Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!””
(Genesis 19:16-17)

Lot had chosen to live among ungodly people because he had influence and it was good for business. He intermarried his family with them. He knew better, but he stayed where he was. Lot did not pass on godly values to his children or spread them throughout his household. Lot was righteous, but the weight of his choices and actions made the judgment of the valley one he deserved. He had chosen it by his choices. Yet God was MERCIFUL and for the sake of Abraham, worked to save Lot in spite of Lot.

Looking back at what we have been saved from is NEVER a good thing. Having nostalgia and longing for what imprisoned us is a terrible attitude and the opposite of being grateful and thankful to God for saving us from bondage. It was one of the major issues the Israelites struggled with when they were released from oppression in Egypt. One whole generation never conquered that mindset and it got them deaths in a desert. When God saves us, we are to FORWARD looking people at all times and in all ways (Philippians 3:13). Keeping our eyes firmly on God is how we gain our victory. It’s how we walk through deadly places. It is the ONLY way to navigate.

We should never waiver enough to have to have someone force us to save ourselves. Lot was waffling – and as can be seen later, so were his family. Lot paid a HUGE price for his choice of land (Genesis 13:5-12). It corrupted his whole family in small and large ways. He lost so much by going his own way and not consulting God. Indeed, it would have been better for him never to have followed Abraham and gone to where he was NOT called by God. If Abraham had left him like he was supposed to, these choices would not have been available for Lot. It is ALWAYS best to obey God – even when we think we need to do something else. God knows best. Always has. Always will.

The sage Rav Hirsch writes: ‘חמל ,בחמלת ה׳, related to אמל ,עמל, a painful emotion, designates as a rule, undeserved mercy, or at any rate such mercy which only arises out of compassion. Lot, too, hardly deserved being saved. Even if he had been born in Sodom he ought to have gone away from there long ago, but, as it was, the material advantages and luxury of the place so attracted and held him, that of his own free will, he risked corruption. He got his punishment too. All the wealth he had brought with him, and all the comfort and luxury that had attracted him to settle there, he had to leave behind him. He had not simply to go away, but to flee form the precincts of the town, danger and death was hard behind him. He was not to look back, that which he was leaving he should never have had; and it was not just now that he was losing his children, he had consigned them to destruction at the moment when “to ensure their well-being” he had married his daughters to men of Sodom, and let his sons grow up as citizens of Sodom, and allowed his relation to his children to become of such a nature that in the hour of danger, he dared not even speak to them without being laughed at and ridiculed.’

The Torah: A Women’s Commentary writes: ‘17–23. After the city is destroyed, Lot—as leader of his family—appears overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation and unable to guide and protect his family. This seems to be what leads to his wife’s immobilization and his daughters’ risky actions. “Do not look behind you,” These words are addressed in masculine singular language; it may be construed that they were spoken only to Lot.’

The sage Siftei Chakhamim writes: ‘You participated in their evil ways. You might ask: It said in v. 15, “Lest you be swept away in the iniquity of the city.” Does this not imply that he did not participate in their evil ways [and was in danger only due to their sins]? This is not a question, as v. 15 means: If you remain in the city you might be swept away with them [regardless of your virtue or lack of It]. Avraham’s merit will not help you then — for a tzaddik’s merit would not save even his own life! As Rashi says on 18:32, Avraham did not pray to save the city if there were less than ten tzaddikim; consequently the few would be swept away with the city if they remain. But Rashi’s comment here, “Only for the sake of Avraham are you saved,” means: [Although you participated in their evil ways,] you will be treated as if you did not do evil and are not deserving of punishment. Thus, if you leave the city you will be saved. But if you stay, you might be swept away with their iniquity — and Avraham’s merit will not help! Furthermore, Rashi’s comment of “You are not worthy to see their punishment” answers the question: Lot might be swept away with the city if he remains because he is not worthy to see their punishment, as indeed happened to his wife. (R. Meir Stern)’