Genesis 19:2-3 gives us a glimpse into the character of Lot. Lot certainly saw the physical things of this world and chose it, which made him move toward Sodom (Genesis 13:10-11). He seemed to have been elevated in status as well among the ungodly, with authority to be able to sit at the gates of the city of Sodom (Genesis 19:1). Taking all this into account, one can easily deduce that Lot was a worldly man. Yet, he sought out the well being of the angelic visitors, for the people in the city he dwelt in were wicked – something that vexed his soul daily (2 Peter 2:8). In fact, you can see with the persistence of Lot, the angels change their mind to stay at his house instead of in the street. We also see here that Lot refers to himself as a ‘servant’ (Genesis 19:2) and hospitably opens his house for these angelic visitor. He even prepares a feast for them. The Apostle Peter calls Lot to be a righteous man with a righteous soul (2 Peter 2:7-8) who was vexed by what he saw (in seeing) and heard (in hearing) of the wicked’s lifestyle and unlawful deeds.
Points to ponder:
We may have made some choice in life that make us be in allegiance with the world, but if the world in which we dwell start to become wicked, it needs to vex our souls. We cannot turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to the wickedness around us. The soul of the righteous vexes when it sees and hears of the unlawful deeds and wicked lifestyles of men. Just as Lot was deemed righteous, would you and I be? In other words, do the wickedness around you vex you?
Genesis 19:2-3 (KJV)
2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
2 Peter 2:7-8 (KJV)
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds😉
Todd Reeder
How is Lot considered righteous when he offered his daughters to be sodomized?
Mano 'dash4rk' Paul
Excellent question Todd. While researching the Scripture, I was surprised to see that Lot was considered a righteous man and his soul was declared righteous as well (2 Peter 2:7-8).
Often we hear of Lot only in the negative light and there is no doubt that his choices did lead to events and consequences that we would certainly not consider righteous by any stretch of our limited imagination. Examples of this include: Lot choosing the things (well watered land) that was pleasing to his eyes that led him toward the city of Sodom; Lot offering his daughters to the wicked people of the city of Sodom which to the human mind seems baffling; Lot leaving the city of Zoar to go to the mountains which deprived the opportunities for his daughters to get married leading to incest and the origin of the pagan tribes of the Moabites and Ammonites who become a snare to God’s people. So all in all it may seem like Lot was a pretty messed up unrighteous man. However, God sees different from what man sees (1 Samuel 16:7).
There are a few things to take into account accordingly to the scripture that justifies the righteousness of Lot.
1. First, lets take the observation you have brought up. Lot offered his own family (daughters) in order to protect the angels and save them from the evil men (even though it is debatable if they even needed such protection). Customarily in that time and age, where hospitality and honor of name superseded one’s own personal needs, this gesture of Lot is commendable, although it puts Lot as a bad dad in our books, when taken out of context. Having said that it is also interesting to note that God did the same thing for us (the wicked people of the earth) by offering his own Son and in that sense Lot’s offer of his own is an archetype to the Salvation story of Jesus.
2. The Bible says that Lot was daily vexed by what he heard and saw of the wicked people of his city. If Lot was part of the wicked, it would not have vexed him. This shows us that the Spirit of God was still stirring in the heart of Lot, just as the Holy Spirit of God wrestles against our fleshly lusts that swerves more in allegiance to the Sodom of today (the world).
3. Abraham pleaded for the salvation of the righteous when he pleaded for Sodom and the virtue of the fact that the angels save Lot and his family (except his worldly wife), is indicative of the fact that Lot was not one of the wicked to be perished.
Finally, all in all, while we may not be incorrect to brand Lot as a bad father, or as a man whose desires juxtaposed between serving God (for he refers to himself as the Lord’s servant – Genesis 19:2) and the worldly lusts – things pleasing to the eyes – we must learn to see as God sees and not as man.
And the bottom line is that we are very much like Lot at times – torn between gratifying the desires of our flesh and serving God, but the good news is that God sees us not as a wicked person but as the righteous when we have believed in Jesus and been imputed his righteousness.
Thank you for your question … I had to go back and think on this and learned about God’s greatness in and through the life of Lot (not matter how we see him). God bless you. Hope this helped!
Blessings brother
Mano