Fear No Fear

The cities of the Valley of the Jordan were an example of ungodly lives (2 Peter 2:6). They participated in these lives on a regular day-to-day basis (2 Peter 2:7-8). Their deeds were lawless and corrupt (2 Peter 2:9-10). They were proud of their behaviour. They despised the authority of others. They were overfed, arrogant, apathetic, idle, and had no care for the poor and underprivileged (Ezekiel 16:49-50). These poor attitudes and their refusal to obey authority – presumably of God AND man – led to an overall deterioration of values (Jude 1:7). They embraced the perverse. People complained about them so much that the cries reached heaven. God came to see if they were really doing the wicked behaviour they were reported to – no one could say God ignored it OR acted without investigation (Genesis 18:20-21).

Two angels were dispatched to Sodom, and they arrived at evening. The man who saw them first was Lot, sitting in the gate. It seems that instead of having tents stationed toward Sodom (Genesis 13:12). Even back then – over twenty years – Sodom’s inhabitants were called exceedingly wicked and sinners against the Lord (Genesis 13:13). Lot had let their prosperity draw him in until now he was living inside the city itself – even though their behaviour and morals pained him. Lot stopped the ‘men’ from staying out in the public square. As a hospitable man, he insisted they come to his home so that he could care for their needs and provide them with a place to rest and recover from their journey.

The men of the city weren’t having that. They surrounded the house and demanded that Lot put the two visitors out in the street. Their intent was to rape them. Lot went out and begged them not to. For the act itself being wrong, for the act between men being wrong, and for being failures at hosting strangers (rape is not hospitable). He even went to far as to offer his virgin daughters to them – it is unclear if they were single virgins or promised in marriage but nothing had been consummated (opinions are varied). His reason was that the daughters were fellow residents but the men were GUESTS and under his protection. The men responded that they were going to rape the strangers regardless AND that they were going to do worse for Lot. In fact, they started immediately to insult this man who was part of their community. Lot had been sitting in the gate, where in ancient times the most affluent and the judges of the city sat. Lot was a major citizen – right up until he took a moral stand.

The angels intervened, brought Lot inside, and confused the men so they couldn’t even find the door of Lot’s house. The angels told Lot the plan – destruction of Sodom – and told him to leave now with his family and ANYONE else he cared about (including sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, or ANYONE – Genesis 19:12). The angels were going to destroy the city. Lot went to his sons-in-law who had married his daughters (Again, opinions are divided. These were either OTHER daughters, or they were promised marriages). They thought he was joking. They didn’t believe him. Lot went back home empty handed. At dawn the angels gave them very clear instructions. They were to get out of the valley completely, fleeing to the mountains, and not looking behind them OR staying ANYWHERE in the valley.

Lot didn’t think they could do it. He begged for permission to go to Zoar (also Bella), which was close and small for a city. The angels said okay and off they went. The angels watched and waited until Lot entered Zoar’s city limits, by which time the sun had risen. Then brimstone rained from the sky and scoured everywhere in the valley except Zoar. Sadly, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned to salt. Abraham, from where he lived, could see the smoke of the valley reaching into the sky. According to Josephus who lived and wrote in 68-80 A.D., the signs of the destruction were still visible (War 4.483–484).

“Flee for your life; do not look behind you, and do not stand anywhere in the plain. Flee to the mountains lest you be destroyed” (Genesis 19:17, LEB)

Lot’s final accounting in the Bible is as sad as the rest of his tale. Afraid to maintain residence in Zoar, he went to the mountains and lived in a cave with his two daughters. The daughters, assuming they’d never get a chance to find a man living in the cave, got their father drunk and had sex with him. He had no knowledge of it because he was completely smashed – small mercies. They got pregnant by him and each had a son. One was the father of the Moabites. One was the father of the Ammonites. The Ammonites were enemies of Israel. The Moabites were neutralish – sometimes enemies and sometimes not at war.

We head back to Abraham in the next chapter and wonder why twenty years wasn’t enough to teach him a lesson. Journeying along, either because he was still obeying the command of the Lord to walk the land OR because he had to stay on the move because of the size of his herds and livestock, and ended up near Gerar. He stayed there and put it about that Sarah was his sister. Yup. That again. It didn’t go well. The king of Gerar was named Abimelek and he took Sarah for his wife. He had a dream that night, God appeared to him and said “You’re a dead man.” Abimelek was able to argue that while he had acquired Sarah, he hadn’t even touched her. God told him that He had made sure of that. Sarah had been forced to rely on God for protection. I am convinced this was one of the turning points of her trusting in Him for a natural child (Hebrews 11:11). Abimelek was told to return Abraham’s wife and Abraham would pray for Abimelek and his household – all of whom God had struck with barrenness.

Abimelek was rightfully ticked. Demanded to know why Abraham had done it. Didn’t particularly like the answer – Abraham thought them all godless heathens who would kill him for the beautiful Sarah (who was almost a hundred). Abraham also tried the weak excuse that she was the daughter of his father but not his mother (Genesis 20:12) – the only reference in the bible to her father and not confirmed anywhere else, which can get confusing based on earlier chapters but isn’t something we have any reason to doubt. The king gave Abraham sheep, oxen, male and female slaves, and told Abraham to settle anywhere in the land that he wanted to.

Abimelek also made sure Sarah knew he had given Abraham a thousand shekels of silver ($7751.63 USD in today’s modern shekel). He did it for proof of her INNOCENCE in the eyes of everyone in Abraham’s household. Basically not her idea and she did nothing Improprietous in any way during her time in the king’s house.

Abraham prayed for the king’s household. They were all able to bear children. Abraham and Sarah left and settled in the land. We’re not told exactly where.

Summary

Key Players: Lot, Abraham, Sarah, Abimelek

Key Themes: Judgment on Consistent Rejection of God’s Morals, Mercy in the Face of Judgment, Mistrust, Trust in God

Key Verse(s): Genesis 19:2, 7-8, 12-13, 17, 29, 33; 20:2-7, 16