01-60 The Unpreachable Sermon

Genesis 19:30-38

Our passage today includes the final narrative about Lot and his life. He is mentioned a couple other times later in the OT but only in reference to his descendants. There are quite a few commentaries that give only a very brief overview of these final vv in ch 19. By brief—generally a paragraph and not much more (if even that).

The well-known commentator HC Leupold writes this about Gen 19: “Not every part of this chapter is suited for homiletical use. It seems to us that v. 1-11 contains several elements that would require explanation and yet cannot be explained without a measure of impropriety. And if there be a difference of opinion under this head, certainly all must agree that v. 30-38...cannot be a text for a sermon.”

If the previous verses about homosexuality and God’s condemnation of such behavior in the destruction of the ungodly Sodomites was too difficult to explain without being modest, then our vv today must be an even more unpreachable sermon involving incestuous relationships not once but twice. Some would think that Moses erred and this is all a mistake—shouldn’t be in the Bible. Others have said that such themes should never be brought up within the gathering of the saints—even less where there might be children who listen.

At CCC we fully affirm that God’s Word—the Scriptures are the means of the saints’ sanctification (Jn 17:17) and that God has included this account of Lot and his daughters for our edification:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NASB95

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Donald Grey Barnhouse “Sometimes unsaved people criticize the Bible because of its horrible stories of all varieties of iniquity—murder, adultery, rape, incest, treason, high crimes, and foul deeds. True, but these things are never mentioned without being accompanied by the stern warning that God hates sin and punishes it. It is far better for children to learn the facts of life from the Word of God, where sin is condemned, than from dirty words on alley walls, or from lewd stories. No one can escape knowledge of sin, but anyone can be protected by the power of sin by being encompassed in Christ.”

So we come face to face with the reality that sin is destructive, ugly, treacherous, brings long-lasting consequences and makes things very uncomfortable for all. But we all see this account from God’s perspective and if there ever was a silver lining on the horrible ravages of sin—it is here.

Remember Peter’s instruction that Lot was a righteous man when he lived in Sodom. Before its destruction, Lot had both embraced Sodom, not only as his home, but the place where he felt at home—comfortable, secure—and yet all the while we are reminded that he kept being tormented in his soul by the wicked, ungodly, sinful pursuits of the Sodomites—including city-wide homosexuality. He didn’t participate in these things but he didn’t also did speak against them as being contrary to righteousness. Lot and his wife (without being overly dogmatic—she was probably an unbeliever—but I wouldn’t stake my reputation on this point) raised their daughters in the culture of Sodom. The responsibility falls on Lot—as it does on every father, to instruct children in the ways of the Lord. Where there is a failure to do this—except for God’s grace, the family will welcome compromise and loose morals—jus waiting for disaster to strike. This is Lot’s family—I trust that the narrative, while uncomfortably graphic, will build you up in the faith and strengthen your commitment to pursuing righteousness individually and as the family.

Three parts divide the final vv:

I. The Desperate Relocation; II. The Diabolical Ruse; III. The Divine Reversal

I. The Desperate Relocation

vs 30

“Lot went up from Zoar” if we stop here, we are reminded why he is in Zoar in the 1st place. Lot escaped the destruction of YHWH at Sodom (God’s judgment) along with his 2 daughters as he listened to & heeded the warning of the angelic visitors. Lot’s wife had also joined them in leaving the city but when Lot and the daughters arrived safely in Zoar (after initially commanded to escape to the mtns)…but Lot’s wife, in disobedience to the angel command not to turn around—she kept looking back (apparently b/c she was loving the things of this world (Lk 17). She is turned into a pillar of salt while the others were safe in city of Zoar.

Now Lot left Zoar *he didn’t stay there permanently)—stayed in the mtns (made his dwelling there) along with his 2 daughters. Moses tells us that he left Zoar b/c he was afraid to live there. The text doesn’t tell us what he was afraid of. Some have suggested he was afraid that Zoar also would be judged by God and suffer similar fates of the other cities in the valley (2nd Sodom). Others have said that the wickedness was finally wearing on Lot and that for fear that the citizens might blame him for the destruction of Sodom—he headed to the mtns. We can’t say for sure. Zoar was not a bastion of righteousness but was just as wicked and immoral as Sodom and but by God’s grace it too would have been annihilated.

Moses tells us that he found a cave and that he and his 2 daughters made this their dwelling (lit to sit down/ to remain in place). This cave became their new home. One commentator noted that Lot finally went where God wanted him in the 1st place—in the mtns. Sure took a lot to get there, and with all the tragedy that could have been averted if he’d followed obediently to begin with.

We’re often like Lot in that we think we have a better idea than God where we ought to be/or to be headed. It is always better to obey. If the Lord has been directing you and maybe you’re resisting, trying to get God to accept your plans, going opposite how He would be leading you—get back to where God would have you be.

II. The Diabolical Ruse

31-36

Several writers have used a word to describe Lot in this passage: A Buffoon. (Websters: a ludicrous figure; a gross and usually ill-educated or stupid person). I don’t know to what degree I’d put him. I wrestle with Lot’s culpability (to some degree) in the ruse (trickery—mislead thru deception). We’re told on both occasions that he was so intoxicated that he didn’t know when his daughter laid with him or when she got up. And yet—he did drink to the point of passing out. So there’s some culpability and see once again (as we noted in Noah’s occasion) the danger of drinking to the point of drunkeness (which is what the Lord forbids).

“firstborn said to the younger...” “Let us” but they are clearly in this together—for both participate.

“our father is old”—this was the time when prospects for marriage and child bearing generally ceased (there are exceptions) And we don’t know how old Lot is at this time. But his daughters felt like they needed to take matters into their own hands...b/c

“not a man to come into us after the manner of the earth.” I don’t think they really believed that every male on earth had perished. They might have thought that no man would want anything to do with people who were associated with God’s destruction on S&G. “not a man to come into us”—this is a Heb expression that simply means to have intercourse with and “after the manner” according to the normal way of conceiving a child—a man and a woman get married and the blessing of the fruit of the womb is added. This was practiced worldwide.

Now, incest on the other hand—what the oldest daughter is scheming was considered wrong in the Near-Eastern culture. Thru Moses God would clearly forbid a man to have relations with his daughters and daughters-in-law (Lev 20:12). The penalty for such violation of God’s Law was death (Lev 20:11-13). This was forbidden in Mesopotamian culture. Hittite laws forbade this sin (punishable by death or banishment). It seems likely that even in the Dead Sea region of S & G—sexual immorality was clearly acceptable, the perversion of incest was an aberration. This is because of God restraining sin (2Th 2:6—when God gives them over He abandons a society to proceed deeper into the cesspool of wickedness).

Lot’s daughters knew it to be sinful—this is why they had to trick Lot by getting him drunk. This is a diabolical scheme, to run headlong into sin (the devil is in this from the beginning), but it was also an idolatrous spirit “to preserve our family thru...” Elevating this desire in their hearts led to the scheming and while not trusting God to provide husbands that were righteous, they took matters into their own hands. This was such an evil, wicked scheme that they thought they deserved this and now the end justifies the means in their own minds.

How many have thought the same thing since then. Just a little lie, cheating a little bit on a test—get a better grade that might result in a better job down the road. Cheating on income tax—I’ll have more money to give to the church.

James 4:17 NASB95

17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

If the means doesn’t glorify God—the end will never justify it.

vs 33 “so they” (both daughters are guilty) and the 1st night the oldest “lay with her father” (incestuous relationship) and we’re told that “Lot did not know...” this is where his baffoonery fully blossomed. Lot is foolish. He let this go too far. He should have put a full stop to the ruse—and could have if he hadn’t lost control.

That’s what drunkenness does. You lose control of your faculties, your reasoning, your ability to think clearly. As a result, the sin of drunkenness will often lead to other sins, which have even more severe consequences.

Ephesians 5:18 NASB95

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

And now, one sin leads to another—leads to another and you’re racing downward with no way to stop and without God’s intervening grace you’re going to hit the bottom with catastrophic results.

Jeremiah 17:9 NASB95

9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Sin blinds us to other sins and the heart makes it seem like the first sin isn’t all that bad. That’s the deceptive nature of the heart and why it is desperately sick.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 NASB95

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

If this is describing you, you’re without JC and headed for eternal destruction. And this is what was going on in the Corinthian church—horrible things (not unlike what was going on in Sodom and here in the cave with Lot and his daughters).

1 Corinthians 6:11 NASB95

11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

JC makes the difference. When these people embrace LJC their lives were changed, the hearts changed, the perspectives changed, their reasonings changed. That’s what happens when you begin the path of sanctification after you’ve been regenerated. You are a new creature, the old man is crucified—the new man is being renewed to a true knowledge.

The 2nd night, the same thing happens, this time with the youngest. Again Lot did not know.

Vs 36—Moses’ commentary on the incest— “thus both daughters”

Now, I’d like to point out a couple of things here… It only takes 1 sin to change the course of your life. It takes 1 moment of lustful passion to put you on a path that you wren’t prepared to take and you’d rather not take. 1 night of sin and your life will change. And the consequences will not be just yours but everyone around you will be impacted.

Exodus 20:4–5 NASB95

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Think about the direction Lot goes when he separates from Abraham. Setting his heart on a course that would seek to satisfy the lust of his eyes, he came to Sodom, raised his daughters in that pagan, wicked environment, and they were impressionable—but on account of the sins of their father and he deprived them of what they needed. Think if Lot had stayed with Abraham, worked out the way to live in harmony with each other.

Barnhouse:

“If he had gone God’s way, he would have lived in peace with Abraham and would have found husbands for his daughters among the man servants of Abraham. They would have had an honored place, and Lot could have become a man of influence in Abraham’s camp. His 400 armed servants, their wives and families would have brought the total of Abraham’s retainers up to several thousand. But Lot wanted none of this and as a result he wrecked his daughter’s chances, and ended his life in horrible shame and sorrow.”

And still, there is an element where God’s hand is in all of this. He is not responsible for the evil acts of Lots’ daughters. God did not force Lot to drink into a drunken stupor. And yet, God is directing the course of Lot’s life and of his daughters and these children to an outcome that will bring Him glory. God opened their wombs to conceive (power belongs to him alone).

III. The Divine Reversal

vv 37-38

2 children are born to these women. 1st born gives birth to a son and names him Moab. That name would forever enshrine the act of incest in the history of these descendants (Moab— “from my father”). This was exactly what the daughters wanted in preserving the family (preserve seed from our father—vs 32). So Moab is born.

2nd, Ben-ammi is born to the youngest and his name means “son of my kinsman” also a reminder of the sinful conception brought about in the incest.

So we have the beginnings of the Moabites and the Ammonites—2 of Israel’s neighbors that would often cause problems for them as Scripture attests.

But this account is not written by Moses to incite hatred of Moabites and Ammonites by Israel. Their territories were God-given and Dt affirms their right to live peaceably near Israel.

Deuteronomy 2:9 NASB95

9 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot as a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:19 NASB95

19 ‘When you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

The Lord did not even include the Moabites in the list of foreigners they were prohibited from marrying (Dt 7:1).

Later on, they would become inhospitable to the nation as it wandered in the wilderness.

Deuteronomy 23:3–4 NASB95

3 “No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord, 4 because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

Then, the king of Moab would enlist Balaam to curse Israel and then eventually Israel would “play the harlot with daughters of Moab and be led into idolatry (Num 25, 31).

The Divine reversal is ultimately seen in taking the evil that was commited and turning it to good (a theme that will develop often in Gen). There is one prominent role of Moab that rises up in Scripture—a Moabitess called Ruth (called that 5x in the book). Ruth would become the mother of king David’s grandfather (Obed—Jesse, David)—ultimately culminating in the birth of JC the Messiah. God reverses the evil and brings about the greatest good—for thru Christ every sinner is called to partake of the life giving grace of God.

Lot was foolish—a baffoon indeed! While the wickedness of Sodom tormented his righteous soul, he did what so many believers do today—he lived as close to the world as he could, hanging on to it for dear life until the bitter end.

God’s mercy was deep—he spared Lot and his daughters from the judgment upon Sodom and yet the evil of Sodom was reborn in that cave. The perversion of that society was embraced by his daughters—in which he also participated.

Kent Hughes:

Genesis—Beginning and Blessing Lot’s Descendants (vv. 36–38)

So we see that it is possible for believing people like us who are truly distressed by the course of this world to live lives that are so profoundly influenced by culture that Sodom is reborn in the lives of those we love the most

We need to be careful about the enticements of the world. We are warned:

1 John 2:15–17 NASB95

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

The lure of the lust of flesh/eyes/pride of life is very powerful—even the most saintliest saints must put into practice John’s admonition- “stop loving the world...”

Wherever you’re at…the HS is speaking to you—addressing the issues in your heart. For someone, you may need to come to Christ—putting your faith in Him. Another may be on a path away from the Lord—He is directing you back to the way of His will. Follow Him quickly. Others, you need to let go of the hold you have on the world and make sure that Sodom is never reborn in your life or in the life of your family.

Learn from Lot’s folly.

Father, we bow with hearts that are filled with gratitude for everything in the Bible. You have revealed your goodness, and alongside that—the depth of wickedness and evil that envelops your creation. What we have studied, may you sanctify us, edify us, strengthen us in our walks with you. Help us to see the tragedy of sin around us and in us—that we might see even brighter, the glory of your grace.