Lot’s Women

(Genesis chapter 19)

We are not told the names of either Lot’s wife or his daughters.  Their names are not significant but what they stood for is.  They are only mentioned in a few verses but their lives speak volumes.

Their story begins when Lot separates from Abram (Abraham) and leaves God out of his choice for a home for his family.  Lot chose the “good life.”  What he saw with his physical eyes was very pleasing.  (Genesis 13:10-13)  “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.  Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”  We have already discussed what “the lust of the eyes” will do for your spiritual life. (refer to the life of Eve)

But the “good life” for Lot soon became a living nightmare.  The years of sinful living were about to catch up with him.  And IT always will.  (Numbers 32:23)  “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Lot was visited by two angels and told that Sodom would be destroyed.  He was told to take his family and flee into the mountains for protection while God rained down destruction upon that wicked city.  After much foot-dragging he finally fled with his wife and his two single daughters.  (Genesis 19:16)  “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”  Now this right here should send chills down your back.  Lingering was not what he was told to do.  He was told to get out fast.  Look at verse 15, “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”  That means NOW!!!

The first casualty in this sad story was Lot’s wife.  She loved living in Sodom.  She had gotten used to a certain lifestyle (the wild parties, the more comfortable style of dress, the “unusual” neighbours, the loose morals) that was different than what she had known before and she didn’t want to give it up.  She was sorry that she had to leave behind the things of the world that she had become accustomed to.  But the Bible clearly warns us where that kind of thinking will get us.  (2 Corinthians 7:10)  “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”     

The Bible has many things to say about loving the world.  (1 John 2:15)  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  (Colossians 3:2)  “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”  These are just two of the many verses that speak against loving, and living for, the world.  The things of the world and the things of God are totally opposite.  One leads to bondage, destruction and death and the other leads to freedom, salvation and life.     

When it came time to leave Sodom I imagine that Lot’s wife put up quite a fuss.  And Lot was in no hurry to leave either.  He made all kinds of excuses.  But the Lord had definite plans to destroy the city and a promise was made to Abraham to spare his family.  The angels could do nothing while Lot and his family remained in the city.  As we have already seen in verse fifteen the angels of God had to put Lot out of the city themselves. 

Mrs. Lot had no further choice in the matter.  And the Bible tells us in Genesis 19:26 of her fate, “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”   Was all that sin and corruption worth it to her in the end?  Is it worth it to you?  (Matthew 16:26)  “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Were the wickedness and the ungodliness worth losing her life over?  She not only died physically as her punishment for choosing the way of the world over the ways of God but she died spiritually the day that she began to compromise on her standards when she first began living in Sodom.  But her death didn’t put an end to it.  Her influence was far-reaching and all those years of ungodly living were about to manifest itself in a way that I’m sure she never dreamed of.        

The next to fall were Lot’s daughters.  When they were in Sodom they were still virgins.  This is evident from the following verse: (Genesis 19:8) “Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.”  To “not know man” according to Scripture means hadn’t had sexual intercourse.  

But they were not to stay virgins for very long.  Once again, years of living in a wicked, sinful, godless environment, not just in Sodom itself but in the home also, manifested itself in these girls.  When the appropriate opportunity presented itself they too became wicked and committed an abominable sin in the Lord’s eyes.

(Genesis 19:30-35)  “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.  And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.  And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.  And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.”

Lot’s daughters were not the victims of circumstances.  They made some deliberate choices here.

q       They acted upon a wicked thought.

(James 4:17)  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

q       They conspired together. 

(1 Corinthians 15:33)  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

q       They made their father drunk not once but twice. 

(Habakkuk 2:15)  Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

q       They had sexual relations with their father. 

(Leviticus 18:6-7a)  None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.  The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover:

This is the first recorded act of incest in the Scriptures.  And the Bible is very clear on this type of wicked behaviour.  Turn to the book of Leviticus.  Chapter eighteen is talking about various sex sins with relatives. 

(Leviticus 18:29-30)  “For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.  Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.”

God hates sin.  Incest is sin.  And sin is always punished.  The offspring of these two incestuous acts became very wicked people.  The Moabites and the Ammonites continually oppressed the children of Israel.  Let’s take a look at who they were.  

The Moabites, the descendents of Lot’s firstborn, enticed Israel into idolatry and intermarriage with them.  God pronounced judgement against Moab on several occasions. 

The Ammonites, the descendents of Lot’s youngest daughter, were also a cruel, covetous, proud and vindictive nation.  Together with the Philistines they oppressed Israel for eighteen years.  Solomon intermarried with their women and introduced idols into Israel.

You cannot surround yourself with worldly pleasures day after day after day and still live a clean, pure, wholesome life for God.  It is not possible.  The Bible says in Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”  It may not happen right away but sooner or later the things of the world will take over. 

Heed the warning given in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”  The devil is looking for the person who is not willing to submit to God, the person who is not ready to fully surrender his will to God, the person who desires the things of the world, the person who wants to walk in the flesh.  Don’t be that person.  Paul warns us in Ephesians 4:27, “Neither give place to the devil.”  If you let the devil in one area of your life before you know it you will have allowed him access to others. 

But be not dismayed for the Bible also says in 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”  Amen!!  There is hope if you will just trust God.   

Lot’s older daughter talked her younger sister into this vile sin.  The Bible is quite clear about one thing.  (1 Corinthians 15:33)  “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”  This is a command.  God is not recommending that we take this under consideration.  He is warning us.  This is a great truth that you would be wise to learn from the Scriptures and not first hand.   

Be careful who your friends are.  Your best friends should be Christians.  Why?  Because you have something in common with them.  (2 Corinthians 6:14)  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”  This is not just talking about married couples as most people think.  (Amos 3:3)  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  Neither is this verse.  Read them carefully.  We are admonished not to have close fellowship with unbelievers.  God didn’t say it just to spoil your fun.  He put it in the Bible for a reason. 

Is that to say that you shouldn’t have unsaved friends?  If you do, I hope that you are witnessing to them about Jesus Christ.  I hope that you are telling them what the Lord has done for you.  I hope that you are glorifying God with your speech.  (Colossians 4:6)  “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”  God should always be the topic of conversation with the unsaved.

I hope they are not telling you all about their sinful lifestyle and filling your head with garbage unless it is to repent and get saved.

You see the danger in hanging around with the unsaved, if you are not witnessing to them, is that the devil will see to it that the conversation will be focused around him and his work and not on Christ.  Keep that in mind.  In talking with any unsaved person you should do all the talking and your talk should be exalting the Lord.  (John 12:32)  “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”  Either that person will get saved or they will not want to be your friend anymore but at least they will have received the gospel message.  What they do with it is up to them.  And you will not have their blood on your hands at the judgment.  

What about “Christian” friends?  Remember that not all “Christians” are saved.  (Matthew 7:21-23)  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Almost everyone believes in Jesus Christ but only those that believe on Jesus Christ and profess Him as Lord and Saviour are truly saved.  (Acts 16:31)  “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Neither are all Christians spiritual.  Make sure their “walk” matches their “talk”.  A lot of people talk big and know just the right things to say when they are around other Christians in order to impress them but when they are alone or with the lost crowd what are they saying and doing then? 

Another type of Christian we are to avoid is the one that is in false doctrine.  The Bible is very clear about this issue.  We are not to have fellowship with them until they repent.  Let me give you some verses.  Study them.  Learn them.  Obey them.  Live by them.

(Romans 16:17)  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

(1 Corinthians 5:11)  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

(2 Thessalonians 3:6)  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

(2 Thessalonians 3:14)  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Beware of what you listen to.  Don’t let others talk you into trouble.  Be forewarned.  Don’t listen to “preachers” who make you feel good or who tell you that you need to love everybody or who tell you that you have to break down the walls and not be critical of other’s beliefs.  That’s nonsense.  That is contrary to Scripture.  (1 Corinthians 2:4)  “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”  (2 Corinthians 10:10) “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 

Get in your Bible.  Read it.  Memorize it.  Don’t take what anyone says at face value.  Check it out according to the Scriptures.  The Bible is your authority, not man.   Don’t be lazy.  READ THE BOOK!  Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  It doesn’t say: listen, hypothesize, watch television, ask your friends for their opinions, consult the pastor but disagree with him if you don’t have the same opinion, it says, STUDY.  That’s a direct admonition to you to do the work.  Shame on you if you cannot read your Bible through from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 at least one time each year.  How do you ever expect to grow spiritually or avoid all the temptations that the devil throws your way if you are not reading God’s Word?     

Before we close this chapter let’s take one last look and see what happened to the descendants of these incestuous relationships of Lot’s daughters and where all this evil communication lead.  First look at Deuteronomy 23:3, “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:”  Next turn to Nehemiah 13:1 “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;” 

Forever!!  That’s a long time.  That’s a pretty strong punishment.  But then again God doesn’t turn His back on sin, does He?

No He doesn’t.  And that applies to the lost as well as to the saved.  Saved sinners are forgiven but they are not exempt from God’s punishment when they sin.  Lot and his family are good examples of that.   

Lot’s biggest mistake was going back into the world.  There is a reason that God wants us to separate ourselves from the world once we are saved.  The world belongs to the devil.  (2 Corinthians 4:4)  “In whom the god of this world (SATAN) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

A child of God has no business in that realm anymore.  Now, yes we have to live in the world in a physical sense but we are not to be a part of the world in a spiritual sense.

Paul admonishes us in Philippians 4:8 that “ … whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  These things are totally opposite of the world’s view.  These things will help keep you spiritual.  These things will keep you out of Sodom.