lingering Lot

But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

Genesis 19:16

Abram’s nephew Lot is an interesting contrast to his uncle. Lot’s rescue from Sodom is a tale in miniature similar to Abram’s story. It shows us how God can call us away from something that is bad for us and yet we may not get it. There are more than a few parallels between Lot and uncle Abram.

1. Abram was told to leave Ur and he obeyed. / Lot was commanded to leave Sodom in haste, and he lingered.

2. Abram was visited by angels. / The same angels led Lot literally outside the city as God prepared to rain judgment upon it.

3. Abram took family (Lot) with him in obedience to God’s command. / Lot tried to bring his sons-in-law and they scoffed at him.

4. God was gracious in covenant with Abram with the angels’ message. / God was merciful as the angels rescued Lot.

5. Abram’s wife Sarai struggled to believe God’s promise. / Lot’s wife looked back to Sodom and died.

Ultimately Lot is a sad picture of how love for this world can blind us to sin and capture our hearts from God’s promises. Even an angelic rescue is a lukewarm experience as Lot lingers amid the serious judgment of God. How like faithful Abram we need to be… looking by faith to God’s city (Hebrews 11:14-16). How we need to guard against hearts that might linger in an enticing but corrupt culture that is doomed for its own destruction as it spirals ever downward. Jesus stretches out His hands to take us in mercy outside the corruption, away from what is doomed for destruction, pointing us toward His heavenly country!