Monday 17 June, 2019

30 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 Ammonites of today.

What a messy recount this is. As real as it is unfortunate. What different decisions could Lot have made as a father in his earlier days that would have resulted in a much healthier set of events than the ones that transpire here?

The truth of it is my decisions can and will have messy consequences if I’m not careful. I’m sure Lot would have shuddered at the thought had he been exposed in his imagination to seeing these events as the future consequence of his decision making process at that earlier time.

I must learn the wisdom that is offered in this part of the scripture that comes in the form of a stark retelling of a sad episode in Lots life. My decisions now will have future consequences. Especially the more significant ones I choose to make or not to make.

I must learn to make these decisions with a clear sense of reliance upon and fear of God (reverence), as well as with a clear as possible awareness of the people I will impact in the making of these decisions.

God, grant me your wisdom and grace I pray, amen.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh