A Father's slide into disaster

OPEN: clinging to the side of a rock face on the backside of the Chimneys. “How did I get here?”

Transition: Result of a series of choices. We are free to choose, but we are not free from the consequences of our choices

Read the Text: Genesis 19:30-38

It is possible to imagine Lot asking himself the same question. “How did I wind up in a cave with my daughters in this condition?”

Lot chose to follow money & materialism rather than the Majesty of God

Genesis 13:10–13 ESV

And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

2. Lot compromised his belief system in order to advance socially

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sate in the gate of Sodom” (Gen 19:1)

“This one came in to sojourn, and he will need be a judge” (Gen 19:9b)

3. Lot lost his moral compass. He made an attempt to do the ‘right thing,’ but his situational ethic solution was an abomination.

“Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.” (Gen 19:8)

4. Lot lost his witness. In his compromise with the morals of Sodom, he lost his credibility as a man of faith and integrity.

“And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, ‘Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. BUT he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” (Genesis 19:14)

5. Lot wound up committing wickedness upon his own family

His wife was negatively impacted by his decisions to move to Sodom. She grew accustomed to the worldly charms of the city and her identity and values were strongly tied to Sodom (Lot failed to protect her)

“BUT his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Gen 19:26)

He allowed himself to get drunk and committed incest with his daughters

“Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.” (Gen 19:36)

Choose to follow Christ. Determine to honor God with all of your life choices (cf Daniel 1:8)

Be willing to do without material success as you follow the Master

Be a man of integrity and maintain your witness

Invest spiritually in your family and protect them from the evils of this world