Scripture: 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 bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.
Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
Genesis 19:1-14 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the Lord decides to investigate Sodom and Gomorrah but first listens to Abraham’s intercession for Sodom. Concerned his nephew, Abraham questions whether the Lord would sweep away the righteous with the wicked, supposing there are fifty. The Lord then seemingly revises his plan to align with Abraham’s appeal. This favorable response encourages Abraham, who further negotiates to benchmarks of forty, thirty, twenty, and, finally, ten righteous people in Sodom. With negotiations concluded, they part company.
Today’s passage is the first segment of God’s rescue of Lot’s family. The two angels (i.e., two of the three men who earlier met with Abraham to announce the birth of Isaac) arrive in Sodom in the evening and find Lot sitting at the gate. Lot bows and greets them as his lords and requests they stay at his house for the night. But the two reject his offer and state they will sleep in the town square. Nevertheless, Lot persisted and persuaded them to stay at his house. They consent, and Lot provides them with a feast, but shortly after, Sodom’s men surround the house and shout to Lot to bring his guests to them for their sexual pleasure. Lot instead closes the entry door behind himself, pleads that they not act so wickedly toward his guests, and offers his virgin daughters. Ignoring Lot’s plea, the men arrogantly accuse Lot of judging them, threaten Lot, and draw near to break down his door.
Having seen enough, the two men/angels pull Lot inside his house and blind the men. They then tell Lot to gather his family and flee to safety, for they are going to destroy Sodom per God’s direction based on the cries of those traumatized by its wicked citizens. So Lot urgently relays their directive to his daughters and their fiancés, but their betrothed partners deem Lot’s words a joke.
Takeaway: There are four troubling elements to this story. In chronological order, the first pertains to Moses telling his audience that “all the people to the last man surrounded the house” (4b). Lot’s daughters’ fiancés were not there, so we may understand that Moses employs hyperbole here to emphasize the extent of wickedness. The second is the men’s violent lust juxtaposed with them accusing Lot of acting as a moral judge. The third and most distressing is Lot seemingly offering his betrothed daughters to them to protect his guests. While good hospitality in the ancient Near East has always been a paramount cultural value, it would be unconscionable to sacrifice a loved one to protect a guest. Thus, theologian John Walton rightly contends our English translation misses the intended sarcasm, i.e., “I would as soon have you violate my family members as violate those whom I have taken in and offered hospitality!” (NIV Application Commentary, Genesis, p. 477)
The last observation pertains to Lot’s daughters’ fiancés. Their unconcerned response to Lot’s sense of urgency, combined with Lot addressing the two angels as “my lords” (v.2), contrasts with Abraham, who immediately recognized their divine nature; 18:3). Hence, Moses wants us to see that Lot’s clan does not have as close of a relationship with Yahweh. Still, having witnessed the angels’ miraculous powers to blind and immobilize the wicked men, Lot now refers to the angels as the “Lord” (v.14). As for the fiancés’ impertinence toward their future father-in-law, the better translation is that they laughed at him (translated above as perceiving Lot “to be jesting”; v.14). But Moses may be employing intentional wordplay here. As theologian John Sailhamer observes, Moses is threading a common theme of laughter, extending from Abraham (17:17) to Sarah (18:12-15) to our text (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, p. 154).
Our takeaway? There are two. First, Lot pitched his tent near Sodom because the grass looked greener in this region (13:10-12). Consequently, invading forces captured his family in their sweep of Sodom and Gomorrah—requiring Abraham to muster ally troops and rescue Lot (Chapter 19). Rather than learn his lesson, Lot moves into a house within the city walls. While angels will rescue him this time, the outcome will not be as favorable (more in tomorrow’s Daily Focus). Still, in contrast to the wicked men blinded in darkness, we see Lot experience an epiphany that deepens his knowledge of God.
Secondly, while laughter and humor undoubtedly have their place in our spiritual journey—particularly regarding not taking ourselves or our circumstances too seriously—laughing at others (versus with others) is unacceptable. Such mockery does not edify the body of Christ and often causes us to act like fools—as did Lot’s daughters’ fiancés.
In sum, as part of the broader context of Chapters 13-19, our story cautions us to consider who we associate with. Beyond our calling to reach out to those blinded in darkness, we need to build a community with the right crowd: godly believers who support, encourage, and hold us accountable so that we grow in our knowledge and awareness of God’s presence and our affections toward him. And because kingdom work can be intense, we would do well to laugh with one another along the way—just as long as it does not dissolve into mockery and ridicule.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who rescued us from your looming judgment when we were yet your enemies. Also, we thank you for his example of fellowshipping with the right crowd, where he drew near to those captive to sin and darkness and retreated with his disciples and the broader support team for refreshment. And he distanced himself from the wrong crowd: the hypocritical religious leaders and other self-righteous people. Still, we sometimes struggle to find that balance in our spiritual journey. So, would you please help us follow your Holy Spirit’s lead and associate with the right crowd so we might grow in our love and affection for you, expand your kingdom, and glorify your name? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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