Episode 276 - "Lot's daughters and a foreboding of things to come" - Genesis 19:30-39

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.

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. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Sometimes, the Scriptures tell stories that may not have some profound theological truth or application that we need to take to heart for ourselves. Sometimes, its purpose is to give us information that helps us better understand the greater story that is happening. I think that’s the case in this story of what happens with Lot after he and his daughters escaped from Sodom and Gomorrah shortly before the LORD destroyed those cities.

The scene is that Lot and his daughters are living in a cave, and the daughters conspire together to have children by their father. Their reasoning is basically, “There aren’t any men left ‘in all the earth’ (v.31) to give us descendants. Is that true? As we read further into Genesis, we’ll find that Abraham sends one of his servants to his family back in his homeland to find a wife for his son Isaac. It appears to me that these daughters of Lot who were engaged to men who refused to listen to Lot’s warning about the LORD destroying Sodom and Gomorrah were not accustomed to trusting or seeking the LORD’s provision for them. There is no indication whatsoever in this text that their plan is from the LORD.

They know their plan would not be accepted by their father because they immediately plan on getting him drunk and removing such inhibitions that he would have if he were sober. The reader should not overlook the parallel to Noah. Just like Noah’s drunkenness led to Ham’s sin, this plan of Lot’s daughters will not go well either. Both of them get pregnant by their incestuous intercourse with their father.

While Moses doesn’t specifically call this out as evil, the reader is left to interpret this as the story transitions from the wicked culture of Sodom and Gomorrah and God’s judgment upon them to Lot’s hesitancy even to leave before the destruction and bartering with the angels as to where he would go. Then, his daughters get him drunk and sleep with him on two consecutive nights. Moses concludes this by giving us the names of the sons born through incest. Moab would be the father of the Moabites, and Ben-ammi, the father of the Ammonites. Remember, this story is written to the Israelites who’ve come out of Egypt and are being led back to the land the LORD promised to Abraham. Do you think the Moabites and Ammonites will reappear in future stories? You can bet it. They will not throw a welcome party for the Israelites.

This story would help the Israelites understand the history of these people groups. Even though there will be conflict between Israel and each of these people who worship other gods, we’ll also see the LORD reveal his grace and sovereign will in future stories. For instance, Ruth is a Moabitess who trusts in the LORD and will become an ancestor to David and, ultimately, Jesus.