Lot Goes to Sodom

Abraham, his nephew Lot and their respective families and servants had traveled together from Ur of the Chaldees into the land of Canaan, at God’s command. Finding grazing for their flocks and herds was not easy, so they decided to part. That brought Lot to a different environment.

Parting of the ways

The very name of Sodom has passed into the English language as a byword for immorality and human wickedness. How Lot came to dwell in this city teaches us how we should live our lives. We read of the strife between the herdsman of Lot and Abraham (Gen 13). Finding adequate pasture was creating unbearable tension, so Abraham graciously allowed Lot to make the choice as to where his flocks should graze: “Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan that it was well-watered everywhere…Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other” (Gen 13:10,11).

Lot’s name means ‘a veil’. Some have described him as “the man with a veil over his face”. Notice the emphasis. It is a play upon his name. He lifted up his eyes and looked – but his spiritual perception was clouded. He saw only the immediate advantages from the well-watered plain of Jordan. He was not far-sighted enough to see the dangers of living in the vicinity of such ‘sinks of iniquity’ as Sodom and Gomorrah. At first we are told, he “pitched his tent even as far as Sodom” (Gen 13:12). But when the events preceding the destruction of the cities are recorded, we find that not only had Lot moved into Sodom, but he actually “sat in the gate” (Gen 19:1). That means he had become a judge or ruler in that city, for they were the people who sat in the gateway to hear and decide matters. And is this the time for us to decide matters or rule other people? Let us wait for the great Ruler Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bro Martin Barosa (Kitale, Kenya)