Genesis 19 is one of the grimmest passages of the Bible. Abraham’s Nephew Lot, a citizen of Sodom, opens his home to two visiting angels (v. 1-3). Next, men of Sodom surround Lot’s house and demand the visitors be handed over that they may have their way with them (v. 4-5). Lot refuses the demand, but disturbingly offers his betrothed daughters as a compromise (v. 6-11). In this act, Lot condemns the wicked intentions of the Sodomite men (v. 7), but at the same time offers them an equally wicked alternative.
The Sodomite men were not satisfied with the offer. In response, they lashed out against Lot saying that he “came to sojourn and has become the judge! (v. 9). Then, they began attacking the house and attempting to reach inside (v. 10-11).
Finally, the two angels instructed Lot to take his daughters and sons-in-law out of the city warning that God had sent them to destroy Sodom (v. 12-13).
Then, something strange happens. Lot warns his sons-in-law of the coming judgment, but the Bible says his sons-in-law didn’t take him seriously (v. 14). Why?
Could it be that Lot’s inconsistent stance on sin in the past diminished his moral authority among his family? How could his son’s-in-law take him seriously when they saw him offer their fiancé’s to the wicked men of Sodom? Sure, Lot had stood up for the angels of God, but why didn’t he stand up for the family that God had given him? While I can’t be too sure that this was the reason for his sons-in-law to scoff at his warning, it certainly makes sense.
Before we are too quick to condemn Lot, we should examine our own lives. How many of us have denounced same-sex marriage while overlooking no-fault divorce? Have we been guilty of denouncing abortion under the banner of “sanctity of life” while at the same time ignoring the brutal conditions of refugee camps? How many of our families proudly petition against violence while welcoming it on their television screens each evening?
Have our churches become political machines in which we pick and choose which issues are in vogue to condemn while simultaneously determining which sins are socially acceptable? What about pastors who avoid talking about certain sins because they may create awkwardness among the congregation? And, what about those of us who have sacrificed our families on the altar of ministry?
To be clear, we should speak out against same-sex marriage, abortion, inhumane treatment of refugees, violence, and other atrocities. However, if our lives are not consistent in our desire for righteousness, our warnings of coming judgment will not be taken seriously. Like Lot’s sons-in-law, our friends, families, and co-workers will think that we are “jesting” (v. 14).
The problem lies in the fact that none of us are perfectly consistent. The indwelling sin in our lives distorts our perspective and tempts us to conform to the world. However, the good news is that grace is abundant.
Verses 15-16 of Genesis 19 state, “As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”
Even in the midst of Lot’s imperfections and inconsistencies, God still rescues his family. I love how verse 16 intentionally points out that “the Lord [was] being merciful to him.” Oh, that is the good news, isn’t it? -That God is merciful to rescue sinners! How wonderful to see in this episode a foreshadowing of Christ’s dying for us even while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).
And still, even though God was merciful and rescued Lot and his family, this did not meant that Lot was to continue his pattern of inconsistency before God. Rather, in the very next verse (17), the angels proclaim instructions for Lot’s escape that must be carried out completely lest he and his family perish. “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley.” After pleading to go to a certain city, rather than the mountains (v. 20-21), the angels agree to grant protection –as long as they did not look back. Of course, you know the rest of the story, the whole family was spared except for Lot’s wife, who looked back and became a pillar of salt (v. 26).
Who is to say whether or not Lot’s past inconsistencies had anything to do with his wife’s neglect to obey completely? Every person is responsible for their own actions, and yet we are all responsible for how our actions affect others.
Which brings us to the question, how consistent is your obedience to Christ? It’s a hard question that requires sober thinking. No matter how many times you have given into the world’s pressure to conform, be encouraged, there is grace for our failures. But God’s grace does more than forgive our past. If grace only deals with the past, where is our hope for tomorrow? Instead, God gives grace for our future –grace to obey!
Right now, think of all the people in your circle of influence. Like Lot, we all family and friends who are affected by our actions. Will you ask God to help you live a consistent life before Him in order that your impact on others will influence them to do the same?
- Parents, call upon the Lord to help you live consistently before your children.
- Husbands and wives, plead with God to draw you to a consistent lifestyle before one another.
- Businessmen and women, ask for God to give you a consistent testimony toward your unbelieving co-worker.
- Students, pray that your consistency before God will point your campus toward Christ.
- Pastors, plead with God to help you make your life consistent with your sermons.