Return to Sodom

Lot had a large family living in Sodom. A couple of days prior, Abraham had stopped at the number 10 souls while pleading mercy be granted towards the righteous in Sodom. Clearly Abraham aimed to save Lot and his family. In addition, the language in Gen. 19:12-14 implies that Lot must have had more family than his two daughters and wife. He specifically went out later that night and tried to convince his sons-in-law to get out before Sodom was destroyed. Sadly, they didn’t take him seriously. Nevertheless, this proves that he had married daughters, not just two virginal daughters. So while the exact number can’t be proven, Lot clearly had several children.

Besides more daughters, Gen. 19:12 seems to indicate Lot could have also had more than one unnamed son residing in Sodom. Lot likely had a large family of many sons and daughters. He easily could have already had a family started before leaving Ur as it had been close to 25 years since their departure. Only one wife is mentioned which seems to indicate she was the one mother of all his many children. Since by the time of Gen. 19:12 the sons weren’t living under his roof, they probably were grown men with families of their own living nearby. The Hebrew word used here for “sons” can even mean “grandsons;” there’s no way of knowing how many children or family he had present. The regular practice in Scripture is to name any offspring that followed God. Since names were not mentioned, Lot’s children were likely unbelieving and would have been upset with Lot’s own stance against the fertility cult. How many times over the years had he tried to get them to consider his God? He would have tried to rear them according to the faith he lived; yet they must have reached adulthood and rebelled as so many do today. Only the two virginal daughters who were still under his control departed with him.

A family man and respected community member, Lot would have dearly loved all his family. In many respects, he would have also cared greatly for the community of Sodom. He lived as a local judge of some rank amongst the inhabitants of Sodom (Gen. 19:9). His high moral character must have brought respect from his neighbors; yet, they ultimately would have considered him an outsider. In their eyes, he must have been an odd one. After all, he didn’t agree with or practice their fertility cults, yet they allowed him to peacefully reside in Sodom. They would have also been thankful to Lot that his brethren in Abraham had rescued not only Lot, but also other notables of the Sodom community previously. They knew Lot was different, but they also must have seen Godly virtue in his ways. Lot’s own high regard for his family and the community of Sodom caused him to dawdle in Sodom. His lingering in Sodom resulted in force being used to lead him and his small, immediate family out of Sodom (Gen. 19:15-16). Since angels have substance in this dimension as mere men do, they grabbed his hand to lead him away from Sodom.

After being told to flee to the mountains for safety, Lot begged indulgence to instead depart to the city of Zoar. While we aren’t privy to the entire conversation between Lot and the Lord in Gen. 19:17-22, God did allow Lot to go to Zoar. This further supports the idea that Lot was a very just and righteous man. It is our contention that God was so pleased and impressed with the courageous and self-sacrificing bravery exhibited by Lot through this ordeal, that no correction was warranted in God’s eyes for him not blindly obeying this initial command to flee to the mountains. God agreed to allow Lot the opportunity to make a go of it in Zoar. Many are surprised that God did not punish Lot for not immediately following God’s instructions to go to the mountains. Lot merely asked for another way and God graciously allowed it. God knew Lot’s true character, and God had faith that Lot would see the evil in Zoar (Gen. 19:30).

Fearful of remaining in the corrupted Zoar, Lot and his daughters fled to the mountains. Soon after taking up residence in mountain caves, Lot’s two daughters schemed to be impregnated by getting their father Lot drunk and lying with him. What would have caused them to do such a thing? We don’t know the exact mental state of these daughters. Nevertheless, Lot could easily have told them of the dire situation of the pre-Flood world and perhaps they expected the same world now existed outside their mountainous caves. This would explain their mindset and how maybe they merely figured there was no other way to continue their family lineage but to resort to drastic measures.

Many wonder why Lot went to the mountains instead of going to Abraham. Surely there would be safety with the very one that had warned him of the impending doom of Sodom. Abraham, with his great love and Godly character, would have taken Lot and his remaining daughters if they had made it to him. The only reasonable explanation for not seeking Abraham for refuge would be their knowledge that there were many additional mutant/giants alive in the surrounding areas, including those other than Zoar. Due to Lot’s stance against the mob in Sodom, many must have been after him. Lot would not have wanted to bring grief and threat to Abraham and his family.

News of Lot’s resistance in Sodom would have spread like wildfire. This would explain his fear of remaining in Zoar. Satan would have found a way for the community in Zoar to learn of a twisted account of what happened at Sodom. The entire community of Zoar (and any other outlying areas) must have blamed Lot’s actions for the destruction of their cities. They probably thought Lot had angered the gods! All of the inhabitants around Zoar would have easily figured the angelic beings in Lot’s house that night were no different than the gods (fallen ones) which had been impregnating other daughters over time. As a result, Lot would not have wanted to bring evil of gigantic proportions to the doorstep of his beloved brother Abraham and family. Lot wanted to protect Abraham from the evil which followed him.

In a roundabout way, Abraham must have learned about Lot’s righteous stand. Abraham naturally would have wanted to know what the ultimate outcome had been regarding his beloved elder, Lot. From his vantage point in Mamre, he would have seen the smoke rise up from the plains if the destruction was anything like Scripture indicates. He must have ached for news about Lot. Had the angels traveled back to inform Abraham immediately after the destruction of Sodom? Probably not. Instead, Abraham most likely first heard a very slanted version of the events. In short time, Abraham would have heard many dramatic stories from nomadic travelers. Not all of the inhabitants of the cities of the plain had been destroyed. The vast majority had been wiped out, but Zoar and its immediate area had been spared. Word of two supernatural beings visiting Sodom, and more specifically Lot, would have spread quickly. These cities were situated very close to one another according to most sources; consequently, word easily could have spread to Zoar. Angelic fornication with human women would have been big news for all the territory! As a result, Abraham must have heard and been aware of at least some of the details.

Regardless of all the wild rumors and evil reports cast towards the name of righteous Lot, Abraham would have been able to read between the lines. At least one main theme would have been consistent with all of the accounts that he heard. If nothing else, it must have been clear that Lot stood alone against the mob. Great tears must have welled up in his eyes every time he thought of the great sacrifice that righteous Lot had shown. Did any of this affect Abraham to any degree? How could it have not? Later, Abraham himself was expected by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac, and he too, stood to the task. Could it be somehow possible that Lot’s actions of faith helped increase the faith of our great father Abraham? Could it be the actions of Lot back then helped us, even today, by inspiring Godly people to stand to the task and have faith? We know so. We are very grateful for the love that Lot had for God and mankind!