Welcome to Lesson 66: Sin in Lots Family, where we delve into the intriguing biblical narrative of sin in Lot’s family. This ancient tale, found in the Book of Genesis, offers profound insights into the consequences of moral choices, the complexities of family dynamics, and the enduring lessons that resonate with us today.
Lot, the nephew of the righteous patriarch Abraham, found himself entangled in a web of moral dilemmas, ultimately leading to a series of events that would forever shape the destiny of his family.
In this lesson, we will explore the circumstances that surrounded Lot and his family, the pivotal moments of sin and its consequences, and the valuable lessons we can glean from their experiences.
Lesson 66: Sin In Lots Family
Judgment came upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness and atrocities. But prior to that, God delivered Lot and his family. Though his heart lingered, he escaped to the mountain with his two daughters while the wife, in her disobedience, became a pillar of salt.
No sooner have they escaped from the destruction that wiped away the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah than Lot relapsed into idleness and inactivity which are consequential to the ills that befell him.
It is pertinent to note that Lot enjoyed God’s grace and deliverance from destruction because he separated himself from the evil and sin of the Sodomites. He must have met God’s condition also through the prayer of Abraham. God sent His angels to bring him and his family out of the city before destruction.
He must equally have been very careful about the instruction of the Lord not to look behind, as well as to escape in haste when the angels drew him out of the city. But not too long from this time of rejoicing at the goodness of God, through divine deliverance, sin entered into his family.
The same Lot who had separated himself from the evil and sin of Sodom, who must have kept the precepts of God without compromise, could not maintain, or continue in, such a state of life after his salvation. He relapsed into sin. No wonder the scriptures enjoin that: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Lot was chaste and righteous in Sodom. He maintained godliness and mourned for the sin and wickedness of the Sodomites.
But he later relapsed into idleness which resulted in sin and ungodliness in his home. In Lot’s life were some obvious spiritual truths illustrated: First is the degenerating influence of a selfish choice as indicated in Genesis 13. Secondly, the effect of a wicked environment on one’s family as recorded in Genesis 19.
Thirdly, the retribution in one’s children, as seen in Genesis 19:8- 31, and finally God, the only true judge of a man’s real state in 2 Peter 2:7-10. These spiritual truths in Lot’s life should serve as a guide and precaution to every Bible-believing Christian whose hope and aspiration are to live such a life pleasing to the Lord.
THE ROOT CAUSE OF SIN IN THE FAMILY (Genesis 19:30-32; 38:1-26; 49:1-4; 2 Samuel 13:1- 14; 16:15-23; 1 Corinthians 5:1-7; Leviticus 18:1- 20; Judges 18:7).
Lot escaped to Zoar and dwelt in the place with his two daughters. He became separated from every man and was completely disengaged from Abraham.
He separated his family and children from Abraham and from God’s laws and commandments guiding Abraham and his family and dwelt alone. What a state of danger to resort to loneliness and inactivity after having enjoyed God’s mercies and grace!
“Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in anything; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man” (Judges 18:7).
The foregoing scriptures describe the state of the people of Laish who dwelt carelessly and had no business with anyone.
Even though they seemed secure, not too long they were attacked, and loneliness, complete separation, and isolation as indicated by Lot dwelling in the cave of Zoar.
His inability to have introduced his children to Abraham about whom God attested to his training his children and household to fear and love the Lord must have been one of the great ills that culminated in his fall. Lot managed his life alone but could not mold the life and character of his children who grew up in an environment that was polluted and influenced by wickedness and evil.
As such the evil influence of Sodom had not left the heart and lives of his daughters. Incest, in all its forms, is condemned in the scriptures. In various households and homes, we must guard against the enemy of our soul who would want “our soul annoy”.
That is the reason why we must do everything possible to keep ourselves and our homes pure so we can shield ourselves from the strategy of the devil.
Constant touch with God and the sound teachings of God’s word is indeed a necessity to sustaining and keeping a Christian vibrant and strong in God’s love so as to overcome every temptation. Because Lot did not take care of this it became very easy for the temptation to come, not from outside but from within his home.
Another notable root of this evil that plagued Lot’s family is the idleness and inactivity he slumped into as soon as he was saved from destruction. This is a bane. Many great men who enjoyed God’s mercy and power fall too soon after such an experience.
The man of God who came from Judah emerged from a successful execution of an arduous task but slumped into a state of inactivity arduous task but slumped into a state of inactivity (1 Kings 13:1-19). He was under the oak tree when the old prophet from Bethel came and turned him away from the Lord.
David also stayed at home and went into inactivity when Israel was at war. David felt like a man in apparent safety and freedom from all internal threats and reduced activity when the enemy, through Bathsheba, struck and he fell from grace.
If the temptation in the Christian life is so subtle and deceptive, how careful, watchful, and prayerful should we be at all times? Jesus taught:
“Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, . . .”(Luke 21:34).
DANGER OF DRUNKENNESS (Genesis 19:34-36;Proverbs 23:20, 29-35; 31:6; Deuteronomy 21:18- 21; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Matthew 24:48-51).
Lot’s daughters thought it wise to preserve their posterity and the only option known to them was to raise the seed through their father.
And so they devised the means of getting him drunk so they could be with him and raise the seed. Here we see the evil of drunkenness.
It is not only a great sin in itself but an avenue for many other sins in one’s life. A lot could never have done that in his right senses, but having gone into liquor and fermented wine, he related with the daughters thus practicing incest.
This forewarns us of the danger of relying on our past experiences. Lot who must have watched the drunkards of Sodom with disdain has himself fallen victim to the same vice.
Thus, what he seemed to have kept for many years was completely destroyed in a moment. Drunkenness breeds foolishness (Proverbs 23:31-35) and, like Lot, it makes the drunkard do shameful things. The drunkard loses all sense of self, danger,, and decorum (Proverbs 23:34-35).
Drunkards speak evil of the Church, of Jesus,, and of the Bible. Drunkenness is connected with adultery, fornication, gambling, incest, smoking, dancing,, and other forms of immoral acts.
Drunkards are insensitive to pain either to themselves or to people around them. Their senses are dulled, they lack sympathy.
They are cruel and selfish. They lose their health, wealth, personality, virtue, and sense of justice. As the Bible says, “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish” (Proverbs 31:6).
The Bible has nothing but woe for the drunkard. The curse and anger of the Lord are upon him. All drunkards are removed from fellowship with God and God’s people because no drunkard is a Christian.
It is a sheer deception and a dangerous assumption that a believer could work in a brewery. This misleading example is becoming rampant and it contradicts the Scriptures.
Having to do, directly or indirectly, with the production of alcohol amounts to partaking in the evil of drunkenness and alcoholism as it is a form of assent (Romans 1:32), and is a sin against God. In the Old Testament, drunkards were to be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:18- 21).
In the New Testament, the drunkard is cast out of God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), cut asunder from the people of God (Matthew 24:48-51), and will eventually suffer in hell. If drunkards refuse to repent they will never get to God’s kingdom.
Lest you be deceived by any “sugar-coated” speaker into the act of drunkenness, God will never excuse the act or the cause of the act. This is the danger of drunkenness which brings a lasting wound and dishonour to the sinner.
THE FRUIT OF SIN: Genesis 19:37,38.
Having gone into the shameful act, it soon produced seed and they were named. The first was named Moab while the second is Benammi.
We should however not forget that God will surely recompense every sinful act no matter who or what may be the cause. Sin – wherever it is found – among sinners or saints, converts or leaders of God’s people, attracts the wrath of God.
ot who enjoyed glorious deliverance from the judgment of brimstone and fire soon fell under the condemnation of God. The silence of the scriptures henceforth concerning Lot is quite instructive. As drunkenness makes men forgetful, so it makes them to be forgotten.
Except for a brief mention of his name in Luke 17:28 and 2 Peter 2:7, the Bible mentioned nothing anymore about Lot. We then must watch lest after we have enjoyed so much of the favour of God we seem to come short of entering into His rest.
The Israelites who were miraculously delivered from Egypt soon relapsed into sin and God did not spare them. They perished in the wilderness even though God did not purpose that for them.
Their sin was the cause of their destruction. “Sin is a reproach to any people”. As stated in the scriptures, we have to be careful enough not to allow sin to have any influence on us. David warned Solomon his son thus:
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
The counsel of the aged king who had a record with God is worthy of note to his son and to any other heaven-bound pilgrim who has the hope of eternal life. As long as we walk in the light of His words, He is gracious unto us, but when we walk contrary to Him He will walk contrary to us.
“And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:1,2).
The slightest deviation from the will of God is as tragic and fatal as wilful sin. Caused by wilful disobedience, it becomes a serious transgression and could lead to eternal loss of the soul. On the other hand, faithfulness in small things rendered in a loving, cheerful, and loving spirit, will certainly attract divine approval.
Finally, ministers, workers, and members in God’s vineyard must exemplify purity, obedience, and consistency in their walk with God.
Personal Questions
Question 1: What spiritual truths can we from the life of Lot?
Question 2: What was the cause of the sin in Lot’s family?
Question 3: What must we do to avoid such pitfalls?
Question 4: Apart from Lot’s family, mention other people who committed the sin of incest and the lessons derivable
Conclusion
In conclusion, the story of sin in Lot’s family serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring relevance of biblical narratives.
Through the choices made by Lot and his family, we witness the consequences of compromising one’s moral principles and the ripple effects it can have on future generations.
Lot’s journey from a position of privilege to one of desperation teaches us the importance of making ethical choices even when faced with difficult circumstances.
Moreover, this narrative underscores the significance of familial bonds and the responsibilities that come with them. It reminds us that our actions, both virtuous and sinful, can impact not only our own lives but also the lives of those we love. As we reflect on Lot’s story, we are encouraged to consider the choices we make and the legacy we leave for our own families.
