Day 14- Genesis 19

I have to be honest.

Reading Genesis Chapter 19 makes me so incredibly sad and angry!  Just in 38 verses, there is so much evil, faithlessness, doubt and immorality. It seems like no one knows how to make the right choice.

The two angels from chapter 18 arrive at Lot's house, and all the men from all over the city- young and old surround Lot's house and demand to have the "men" brought out so that they can have sex with them!

Wait, WHAT?

ALL of the men from EVER part of the city.. that means married men, fathers and sons, leaders in the city, and I assume that includes supposed religious leaders as well- EVERY man.  They surround Lot's home because they heard of the arrival of strangers, and the men in the city intend to rape these newcomers? This story has always baffled me. Hospitality is a huge thing in these days.. and the men are acting this way towards men.  Not that it would be better if it were towards women.. or would it be?

When the men demand to have Lot's two visitors, Lot offers his virgin daughters.

"No my friends, don't do this wicked thing.  Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man.   Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them." vs 7-8

WHAT?

I don't think Lot wins the Father of the year award there.  I understand that women were not necessarily considered very important.. that still seems like a terrible thing to say.  It definitely emphasizes Lot's sense that these two visitors were extremely important.

Then, Lot's wife turns around and turns into a pillar of salt- even when she has been told NOT to turn around.  

Lastly, Lot escapes with his two daughters and they lived in a cave.  Then, the older of the two daughters comes up with a brilliant plan,  Hey, "Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father." vs 32

They believe that it is so crucial to continue the family line (Which really was a big deal, but did not overrule the fact that they were doing something very, very wrong.) and so they decide that getting their father drunk and taking advantage of him while he is drunk is the best way to do so.

The sons born to each daughter become the ancestors of the Moabites and the Ammonites- the two nations that become bitter enemies of Abraham's descendants.

WHAT?!

Seriously, I feel very dirty after having read this chapter.  And yet, I feel challenged to remember that I am no better of a person than they were.. I simply have been redeemed from my mistakes and I have a chance to learn from their mistakes.  I pray that I will remember this chapter and will make the right choice in the moment.