Genesis 19:15-38

Genesis 19:15-38

The next day, after being warned about Sodom’s destruction, Lot was warned that it was time to leave the city, but he lingered. Hesitation before God can be quite costly. God had a plan that day, destroy the city for their unrighteousness, and now Lot was fooling around, about to get caught up in the middle of the destruction. But God was merciful and still protected him and his family despite their flaws. Once again, God did not have to come in and protect Lot, but because of the promise He had made with Abraham about protecting the righteous, He did so (even if Lot was not acting very righteous at this point).

Lot escaped the destruction and was able to find rest in a small city not far away, but the instructions were clear, do not look back to Sodom. After arriving in the new city with a chance to start over, you would think that Lot and his family would understand what the Lord had done for them. You would think that this would give them such joy that they would want to obey the Lord’s commands. Yet, Lot’s wife could not help but wonder what had happened to their former city. And although it might appear to be a small command, she disobeyed the Lord and looked back to the city. For that, she was killed instantly, being turned into a pillar of salt.

One might wonder if that punishment was too harsh for Lot’s wife, but when you think about how much God had protected Lot and his family already, He deserve some respect (and obedience). This was the second time God had saved their lives (once when Sodom was attacked by another king and most recently when God destroyed Sodom). And there was actually a third time if you consider the fact that they lingered when they were told to leave immediately. All God asked was that they not look back to Sodom, that they start anew in a new land, following Him. But Lot’s wife could not obey even one simple command. In some ways her punishment may seem harsh, but considering that they served a perfect God (and considering all He had done), the punishment was adequate.

What comes next is Abraham arising that very morning. Imagine how he must have felt when he saw the smoke on the horizon, knowing that the city he had prayed for so earnestly had been destroyed. He had bargained with God the day before hoping that God would be able to find 10 righteous men in the city. Yet when he saw the smoke he must have felt awful to know that God could not find even 10 righteous men. This makes me think of those people we pray for who seem to be so far from the Lord. How many people have we tried to witness to that seem to be so far from understanding the Gospel? Just like Abraham, some cases seem to be lost causes. But we must never give up praying, begging God to show them mercy, so that they might come to Him before it is too late. Never give up praying for them! The result may end up being the same as it was for Abraham, but we must be faithful to tell them about Christ and pray that they will receive Him!

The last scene of Genesis 19 seems to sum up how far Lot and his family had drifted from the Lord. Lot may have still been a righteous man in his old age, but he had not taught his daughters to fear the Lord. Afraid that their line would end with their generation, his two daughters made sure that Lot became drunk so that they could bear children through him. It is obvious that the influences of Sodom had affected Lot’s daughters in tragic ways. They did bear two sons through their father, and these children became the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites. These two groups of people would have great conflict with Israel in the future, a result of the sins of their ancestors.

Matt