The story of Lot is about a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7-8) who makes many wrong choices.
Because of his wrong choices, he ends up living in the very corrupt city of Sodom. He almost gets irrevocably enslaved in the corruption, and only his uncle-Abraham’s intercession and God’s mercy save him from it.
The story of Lot alludes in many ways to Genesis 1-9 and Exodus and is therefore included in our Exodus Bible study series.
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Lot’s story echoes Genesis 1-9
Lot, a nephew of Abraham, is first mentioned in Genesis 11 and 12 when God calls Abram/Abraham. Lot journeys with Abraham to the land of Canaan, stopping on the way at Haran, where Abraham ministered to people and “acquired souls” (Gen 12:5). When a famine hit the Promised Land, Lot went down to Egypt with Abraham. They both returned rich in possessions and cattle from Egypt.
The short intro to the rest of Lot’s story is essential because it highlights that Lot knew about God’s promise to Abraham. He was a believer, and 2 Peter 2:7-8 says that Lot was a righteous man greatly disturbed by what was happening in Sodom. Yes, he made bad choices.
After returning from Egypt, Lot follows Abraham to a place between Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. Bethel means “the house of God,” and Ai “heap of ruin” in Hebrew. Here, Abraham’s and Lot’s herdsmen had a strife over the pasture land that was getting too small for them.
Abraham let Lot choose his area between the Promised Land and the plains of Jordan or between the house of God and ruin. The way Abraham presents the choice to Lot echoes the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad from the Garden. “If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
Like Eve in the Garden, Lot saw that the Valley of Jordan (Gen 13:10 plain is also translated as Valley of Jordan) looked enticing, and he chose against God’s promise. And like Adam and Eve after the Fall, Lot traveled east, away from God’s presence. Cain also traveled east after murdering his brother and built a city. Lot moved to the east and lived in a city.
Genesis 13:9-13
Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
Elements of exodus in the story of Lot
Exodus is a story of God delivering His people from slavery to the Promised Land. It’s a story of going down and coming up. We see this in the story of Lot in several ways.
Sinning leads to exile from the Land
Lot chose between the house of God and ruin and went to the east, down to a valley, and resided in a city. “Going down” or “going to the east” in the Bible means someone is going away from God’s presence.
God’s people are captured and enslaved
By choosing to live in a highly corrupt city, Lot and his relatives got enslaved in sin. When Lot went to warn his sons-in-law, they thought he was joking. Angels had to drag Lot’s family away from the city. Lot’s wife longed for the city so much that she ignored the commands of the angels, looked back to the city, and became a pillar of salt.
God delivers His people from the enslavement
With the help of his angels, God delivered Lot and his two daughters from Sodom. The angels told Lot to go from the valley to the mountains or “go out from the bottom to the top.” Still, Lot didn’t listen to the angels and chose to go again to a city called Zoar.
Lot explained his choice by saying the city was “a little one.” So, he knew it wasn’t wise to go to a city but explained to himself and the angels that minor transgression was okay.
Only after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah did Lot decide to go up to a mountain.
God delivers judgment on the old heaven and earth
God delivers judgment with light (John 3:19, Isaiah 51:4). In the story of Lot, mentioning the Sun’s light is the cue when judgment comes on the evil cities.
Genesis 19:23-24
“The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky.
Interestingly, the above verse, Gen 19:24, is also used as a prooftext for the concept of the two powers in Heaven in the Old Testament. The previous passages in Genesis and 19:24 tell us that Yahweh is down on earth with Abraham. “Yahweh rained sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky.” There are two Yahwehs in the verse, one on earth and one in Heaven.
Lot had a meal with the angels
Eating and having meals are often associated with covenants and pledges in the Bible. The meal in the story of Lot isn’t exactly had at covenant-making. Still, it has a curious choice of words.
- Lot made the angels a feast – Passover is a feast.
- Baked unleavened bread – like on Passover.
- And they ate – Passover lamb is eaten + many times for covenants and pledges.
Genesis 19:3
He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.