Lot's Failure Series

• The photographer for a national magazine was assigned to get photos of a great forest fire. Smoke at the scene hampered him and he asked his home office to hire a plane. Arrangements were made and he was told to go at once to a nearby airport, where the plane would be waiting. When he arrived at the airport, a plane was warming up near the runway. He jumped in with his equipment and yelled, "Let's go! Let's go!" The pilot swung the plane into the wind and they soon were in the air.

• "Fly over the north side of the fire," yelled the photographer, "and make three or four low level passes."

• "Why?" asked the pilot.

• "Because I'm going to take pictures," cried the photographer. "I'm a photographer and photographers take pictures!"

• After a pause the pilot said, "You mean you're not the instructor?"

Gen 19:1-2 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the town square."

• Two angels, not three visitors.

• Notice that his response to the visitors was the same as hospitable Abraham.

• But there is a difference.

• Psalms 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

• Lot was easily influenced, by Abraham when he was with him, and now with the attitudes and worldviews of Sodom.

• He looked towards the rich valleys of Sodom, walked that way, lived among them, and now was sitting with the spit and whittle club discussing politics and religion.

• The angels would have been safe in the town square because the carried God’s supernatural power.

• They were bringing God’s supernatural power.

• And if it were God’s will for them to truly stay there, they could not have been dissuaded.

Gen 19:3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

• They suggested staying at the town square to illustrate that Lot understood the sin and wickedness that abounded there.

• Many find themselves in this situation.

• “It won’t affect me. I will probably influence them for Christ before they could pull me down.”

• 1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."

• We will see over the next few weeks that the single look away from God caused a downward spiral that was beyond regrettable.

• The Angels ultimately took the hospitality and invitation of Lot.

Gen 19:4-5 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them."

• These men of Sodom had very bad intentions for the “visitors” of Lot.

• Isa 3:9 For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

• The shamefulness of their ideas will not be described now, but can be seen in the following verses, along with the depth of Lot’s spiritual state.

Gen 19:6-8 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof."

• Oh, yeah, that is much better. Lot, send out your daughters to be abused and violated.

• We are first touched by Lot’s closeness to these wicked men.

• “I beg you, my brothers…” the implication was that he had more in common with these men than he did with Abraham.

• We are next disturbed because he never tried to talk them out of wickedness, but change one wickedness for another.

• Why couldn’t he say, “Guys, forget it, it’s not right. Can’t you think of something good to do for evening instead of being slaves to your base nature?”