FEB 25
Genesis 19:14-38
Memorise 2 Peter 2:6-7
“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked”

The story of Lot is indeed a very tragic one. We know that he was a believer, for 2 Peter 2:7 tells us that he was ‘just’ – meaning he was justified. However, his life could probably be deemed as a failure. He wasted his life, and paid dearly for it. Lot started his sinful decline when he “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12), then “dwelt in Sodom” (Genesis 14:12), and now he “sat in the gate of Sodom” (Genesis 19:1), serving as a sort of a magistrate or city official. How sad it is to see this believer so actively involved in the affairs of this wicked, corrupt city. At the back of his mind, he would have known the error of his ways, and 2 Peter 2:7 notes that he was indeed vexed by the filth of the city. Yet he did not have the moral courage to pluck himself out of the city, perhaps because of the attractions of its riches, and the business opportunities that he had there.

By the mercy of God, Lot was delivered from the judgment upon Sodom. Even for that, the angels had to forcibly snatch him out of the city, grabbing his hand as he lingered (Genesis 19:16), reluctant to leave the wicked city that he called home. However, as they were fleeing, his wife disobeyed the instructions of the angels and looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt. Now left with just his two daughters, Lot retreated into the mountains, dwelling in a cave. It must have been a miserable experience, losing all their friends and loved ones, their home and all their possessions. Living in a cave would come as a stark contrast to the life of luxury that they were used to in Sodom. But at least, they had their lives.

At this juncture, another tragic incident occurred, through the dastardly sin of incest, and it happened not once, but twice. His daughters were concerned that with the death of their mother, and now living apart from anyone else, their father would have no chance to produce any heirs. So they decided to take it upon themselves to make their father drunk and be impregnated by him. This immoral scheme truly reflects the effects of being surrounded by sin as they were in Sodom, for they had been stripped of any moral values, and thought that such incestuous fornication could be the solution to their apparent problems. The outcome of these shameful acts were two sons, one named Moab (which means ‘from the father’) and the other Ben-ammi (which means ‘son of my people’).

Thought: Sin will always have its consequences.

Prayer: Lord, may I never take the path of sin and waste my life away.