. Eventually he ends up living in a cave. After that, Genesis is silent on his life.

 

Wait, back up a bit. Did you notice I called Lot “righteous?” Where would I get such an idea? I’m glad you asked! 2 Peter 2:7 declares so. “But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.” [NLT] “Shameful immorality” is translated “depraved conduct” by the NIV and “sensual conduct” by the ESV.

 

Lot is described as “righteous.” That means being right with God. Thus, his rescue from the “fire and brimstone” of Sodom and Gomorrah. He was genuinely distressed, possibly angered, by the sin of the city and culture. It has been suggested Lot was a righteous man who made bad choices. Were they bad choices? 

 

Or was there a point Lot decided to make a sacrificial choice? I’d like to suggest a different narrative. Why would a righteous man stay in such an environment? Why would a righteous man take a position of leadership in such an environment? Maybe he thought he could make a difference.

 

Pity the city or country when the righteous do not take a stand. “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” [Ezekiel 22:30 NIV] Don’t feel sorry for a city or country that will silence the righteous. They have chosen their consequences.