And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed(Gen. 19:17).
The Bible does not give us many details about the character of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. We know that he was a man motivated by material desires (Gen. 13:10-11) and that since parting with his uncle, he had achieved a position of reasonably high social standing in the town of Sodom, as is evidenced by his presence at the city gate (19:1). By his greeting to the strangers (angels), we know that He was a courteous man (19:2-3). Peter later recounts that Lot was, at least nominally, a righteous man who believed in godly principles and was offended by the morals of his chosen city. (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (II Pet. 2:8).
Yet, although he deplored the violence and immorality that surrounded him, he looked upon it as a fact of life that must be accepted so that he could financially support his family in the manner that they ‘deserved.’ He was willing to stand up for his principles (to a point), yet the compromises he readily accepted as the price of living in harmony with those around him—such as offering up his virgin daughters to be raped (Gen. 19:8)—proved just how far from God he had fallen. Lot was so sure he ‘needed’ his worldly contacts to survive that he still attempted to barter with God even after He announced His intent to save Lot from destruction. Fearing poverty and hardship in the mountain, he begged instead to be allowed to settle in the city of Zoar (19:19-22). In His permissive will, God allowed it, but it was a decision that cost Lot dearly. Instead of being safely in the mountains and away from the influences of evil, they remained on the plain, still within sight of their former dwellings. For Lot’s wife, the temptation to look back in yearning at the lifestyle she was losing was too great, and she became frozen into a pillar of salt (19:26).
From this description of Lot, it appears he would easily fit in with many of our modern-day Christian congregations. There are many today who struggle with fitting in. These individuals want to serve the Lord, but they also feel obligated to take care of their own through whatever means necessary. They believe that, because they live in a fallen world, they must adapt to societal norms in order to succeed. They live with a divided heart; privately and with like-minded individuals, they embrace the teachings of God, but publicly, they stand down, compromising the principles of God’s Word so that they can succeed in a world that increasingly denies his existence.
Compromise with the world may bring peace and prosperity for a season, but at what price? Every day, in ‘good,’ ‘Christian’ households across the nation, parents are devastated to discover that one of their own has turned away from the path of God and has become lost in the worldly culture surrounding them. Too late, they realize the mixed message they have been sending. Is there really anything that society can offer us that is worth so great a risk?
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows(I Tim. 6:10).
Thought For TodayWe must live in this fallen world, but that does not mean we must become part of it.
Word Studies19:1 at even = in the evening; 19:2 tarry = stay; 19:3 pressed upon = urged; unleavened bread = bread without yeast; 19:4 compassed = surrounded; 19:5 know = have homosexual relations with; 19:8 as is good in your eyes = as you wish; shadow = protection; 19:9 sojourn = live temporarily
Christ Portrayed:By Isaac, the promised son of the Covenant of God (Gen. 21:12). As a true son of faith, he submitted to Abraham, without hesitation, to being sacrificed, as did Christ to His Father. Christ the only begotten Son set us free from the Law by imparting to us, through the "born again" experience, a true desire to keep the Word of God through Christ who dwells within the true believer (Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; I Cor. 11:25; also Heb. 8:6;12:24).
Pray For Staff:Jennifer Palafox • Government OfficialsJ: Sen. Rand Paul(KY), Rep. Jeff Duncan(SC), Sen. John Thune(SD), Rep. Jonathon Jackson(IL) • CountryJ: Namibia (2,198,406) Southwest Africa • Major Languages: Oshiwambo Languages • Religious Freedom • 80-90% Christian; 10-20% Indigenous Beliefs; Small Numbers of Other (Muslim, Jewish, Bahai, Buddhist) • Prayer SuggestionJ: Call unto the Lord, and He will give you strength to overcome (Jer. 33:3).
Optional Reading:Matthew 7