Genesis 19: When Faith Falters — Daily Word

Explore how fear and hesitation delayed Lot’s obedience to God’s command to flee Sodom. Discover the consequences of delayed obedience and God’s persistent mercy even amid judgment.

Genesis 19:14-22 Daily Word

[Scripture]

[14] So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. (Gen 19:14, ESV) [15] As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” (Gen 19:15, ESV) [16] But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. (Gen 19:16, ESV) [17] And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Gen 19:17, ESV) [18] And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. (Gen 19:18, ESV)
[19] Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. (Gen 19:19, ESV) [20] Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” (Gen 19:20, ESV) [21] He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. (Gen 19:21, ESV) [22] Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. (Gen 19:22, ESV)

[Daily Word]

The people of Sodom, who did not recognize homosexuality as sin, demanded the two angels for sexual relations. Lot, however, considered homosexuality sinful, and so he urged the crowd not to act wickedly, doing everything he could to protect the two angels.

But the wicked men treated Lot as an outsider and pressed forward to break down the door. At that moment, the angels pulled Lot inside and struck the men outside with blindness, so that they groped about trying to find the door.

God did not declare Lot a righteous man, yet knowing that Lot was the one on Abraham’s heart, He determined to save him. Just as God had met with Abraham before the judgment, He also revealed His plan of judgment to Lot.

There is one more remarkable detail: in verse 12, God instructed Lot to bring out of the city anyone else who belonged to him—his sons-in-law, his children, and anyone in the city who was his. Those who “belonged to Lot” were the people under his authority, including his daughters, his sons-in-law, and even his servants.

The sons-in-law mentioned here were actually fiancés who were still pledged to marry Lot’s daughters. Yet God was willing to extend His mercy even to them. This is an event that shows God pouring out His mercy on the entire community to which one righteous person belongs.

# God uses those who believe.

Through this passage we can see that God puts believers to noble and purposeful use. In particular, God desires that believers become intercessors for those who do not yet believe, and this reminds us that God remembers every person connected to us.

However, what must be made clear here is this: [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Rom 1:17, ESV) — we must remember that those connected to us cannot be saved without faith. Therefore, let us never forget that the cross we bear as intercessors living between God and the world is an exceedingly heavy one.

God said, [13] For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” (Gen 19:13, ESV)
The outcry mentioned here is not a desperate cry directed toward God.
This sound is the loud noise of sin and wickedness running rampant.

# Lot Obeys.

Upon hearing the angels’ words, Lot immediately went out and told his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, everything he had heard. Yet his sons-in-law took it as a joke. If someone were to proclaim today that the Lord is coming, we too might not fully believe the prophecy — we might even laugh it off as a jest.

However, we who are living in the last days must not forget that for such a proclamation to reach us as solemn truth, our souls must be awake before God — remaining as those who have “ears to hear.”

As dawn broke, the angel urged Lot, saying, [15] As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” (Gen 19:15, ESV) Judgment was at hand.

The angels were eager to hurry Lot, his wife, and his two daughters out of the city, for they might otherwise perish along with the wickedness of the city.
The phrase “along with the wickedness of this city” in particular reveals something important: God was distinguishing Lot from the sin of the city. Even though Lot had lived in Sodom and surely had fallen into sins of his own, God still set him apart from the iniquity of Sodom.

[29] So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived. (Gen 19:29, ESV) records the reason Lot was saved: [29] So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived. (Gen 19:29, ESV) God heard Abraham’s intercession. And He remembered the name of the very person for whom Abraham had cried out.

Through this passage, it is clear that God works through those who believe in Him. In particular, He remembers the names of the souls that His people hold in their hearts and cry out for. Therefore, we too must remember and hold in our hearts the names of those around us who do not yet know the Lord, and pray for them.

At that time, believe that God will set them apart from the sinful lives they are living, and that He will bring them to salvation in His appointed time.

# God Knows Lot’s Heart.

In verse 16, however, we see that Lot hesitates. This is because he had not yet fully trusted the words of the angels, and because he was still clinging to the possessions he had accumulated — so much so that he had to be dragged away by force.

Yet even so, God extended His mercy to him: [16] But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. (Gen 19:16a, ESV). Then He commanded him, [17] And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Gen 19:17a, ESV), and urged him, [17] And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Gen 19:17b, ESV).

To this, Lot replied: [19] Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. (Gen 19:19, ESV) [20] Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” (Gen 19:20, ESV)
In truth, these words reveal Lot’s selfish motives.

Unable to let go of the possessions he had left behind in Sodom, Lot planned to return for them once the judgment was over — which is why he asked to flee to a nearby city instead. Nevertheless, God permitted him to go to Zoar. The name “Zoar” means “small” or “little.” Through this, we can once again see just how small Lot’s faith was before God.

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# God is a God who bestows grace.

Yet there is something we must do: we must hold firm conviction in God’s Word. I pray that as you trust that you will experience the wondrous works God will accomplish when you possess faith filled with assurance, you will walk in victory through faith today as well.

destruction of Sodom, obedience and disobedience, spiritual warning, grace of salvation, weakness of faith

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Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com