Origins: The Promise (Genesis 12–25)Sample

By Kelsey Curran

“Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.’ So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, ‘Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.’” Genesis 19:4-8 (NKJV)

Do you ever pause and wonder, “How did I get here?” Life is fast and we make snap decisions all the time. Often they are small and inconsequential, but even the smallest choices will continue to lead us inch-by-inch in the direction of that choosing. 

The things we watch, listen to, and follow will start to take up residence in our minds. Slowly their property there increases and eventually affords them the majority vote in what is “true.” Similarly, Lot finds himself surrounded by “all the people” of a city “full of wicked and sinful men” (Genesis 13:13). 

They ask him to be complicit in their sin by giving over something pure to be defiled. Instead of saying no, Lot went out to make a deal and find a compromise. Let’s remember the simple truth that one sin never justifies another. Matthew Henry suggests that, “of two evils we must choose the less; but of two sins we must choose neither, nor ever do evil that good may come of it.”

Lot is surrounded and his definition of right has been compromised.

Where have you set up residence? (And what has set up residence in your mind?)

Eventually, the things that surround you will knock on your door and something will be asked of you. In like manner, Lot is now called to action by what resides around him. 

But let us not shy away from the world or its darkness. We are called to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6). I would submit that there’s a question we need to ask ourselves when we enter into this calling. 

What are you following into the darkness?

Christ is the light of the world and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12). And like it says in Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV), we should “walk as children of light,” but I would submit that means constant relationship and instruction from the Father. A child of light does not walk into darkness alone or without direction. Be careful so being a light to the darkness does not become an excuse to live in situations where you will end up blending in or compromising.

If you follow darkness into darkness, you’ll never be a light.

DIG: Read in Genesis chapter 22 about the sacrifice of Abraham, Lot’s uncle. Who did Abraham follow when making a similar decision? Who displayed faith and obedience and who displayed fear and compromise?

DISCOVER: What are you following? What is taking up space in your mind? What voices are speaking to you? What purity is the world trying to defile with compromise?

DO: The Sodomites asked Lot to be complicit in their sin by giving over something pure to be defiled. Set up boundaries and surround yourself with godly men and women to protect what is pure and holy.