Who was Lot in the Bible?
Lot was an important figure in the Old Testament. He was the nephew of Abraham and traveled with him from Ur to Canaan. Here is an overview of Lot’s story in 9000 words:
Lot’s Background
The Bible first introduces Lot in Genesis 11 as the son of Haran and the grandson of Terah. Haran was Abraham’s brother, making Lot Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 11:27). When Terah, Abraham, Sarah, and Lot left Ur and traveled toward Canaan, they settled in Haran. After Terah died, God called Abraham to go to Canaan, and Abraham took Lot with him (Genesis 12:4-5).
So Lot left his homeland and went with Abraham and Sarah on their journey. At this point, Lot was still young and unmarried. He trusted his uncle Abraham and went along with him on this mission that God had given. Even though Abraham was Lot’s uncle, he seems to have acted as more of a guardian and caretaker for Lot after the death of his grandfather Terah.
Abraham and Lot in Canaan
When Abraham and Lot arrived in Canaan, God promised to give the land to Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 12:7). Abraham and Lot settled in the Negev near Bethel. Both men were wealthy, owning large herds of livestock (Genesis 13:2).
As their possessions and herds grew, conflict arose between Abraham and Lot’s herdsmen over the limited grazing land. Abraham knew this could not continue. He approached Lot with a solution, allowing his nephew to choose which part of the land he wanted for himself and his household (Genesis 13:8-9).
Lot looked out and saw the whole plain of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered. This lush and fertile land reminded him of Egypt, like the garden of the Lord. So Lot chose this more desirable land east of Bethel and parted ways from his uncle Abraham, moving his tents toward Sodom (Genesis 13:10-12).
At this point, Lot valued the fertile land for his herds more than staying with his uncle Abraham. His decision hints at a level of independence and ambition as he chose the lush Jordan valley for himself. But this choice would prove detrimental.
Life in Sodom
After separating from Abraham, Lot settled near the city of Sodom in the Jordan plain. The inhabitants of Sodom were extremely wicked sinners against the Lord (Genesis 13:13). 2 Peter 2:7-8 later confirms that the behavior of the Sodomites tormented Lot’s soul day after day. He was oppressed by their lawless deeds.
But Genesis 13 does not mention Lot showing any hesitation about living near such a wicked city. It only records his excitement over the well-watered land. So Lot pursued prosperity and comfort, not realizing the cost of living around such evil influences. His decision shows a level of moral complacency.
Genesis 14 records a great battle that took place in the Valley of Siddim near Sodom. Enemy kings joined forces and conquered the region, plundering the cities including Sodom. They took Lot captive and seized his possessions since he was living in Sodom (Genesis 14:12).
When Abraham heard the news, he set out with his men to rescue Lot and the other captives. He recovered all the goods taken from Sodom and brought back his nephew Lot along with the women and people (Genesis 14:16). This shows Abraham’s continual care and concern for Lot’s well-being.
After this battle, there is a curious event with the King of Sodom. This wicked king offers to let Abram keep all the recovered goods for himself as a reward. But Abram refuses to take even a thread or sandal strap so the king cannot claim that he made Abram rich (Genesis 14:21-23).
Yet there is no record of Lot separating himself from the goods of Sodom or refusing reward from the wicked king. This shows that Lot was comfortable mingling with the sinful culture around him in a way that his uncle Abraham avoided.
Genesis 19 – Judgment on Sodom
Genesis 19 records the infamous judgment of the Lord upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Two angels had come to Sodom to investigate and confirm its great sin. Lot met them at the gate and insisted they stay at his house to avoid harm from the wicked townspeople (Genesis 19:1-3).
That evening, all the men of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house demanding to have sex with his angelic guests (Genesis 19:4-5). Lot even shamefully offered his own daughters to the perverted mob, but they declined (Genesis 19:6-8). This scene shows both the utter depravity of Sodom along with Lot’s compromised morals living there for so long. The angels had to forcibly bring Lot back into the house away from the would-be rapists (Genesis 19:9-11).
The angels reveal their mission is to destroy this exceedingly wicked city. They urge Lot to quickly take his family and flee the coming judgment (Genesis 19:12-13). Lot hesitates, so the angels seize his hand along with his wife and daughters to hurry them out of the city (Genesis 19:15-16). One daughter was engaged to a man in Sodom, so the angels also urge Lot to bring them out to avoid destruction (Genesis 19:14).
Lot and his family are told to escape to the mountains and not look back. But Lot begs to flee instead to the nearby town called Zoar (Genesis 19:17-20). The angel grants this request, then rains burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah until they are completely destroyed (Genesis 19:23-25). Lot’s wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt for her disobedience and longing for her old home (Genesis 19:26).
Lot’s choice to live in Sodom nearly cost him his life and his family. His wife could not let go of her life there. But God in His mercy allowed Lot and two daughters to take refuge in Zoar (Genesis 19:30). Lot escaped judgment even though he lingered in an evil place.
Lot and His Daughters
Fearing they were unsafe even in the town of Zoar, Lot and his daughters fled to the mountains to live in a cave (Genesis 19:30). Here his daughters hatched a wicked scheme to get Lot drunk and sleep with him so they could get pregnant and preserve their family line. Each daughter slept with their father on sequential nights and conceived children by him (Genesis 19:31-36).
This disturbing event shows how living in Sodom had corrupted Lot’s entire family. The daughters saw no issue with committing incest with their own father. They had absorbed the twisted morals of Sodom, not the righteous guidance that Abraham would have provided.
The firstborn daughter named her son Moab. He became the father of the Moabites who opposed Israel in the Promised Land (Genesis 19:37). The younger daughter named her son Ben-Ammi, who became the father of the Ammonites. They too were enemies of Israel (Genesis 19:38).
So these wicked nations that caused such trouble for Israel during the time of Moses, Joshua, the Judges and prophets all traced their origin back to this twisted beginning between Lot and his daughters in a cave. Again we see the tragic legacy left from Lot’s time living in such a perverse place.
Lot’s Later Life
The Bible gives no further details about Lot’s life after this disturbing episode with his daughters. There are a few later Scriptural references to Lot:
– Deuteronomy 2 – The Lord warns Israel not to attack Moab or Ammon when they pass through their lands because He gave them the territory as descendants of Lot.
– 2 Peter 2:7-8 – Peter upholds righteous Lot as an example of how the Lord can rescue godly people from trial and distress. He says Lot was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard in Sodom.
– Luke 17:28-32 – Jesus refers to the destruction of Sodom as a foreshadowing of His own coming return in judgment. He compares it to the days of Noah and says “Remember Lot’s Wife” as a warning not to cling to this sinful world.
While the Bible refers to Lot as righteous (2 Peter 2:7-8), it seems this may refer more to his justification before God than personal righteousness. Abraham refers to him as “righteous Lot” when interceding for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33). God honors this by rescuing Lot from the city’s destruction.
Overall, Lot represents someone who was materially blessed but walked a spiritually compromised path. He achieved prosperity and comfort in Sodom but at the high cost of his morals, family, and legacy. Lot serves as a solemn warning about harboring secret sin and blending in with a wicked culture.
Key Lessons from the Life of Lot:
1. Material wealth and comfort sometimes blind us to the importance of righteous living. Lot overlooked the evil of Sodom because of its prosperity.
2. Fellowship with wicked people leads to secret compromise and inner turmoil. Lot was tormented by their lawlessness.
3. Seeking to preserve earthly things above obedience can lead to ruin like Lot’s wife.
4. Failing to guard our hearts and homes from evil influences impacts generations. Lot’s daughters absorbed Sodom’s morals.
5. God may rescue His people from judgment, yet lingering sin still carries consequences. Lot lost family, reputation, and legacy.
6. We must intentionally separate from worldly attitudes and actions or risk being defiled. Don’t follow the example of Lot.
7. The righteous may fall far through drifting from roots of faith. Yet God remains ready to restore the fallen.
Summary of Lot’s Story
In summary, Lot represents someone born into a godly heritage yet failing to remain set apart from the world. His life illustrates how believers can conform to cultural sins and experience generational consequences.
Yet through Abraham’s intercession and God’s mercy, Lot was rescued from judgment. This shows it is never too late for the fallen to turn or return to the Lord. Though saved “as through fire” their works may be lost along with family and reputation.
Lot’s legacy stands as both a challenge and a warning for people of faith in every generation. His life call us to examine if we are truly living as sojourners on this earth or settling in too comfortably with its sinful ways. Lot reminds us to cling to the truth and influence of godly mentors, not merely chasing worldly gain.
As Hebrews says, we must look to eternal, unseen things above rather than being enthralled with the temporal pleasures of this world (Hebrews 11:24-26). Lot is a sobering example of failing in this pursuit. May we each heed the lessons from his life so as not to repeat the same mistakes.