Genesis: Lot was a Loser

Genesis 19

OK, maybe that's a harsh statement. After all, I shouldn't judge like that. But going off of what I'm reading in Genesis, he's a pretty pathetic person.

I was detailing some of my observations and thoughts in my journal this weekend:

First, I wonder what Abraham and Lot's relationship was like. Since Lot didn't have a dad, and Abraham was his uncle, I'm gonna guess they probably had a close relationship. I'd bet Abraham felt, to some degree, like a father figure for Lot. Or at least responsible for him. He took Lot with him when God called him to the land of Canaan - which wasn't really his orders, might we note. Lot hung around for a long time, until they couldn't continue to maintain a close geographical distance, because of the fighting growing between their herdsmen. So Abraham - very generously - offered Lot whatever part of the land he wanted. Lot went for the pretty part. Abraham was happy to give it to him.

Insert 15+ years.

Let's think about this: Lot had the opportunity to walk with Abraham through the beginning of his faith journey. Did he ever claim faith in Abraham's God? Did he ever think about HIS responsibility to this God that had spoken to Abraham and told him to move to this new land? He couldn't possibly have lived with Abraham all those years without at least being exposed to some of these ideas.

When God approached Abraham to tell him that Sarah as going to have a baby, he also told Abraham he planned to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham dares to confront God and ask for a favor of sorts. He started bartering with 50 righteous people. I wonder if he hoped Lot would have been faithful to God and converted at least 46 people (if he expected Lot and his 2 daughters to be righteous too). Then he starts lowering his number. Abraham stops at 10. I wonder if he figured that was a "safe" number; that surely Lot would have been at least THAT successful.

When the angels arrive in Sodom, Lot insists they spend the night at his home. He had to have known what was likely to happen if the angels slept in the square. Clearly he was compromising in living there - he knew what would happen wasn't "right" if the angels slept in the square, or else he wouldn't have asked them home with him. But he also wasn't willing to move away and avoid the place.

Then, he further ruins his already questionable reputation by offering his two daughters to the men in the city if they'll leave his guests alone. Seriously?! How deeply disturbing.

Fast forwarding to the scene in the cave where Lot is now hiding like a coward because the village he begged to go to apparently was scary. The daughters want to have babies, so they decide to utilize the only source of sperm they can think of, which happens to be their father.

What on earth was their motivation? I highly doubt it was for good sex. Their plan to was to get Lot drunk enough that he wouldn't remember anything. Rather, I think they were scared, and trying to do something to assert their own authority over their life. CLEARLY Lot wasn't going to be looking out for their best interest. Maybe they figured if they could have their own sons, they could raise their protection against whatever crazy scheme Lot was liable to think up next.

I wonder also, though, what kind of family had Lot created? The girls didn't apparently think it was too far out of the realm of "okay" to have intercourse with their father. It doesn't appear that these girls are extremely experienced in the sexual realm, either. Lot advertised them as virgins. I sense a real lack of respect, love, and protection here.

Like the comic at the top of this entry implies: Lot was a terrible father. But really, in my opinion at least, he was more than just that: he was also a major loser.

Too bad, considering he was partially raised by one of the giants of the faith. I guess it goes to show that we cannot ride along on our parent's or mentor's or relatives faith-shirttails.

Genesis: Not a Normal Ninety-Nine

Genesis 18:1-15

Abraham is not what I would consider "normal" for 99 years old.

Here's a couple observations I made today:

1 - Abraham is resting. In the shade. During the heat of the day. I've been on the Mediterranean during the heat of the day during the summer (I'm going to guess this was the summer because that's when it's really hot, you know?). It's hot. Really, really, reallllllly hot. It is only logical that one would sit in the shade. I recall being in Morocco during the middle of the day in June and it's pushin' 95 in the shade. Hotter in the sun, obviously. Isn't it interesting that Abraham is resting? He's resting when it's logical that he should rest. How often do I NOT rest?

2 - The Lord appears to Abraham while he is resting. Isn't that also interesting? If Abraham had been out rushing around with the flocks or traveling and trying to entertain himself, or even arguing with Sarah in the tent, he wouldn't have necessarily seen the Lord. He would have been too busy, preoccupied, and distracted to even notice the three strangers.

3 - Abraham approaches God enthusiastically. It says Abraham RAN to the three men. I have no idea if Abraham knew this was God on sight or not, but he certainly didn't hesitate to extend his BEST hospitality. He invites the men to sit in the shade (ie: share his place of rest - isn't that interesting?), and treats them with honor and respect. He asks, offers, but doesn't demand. He's willing to defer to their preference.

4 - Abraham pulls out all the stops to serve his visitors. He RUNS to the tent to ask Sarah to make food, he RUNS to the herd (I would presume this probably was at least a little ways away from the tents... And remember, it's still the heat of the day!), picks out a tender (ie: valuable) calf to be prepared, then returns to serve his visitors, waiting on them. It reminds me of that command to do EVERYTHING as unto the Lord - Abraham lived up to that here! Literally!

I was thinking about how often I do the opposite of what Abraham does here:

First, I don't stop and rest and reflect when it's logical times. I take off on trips around the world during my breaks. I pack hobbies and side trips into my weekends. I socialize until late. I don't often enough just stop and rest and allow time and space and peace for God to approach me to visit.

Second, when God DOES break through to me, when I'm not rushing around trying to multitask and commune with him while also doing my tasks (and, ultimately, doing poorly at both), I don't jump up and enthusiastically go about doing what I COULD do to serve him. I'm tired. I'm lazy. I'm selfish. Because I'm not rested up TO serve God, I don't make the effort.

I'm only 22 (that's 77 years younger than Abraham!!), but I don't do a fourth as much as he does in terms of appropriately responding to God - and waiting for Him to reveal how I can serve Him.

I have much to learn.