Two of the angels that had visited Abraham arrived in Sodom to check the city out. Lot insisted that they come to his home rather than stay in the city square. He knew what would happen to them there. How very, very vile Sodom was---all the men of the city, young and old, came to Lot’s house to rape the two guests. In order to protect his guests, Lot went so far as to offer his daughters to the men to do with as they pleased. It is unbelievable that anyone could do that to his own children. I wonder why a righteous man would continue to live in such a wicked and evil place. Evidently Lot had allowed himself to grow accustomed to his environment rather than being God’s change agent.
This raises a question for us. How much do we influence our environment, our work world, school, neighborhood, wherever we exist? Do we dare to be different and take a stand against those things that are not pleasing to God and are harmful to our society? If we do not stand against what is wrong, we ourselves will become shaped by the world in which we live. Things that once bothered us may no longer have an effect on us.
We turn our televisions on and allow garbage to fill the atmosphere of our homes, the same atmosphere we want God’s presence to dwell in. God cannot abide sin, and He will not reside where it exists. When we compromise with the world, we lose our witness and usability for God. Sodom was the epitome of a sick society. Our society today is headed that way. The "rights" of gays and lesbians are more protected than the rights of Christians. We are becoming a wicked and perverse generation of people, and I wonder how much longer God will put up with "Christian America"?
The angels persuaded Lot to take his family and flee to the mountains because God was going to destroy the cities and plains of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was very much blessed by God’s grace in delivering him and his family from the wicked cities, for he and his family must have been close to depravity also.
Lot still wanted to choose his own place, and requested that they be allowed to go to the city of Zoar instead of the mountains. How full of mercy and patience God is, for He granted Lot’s request. After Lot and his family were safely out of the city, the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with brimstone and fire, including the plains and the inhabitants and all that grew on the ground----GONE! During their deliverance Lot’s wife looked back, even though she was told not to, and she, too, ceased to exist, except as a pillar of salt. What did she miss about the place? Why could she not let go of a lifestyle that was destroying her family?
Contradict God’s commands? I don’t think so. He says what He means, and He means what He says. Keeping my eyes on Jesus, being radically obedient to God’s commands, is the only way for me to live and have peace of mind. However, I must go beyond obedience. It was for Abraham’s sake that Lot was saved (see verse 20). My prayers for others are also essential. God hears our prayers, and He honors our faith and our perseverance, just as He honored Abraham’s request and trust.
Lot wasn’t happy with his choice of Zoar as a place to live, and went to dwell in the mountains, as God had told him to do in the first place. His daughters were with him, and to preserve their father’s lineage they got him drunk and then slept with him. What a messed up family---what a price Lot paid for earlier choices he had made.
We must remember each decision we make brings about results that affects others beyond ourselves. Therefore we must make our choices carefully and with wisdom, not based on emotions and feelings. Our tomorrows are determined by our choices today.
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