On the heals of Abraham’s discussion with the LORD about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18, the 2 angels arrive at Lot’s door.
Sodom
Sodom was a depraved place. Literally, the word sodomy comes from this city. The only purity in that city was Lot and his family.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 19:1-3
“Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.”
And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.”
But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.”
Two Angels visit Lot
The same two angels who accompanied the Lord to visit Abraham, now visit Lot, and are warmly welcomed by him. The Lord, the third person who visited Abraham in Genesis 18, is not with them it seems, as He is not mentioned.
Lot recognises these visitors and gives them great respect. He encourages them to enter his home, although it does take some “strong” persuasion. The reason he wants them in his home is to protect them from the rest of the city, which we will discuss next time.
Lot bows to them, invites them to wash their feet, cooks a feast for them…. Ooo, What an amazing culture; I’d like to be a visitor so treated.
Does Lot know why they appear?
Lot knows little about these visitors. But he knew there was danger for anyone who did not stay indoors; they needed accommodation, not to stay in the open square. Lot knew his own city!
But does he know the power the visitors hold? I don’t think so. I think he merely wants to protect them. He honours them and we’ll see at Genesis 19 unfolds, how his respect for them and his desire to honour his guests is profound, to the extent of holding them of greater importance than even his own children.
Being host
We learn from the start of the passage that Lot’s culture is to protect visitors. We know he humbles himself before them, elevating their standing in his eyes. He calls them Lords and says he is their servant. And yet, he is vehement they remain indoors with him. Even though submits himself beneath them in standing, he insists they stay; so great is his concern for those who visit him.
Lot in Sodom
From our understanding of the word sodomy, even from the opening of this chapter, we know the city is base and debauched, unholy.
As Lot is a man with a morality above and beyond that of Sodom, it begs the question why did he remain there? We know he chose to live their as it was well watered and abundant:
“And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.” (Genesis 13:10)
From a distance, Sodom looked like a good prospect to Lot, and so when Abraham invited Lot to choose where to go, Lot chose Sodom as his “lot”.
But why did he remain?
We make our choices in this life and sometimes we become trapped by them. It is important to make godly decisions, based on His leading, rather than what looks good in our eyes.
Next time, we’ll see how Lot was proven right to invite the visitors to stay, but also about the inevitable outcome upon those who did not do righteously.