30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
Genesis 19:30-36, ESV
34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father.
Honesty moment… it’s a little hard for me to share this gross story about Lot and his daughters. (If you skipped the scripture, go back and read it if you dare.)
There’s so much that led to this moment. There always is right? There are years and years of bad examples and horrible compromises that would lead to this sort of trickery and perversion. Lot had been under the influence of his uncle Abraham until their possessions and livestock were too much for the land to bear together, so they parted ways (Genesis 13). What could have happened if instead of parting ways, they sold enough of their livestock so they could have remained together? Choosing possessions over people is never a good idea. But instead, Lot left and moved to Sodom.
Here is where he raised his family, in a city Genesis 13:13 describes as, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” Is it any wonder that Lot’s daughters grew up to make such horrible choices? Some might say, they were desperate and trying to save humanity, after all, they thought perhaps their father was the last man on earth. But the fact that is staring me right in the face is that they never once turned to the Lord for guidance or help. They weren’t raised to do so. Their environment, neighbors, family and friends were not accustomed to turning to the Lord for anything. Which is why their former city lays in ash, destroyed by God.
But was Lot totally innocent? Where his daughters just SO cunning that he was completely helpless to their plotting? There was one thing they were counting on… that their dad, Lot, would accept the wine they put before him so he would become so drunk he would sleep with his own daughters.
What would’ve happened if Lot had refused the wine his daughters were pushing on him? It says they MADE their father drink wine, I doubt it was a very hard task.
This reminds me a little of Noah’s bout with a night of wine. In both instances, a night of too much wine brought shame. The fact that Lot had two consecutive nights of over-drinking makes me believe this could have been a common occurrence.
Carefully chose the influences over yourself and your family. Never underestimate the lasting effects that could go generations deep. Raise your children to respect and turn to the Lord in all things and not to their own devices. And for heaven’s sake, take it easy with the wine people. This could have been prevented if he had said no to their offer of drink.