I haven’t purposely chosen to write about Lot’s story during the Christmas period; it was simply because, as you know, I am reading through Genesis.
This is an alarming read for a Boxing Day morning!
In the last two days, many have had a welcome break from the stresses of life. Perhaps they have already returned to reality. If not, some will tomorrow and the day after. Christmas doesn’t erase our worst moments, nor does it pretend trauma doesn’t distort our choices. That’s not it. It announces that God has entered human darkness and redeemed a generation from even the choices their ancestors made long ago. He still does.
Here’s the story:
“ Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.” 33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. 34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. 36 So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonitesof today.” (Genesis 19 v 30-38)
Yes, it’s horrible. But let’s look again. Lot’s daughters found themselves isolated in a mountain cave, convinced they were among the last people on earth. According to their thinking, their father was the only man around. Civilisation as they knew it had ended. So, how was their future? They came up with a disturbing plan. Get their father drunk and become pregnant by him. Lot wasn’t in on the plan; he was, in that sense, a victim of their traumatised and catastrophic choice.
Years later, the Moabites and the Ammonites, enemies of Israel, would emerge from these children of Lot and his daughters.
This isn’t a story the Bible celebrates or endorses. It simply tells us that in an ancient cave, certain decisions made the destruction even worse. There are many in such caves today trying to answer this question: when things are desperate, what boundaries will we cross to find a way forward for ourselves?
Missions Paul 