Isaiah 15-16: Moab

Moab is discussed quite a bit in the Bible, and most of the time it's not shown in a good light. So, it's not surprising that Isaiah delivers a prophecy for Moab's judgment. While studying Isaiah 15-16, I discovered quite a bit of interesting information about Moab, like the Mesha stele and the fact that there is a Moab, UT. It's definitely a lot to unpack.

Introduction

Moab was not an ally to Israel, despite the fact that one of the most famous Moabites, Ruth, is actually one of Jesus' direct ancestors. The father of the Moabites was one of the sons born to Lot after his daughters committed incest (Genesis 19:30-38). While some may think it's due to the sinful nature of Moab's origin, it's more likely that God didn't approve of the nation due to their sinful behavior. From the exodus onward, the Moabites began luring Israelites to sin (Numbers 25:1-2). They fought countless battles against Israel, so, it's not surprising that one of the prophecies Isaiah receives is about the condemnation and judgement of Moab. Not only is the prophecy revealed to Isaiah, but it is also discussed in Jeremiah 48.

The Mesha Stele

The Mesha Stele
Photocredit: Wikipedia

Before we jump into the judgement of Moab presented in Isaiah 15 and 16, I want to talk about something Moab left behind: the Mesha Stele. The Mesha Stele is an engraving named for a Moabite king. The stele is currently located in the Louvere and is the earliest known original (and secular) writing that mentions the kingdom of Israel. The stele references a victory for Moab over Israel during the reign of king Ahab.[3] The Bible tells us Moab, led by Mesha, lost a battle after the death of Ahab (2 Kings 3). Since Moab and Israel were constantly at odds, it is very possible that two separate battles occurred.

Moab in the U.S.

As I was looking up information on Moab (particularly where it would be located today), I discovered that there's a city called Moab in Utah.[1] Moab definitely isn't the city of the Bible I would want my city named after, but apparently someone decided the name fit this place. I wonder how many people actually live there and if it's a touristy location. In any case, the original Moab would have been located somewhere in modern day Jordan, just East of Israel.

Reason for Judgement

God never judges people with giving a reason. Part of the reason we're told of these judgments is so that we can learn from the mistakes of those who came before us. Isaiah 16:6-7 inform us of Moab's offenses. The people of the nation were proud and haughty, two of the biggest stumbling blocks we tend to trip over. The danger of pride is that the more proud we become, the more we push God away. Since we are unable to be righteous without God, we spiral out of control when we lavish in pride. The lesson to be learned from the Moabites' judgment is that we have to work to remain humble. If we keep the perspective that God is supreme, we should remember that we are inferior and constantly be checked into humility.

Destroyed in the Night

Moab's cities of Ar and Kir are prophesied to be defeated in the night. Reading this made me wonder if God was proving His omniscience by giving a time of day (thus making the fulfillment of the prophecy more miraculous when it occurred), or if He was being figurative. Unless you're in a major city like New York (the city that never sleeps) or Vegas, night is when pretty much everyone is inattentive. Stores are closed and unprotected, people are asleep in their homes; this is the perfect time to catch people off guard. Which is why I wonder if Isaiah was actually inferring the state of the Moabites and their mindset: off guard and unprepared.

Grief

However the attack took place, one thing was for sure, Moab would be defeated and be left in mourning. Classic signs of mourning for the time, like shaving the head and wearing sackcloth, are attributed to Moab. In their grief, they would turn to their gods looking for mercy, but since they did not worship God the Father, it would't be found.

The Dangers of a False God

One of the things that I think is easy to overlook in this passage is that when things get bad, the Moabites run to their high places (Isaiah 15:2) and pray (Isaiah 16:12), but it doesn't do them any good. The reason these actions don't help is because they're praying to a false god.[6] Whether false gods are fallen angels trying to gain worship or figments of the imagination, they have absolutely no power in the face of God. If we fall into the same trap of worshipping a false god, especially a perversion of the One True God (re: the gold calf incident), we too will have empty, unanswered prayers.

Famine and Drought

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Gabriel Jimenez

Much of Moab's suffering comes from the Earth refusing to yield resources such as food and water. Without these necessities, the remaining Moabites are left in dire straits. God reminds us that the only reason Moab was able to thrive is because the land was good to them (i.e., He was good to them). The basic takeaway is we can't make it on our own.

Isaiah 16:8 seems to continue discussing the famine and drought that was to come as part of the judgement. This verse is particularly interesting because the description of destroying the vegetation parallels the descriptions that compare people to vines. There are many verses in the Bible that liken us to vines,; John 15:1-8 and Matthew 7:17-21 are great examples. The gist of the metaphor is that a person's actions are their fruit and identify what type of person they are, just as fruit identifies the type of tree. The vines in Moab are broken down, which means they are growing or bearing fruit—their intended purpose. Similarly, the Moabites are not are broken and not bearing fruit.

No Escape From Judgement

If you study history, you will find that after World War II, a lot of Nazi war criminals managed to escape.[5] In fact, they spent years chasing down people and sentenced someone for their participation in the Nazi death camps just a few years ago.[4] When we hear about people who created such horrific injustices going free, it's hard to get mad. We're often not satisfied with God's timing when it comes to justice, but the fact is, His justice always comes.

In the final verses of Isaiah 15, God makes it clear that the Moabites will not escape judgment. No matter where they fled, eventually they would be judged. While God expresses that there will be some people left alive from the ordeal, He also implies that they will have a rough time as well. The people in this remnant are probably the few good souls God found and chose to save. Remember, a similar type of judgment is awaiting all of us; if we haven't surrendered to Christ and repented of our sins, on judgement day, we will suffer just as the Moabites suffered.

In Isaiah 16:2, God compares the remnant—those not killed in the judgments—to a wandering bird. This imagery reminds me of the phrase "sitting duck," especially in Isaiah 16:14 when He refers to the remnant as feeble. After reading this, I asked myself, if the remnant was so weak, were they able rebuild? When God pronounces judgment on some places, He specifies that the cities would never be rebuilt. However, Moab is blessed to have a remnant, likely because Moab refers to a nation/lineage rather than a particular city. Today, no one refers to themselves as Moabites, but it's likely that the remnant people intermarried with their Assyrian and Babylonian captors until they lost their Moabite identity.[2]

Debt to Israel

Isaiah 16:1 and 5 give us great allusions to the Messiah, while likely references a literal debt owed to Israel. David conquered the Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), which would have required them to pay tribute to Israel and 2 Kings 3:4 tells us that the Moabites paid Israel 100,000 lambs for a tribute. It is likely that after the revolt mentioned in the Mesha stele, Moab stopped paying tribute.[11] Isaiah 16:1 commands the Moabites to send a lamb to Jerusalem once again.

Of course, when paired with Isaiah 16:5, the lamb mentioned in Isaiah 16:1 makes me think of Jesus, the righteous king who will establish the throne of David. Jesus is our lamb and does cover our sins. Had the Moabites worshipped God, they too would have experienced grace and had their sins covered. Like Israel, they would have been offering real lambs since Jesus had not yet died for our sins, but today we send The Lamb to God in place of us.

One of the signals of their defeat would be the fact that in the midst of this turmoil, they would reach out to become a vassal state to Israel. Vassal states were basically subservient nations that although they had a leader, were really controlled (and thus protected) by a more powerful nation.[8]

Three Years

The time frame of 3 years is mentioned twice in the this passage, once in Isaiah 15:5 and again in Isaiah 16:14. The former discusses the route in which the Moabites would try to escape. For some reason, Zoar is linked to "a heifer of three years old." Modern translations leave this phrase out, whereas the NKJV makes it clear that their journey would be like a three year old heifer. Having grown up around cows my whole life, I'm still not sure what is meant here. I can say that this is about the age when female calves mature, so it may be a references to the haphazardness of youth.

Whatever it means, the authors of my study Bible also linked it to the latter reference. Isaiah 16:14 states that the prophecy would be fulfilled within 3 years. It is thought that fulfillment of this prophecy occurred in approximately 718bc when Assyria launched a campaign against northwest Arabia.[8] Assyrian inscriptions confirm that Moab paid tribute to Sargon, an Assyrian king who ruled from 721–705bc, which means they had been subdued by the Assyrians.[7][9] Given that Isaiah is thought to have lived during the 8th century (800-700) bc, this event falls in the timeline.[10]

References

1. "Discover Moab". Moab; visited July 2018
2. "Moabite. Encyclopædia Britannica. November 02, 2007
3. "The Mesha Stele. Louvre; visited July 2018
4. Bard Wilkinson and Nadine Schmidt. "'Bookkeeper of Auschwitz' Oskar Groening dies before serving sentence". CNN. March 13, 2018
5. Christopher Klein. "The 7 Most Notorious Nazis Who Escaped to South America". History. December 27, 2017
6. Judd H. Burton. "Chemosh: the Ancient God of the Moabites". ThoughtCo. March 12, 2018
7. Joseph Jacobs and Louis H. Gray. "MOAB (Hebrew, ; LXX. Μωάβ; Assyrian, "Mu'aba," "Ma'ba," "Ma'ab"; Egyptian, "Muab")". Jewish Encyclopedia; visited July 2018
8. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 1151. 2014
9. Jorgen Laessoe. "Sargon II". Encyclopædia Britannica. September 18, 2008
10. Sheldon H. Blank. "Isaiah". Encyclopædia Britannica. May 14, 2013
11. "Isaiah 16:1 Commentary". Bible Hub; visited July 2018

2 Chronicles 17-20: Jehoshaphat

The rule of Jehoshaphat over Judah is discussed. These chapters are paralleled in 1 Kings 22.

Introduction

Asa's son Jehoshaphat not only follows God, but seeks out peace with the northern kingdom. He is a devout king that brings much good to Judah during his 25 year reign. Jehoshaphat takes the throne at 35 years old. The passages in 2 Chronicles 17-20 are paralleled in 1 Kings 22.
Top

Reform

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Tom Low

When Jehoshaphat takes over the throne, he is determined to keep Israel on the path of righteousness. He even sends princes and Levites to teach the law of God in different cities. Due to his faithfulness, the kingdom experiences peace during his reign. No one dared attack, and the Philistines and Arabians even send gifts in his honor. Faithfulness does not prevent Jehoshaphat from building an army, however. We are given an outline of the mighty captains who led the army, which was largest army Judah had seen thus far.

Jehoshaphat had removed "groves" or idols from Judah, though he does not remove the "high places" or altars. God did not want idolatry among His people and was likely very proud of Jehoshaphat for destroying such things.

Jehoshaphat sets judges over the cities. He warns them, even then, about judging a person; that is God's job alone. We can discern the right actions and tell someone when they are in the wrong, but we cannot judge the soul of the person. Amariah was the chief priest at the time. Top

Healing the Rift

Jehoshaphat recognized that the Israelites of the north were the same people as those of the south and tried to repair the bonds between the two kingdoms. While meeting with the king of the north, Ahab, he agrees to go to war with Syria, despite a prophet of the LORD proclaiming their defeat.

The entire exchange about the battle is quite weird. Following the exchange, it is obvious that God wanted Ahab to go into the battle to meet his demise. Jehoshaphat understood that God wants Ahab to go into this battle and therefore complies. During the battle Ahab disguises himself which almost gets Jehoshaphat killed. However, when Jehoshaphat calls on God, God protects him. There is a lot to think about here. On one hand, this could be an indication that Jehoshaphat was not in the wrong when he went to battle, because God spared him. On the other hand, this could be a lesson in choosing our acquaintances wisely. Ahab essentially set Jehoshaphat up for death. Had Jehoshaphat not called on God, he would have died in the battle. God knows that we will make mistakes, so we are fortunate that when we call to Him for help that He will answer. However, we should remember that when we associate with ungodly people we are more likely to end up in ungodly situations.

Jehoshaphat survives the battle, but Ahab does not. While we will see continued attempts to heal the rift between Israel and Judah, I can't imagine this situation helping the relation. Imagine, the reaction of Israel that their "enemy" Judah had agreed to go to battle with them, but Israel's king dies in battle and Judah's king walks away free. I'm sure conspiracy theorists of the time had a field day with that.
Top

Jehoshaphat Condemned

In 1 Kings we never see a reaction from God or Judah about Jehoshaphat's attempt to make peace with Israel. Since God told Rehoboam not to fight his brothers, it seems reasonable to assume God would be pleased with Jehoshaphat's actions. However, a prophet of God condemns Jehoshaphat for associating with those that hate the Lord (Ahab). In the same chapter Jehoshaphat is praised for his actions in following God. This adds to the confusion of which lesson we are to take from this scenario.

Today we often make the mistake of believing God wants peace at all cost, including compromise of His word. This is not true. Now that the northern kingdom had fallen so deeply into idolatry, they were just as dangerous as the pagan nations to Judah's relationship with God. God may not have wanted them fighting each other, because there was always hope for Israel's return, but He didn't want His holy nation joining with a disobedient and pagan nation, either.
Top

Interesting

In 2 Chronicles 19 we read about Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael was over Judah. I find this interesting considering the rift that existed and still exists between the children of Isaac, verses the children of Ishmael. Clearly there was an intermarriage that placed Zebadiah in this position. God forbade the Israelites from intermarrying with the Canaanites (which they did anyway), or the other pagan nations, but we see plenty of examples where people from these nations committed to follow God and were accepted into the nation. This reiterates the fact that we all have an equal opportunity to be accepted into God's nation.
Top

Moab and Ammon Attack

When the Moabites and the Ammonites come against Judah, Jehoshaphat's reaction is to seek God. He even proclaims a fast throughout the kingdom. This is what God expected of his people and is in stark contrast to the kings who sold the treasures of God to buy allies from pagan nations during times of distress (even Jehoshaphat's father Asa fell prey to this mentality). God fights the war for Israel, causing the allied armies to turn against themselves and kill one another.
Top

Downfall

Overall Jehoshaphat is described as a great, God-fearing king. However, near the end of his reign, he joins himself with Ahab's son Ahaziah who does evil. God does not allow the works of their collaboration to prosper. It is important to choose our friends and collaborators carefully.
Top

References

2 Kings 3: Jehoram (Israel)

Jehoram, brother of Ahaziah and son of Ahab takes over as king of Israel and inherits the rebellion of the Moabites.

Introduction

2 Kings 3 discusses the reign of Jehoram, who took over the throne of Israel from Ahaziah. Confusingly, Jehoram is also the name of Jehoshaphat's son who is already reigning co-regent with his father. Thus when Jehoram comes to power there are two king Jehoram's reigning in Israel. Israel's Jehoram is actually Ahaziah's brother, not his son; he takes the throne because Ahaziah has no sons. His reign begins during Jehoshaphat's 18th year and Judah's Jehoram's 2nd year of co-regency. Jehoram reigns for 12 years and makes a few improvements in Israel, though he is still not seen as a righteous king.
Top

Moab Rebels

Desert in Jordan
Photocredit: FreeImages.com/aristock

The king of Moab had given tribute to Israel but when Ahab died, that alliance crumbled and the Moabites rebelled against God. Now, that his brother was dead, Jehoram bore the burden of preparing for battle. Jehoram numbers his army and travels to Judah to gain support from Jehoshaphat. Having already extended an olive branch to Israel, Jehoshaphat reiterates the fact that they are the same people and should stick together. The two kings travel by way of Edom and convince the Edomites to join them. Remember in terms of family, the Edomites were their brothers while the Moabites descended from the incestuous relationship of Lot (a distant relative of Jacob & Esau).

While the men are journeying to battle, they run out of water. Jehoram believes they are being delivered in to the hands of the Moabites, but Jehoshaphat, being the God-fearing king, inquires of a prophet to consult God. Elisha is the prophet who comes to their aid. Elisha tells them that water will appear, neither by rain nor by wind but by God's hand. In addition, God will give the Israelites the victory. They are to destroy everything in Moab, however. Just as Elisha prophesies, water appears and the Israelites go into battle smiting the Moabites and their cities.

When the king of Moab panics, he tries to pit his personal army against Edom to create an escape path, but God protects Edom as well. Seeing that he has failed, the king of Moab sacrifices his eldest son. This must have been a pagan ritual because God did not approve of human sacrifices; he barely approved of animal sacrifices—see Isaiah 66:3 and Psalm 40:6.
Top

Relating To Today

Leaders often inherit other people's problems just as Jehoram inherited his brother's. Many people point out the conflicting stance on whether God punishes the son for the father's sins, but I think this passage is a reminder of how this works. Because we come from imperfect parents and imperfect societies, we learn imperfect habits. Throughout 1 & 2 Kings, we are told that the new king followed the ways of the old king. Despite God postponing judgment from one king to another, we are told that the new king behaved in the same ungodly manner his father did. Had the new king repented and delivered the nation into the path of God, judgement would have been postponed once again. The problem is that we learn how to behave from our parents and the society around us, so if our parents and our society is corrupt, it is more likely that we too will be corrupt.

As members of society or as parents, we owe it to our neighbors and children to be a good example. We owe it to teach sound doctrine and consult God in each of our decisions. It is difficult to break habits, but not impossible. In 1&2 Kings we see glimmers of hope where prophets like Elisha and Elijah, or kings like Jehoshaphat and Asa, tried to lead the Israelites back to God. We want to be like those people. We don't want to be the cause of our children's failure.
Top

References

1 Samuel 13&14: Saul's Army

In 1 Samuel 13 & 14, we are introduced to the bravery of Saul's son and learn of Saul's victories in battle.

Introduction

In our world, no kingdom can survive without an impressive army. After reigning for 2 years, Saul chooses 300,000 men to serve as Israel's army. This figure helps to put the wars fought in the Bible in perspective to the wars fought today. For comparison, in the Revolutionary War, America boasted an army of only 217,000 men. Over 3 million fought in the civil war (roughly 2 million from the Union and 1 million from the Confederacy). 4 million fought in WWI, and 16 million fought in WWII.^[1] Clearly, our world has placed a greater emphasis on violence and armies over time (note that the wars since WWII have had significantly fewer combatants, but still remain well over the 300,000 mark). As we can see from our own statistics in the Revolutionary War, an army of 300,000 was a decent sized army.
Top

The Philistines, Again

Once again, the Israelites become embattled in a conflict with the Philistines, this time at Michmash. Jonathan, Saul's son, leads the army to defeat the Philistines. Michmash was a prime location for a military stronghold, so Saul knew that the Philistines were not going to take the defeat lightly; a larger battle was sure to come. Saul blows a trumpet to put the Israelites on guard.

As Saul had predicted, the Philistines responded to the defeat with a massive army. However, for some reason, Saul chose to leave Michmash, calling his army to Gilgal. In doing so Saul leaves the city to be taken back by the Philistine army, cutting him off from the rest of Israel. The Philistines also gained the high ground advantage. Not surprisingly, many of the Israelites flee in fear.

Samuel instructs Saul to wait for 7 days, at which point Samuel was to appear. The passage doesn't tell us if this was something Samuel and Saul had worked out before the first battle, or if Samuel left the scene and was set to return in 7 days. We also aren't told if Samuel was to appear with a larger army, or simply with a message from God. Either way, Samuel does not return in the appointed time. Panicking, the troops begin to scatter and Saul decides to take matters into his own hands. We often run out of patience with God and take matters in our own hands, too. These decisions never turn out well.

Saul decided to take over the role of priest. Thinking it would help their cause, he offers sacrifices to God, which was something only to be done by real priests. When Samuel sees this, he is quick to condemn Saul's actions. Samuel informs Saul that he will not be king forever and that God has already found a replacement (David).

It is interesting that God does not remove Saul from leadership right then. It could have been that Saul had not fully fulfilled his purpose yet, or that David wasn't ready yet. God knows our destinies well before we are equipped to take them on. This is likely one of those examples. Samuel's message to Saul was meant to humble him. He may not have been destined to rule Israel forever, but he still had the option to turn back to the path of God.

Saul's rash action did nothing to help his army. Despite attempting to fix the issue on his own, he was left with only 600 men. Hesitant and fearful, Saul's army was blocked from obtaining weapons by the Philistines. Jonathan and Saul were the only men in the camp equipped to fight a battle.
Top

Jonathan's Plan

More confident and faithful than his father, Jonathan decides to infiltrate the enemy camp. He and the man who bore his armor sneak away and into the Philistine's camp. Jonathan reason that if they are invited in, it will be a sign that God has delivered the Philistines to their hand. When this occurs, the two men begin slaying men.

From afar, Saul and the army notice the commotion. It is only then that they discover Jonathan's absence. Coming to the aid of the two men, Saul's army attacks the Philistines. At the sight of Israel gaining the upper hand, many of the Israelites who had abandoned Saul rejoin the army. This included people who had surrendered to the Philistines. God delivers Israel another victory, thanks to Jonathan's bravery.
Top

Saul's Oath

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Danijel Juricev

Before going into battle, Saul declares an oath that the army will fast. Now, from my point of view, this seems to be a bad idea for going into battle. I'm not an expert in battles or wars, but it seems to me that you would the strength and nourishment of a decent meal going into battle—obviously you wouldn't want overfed soldiers who are sluggish, but a happy medium seems like it would provide both strength and morale. Apparently, Saul thought otherwise.

Jonathan doesn't hear this oath, so when they come across some honey, Jonathan thinks nothing of eating it. The honey gives Jonathan a renewed sense of strength, while the others remain tired. The rest of the army questions Jonathan's actions and only then does Jonathan realize something is wrong. Learning of his father's oath, Jonathan knows that this will not bode well for the army.

It is after the oath is fulfilled that the ramifications of this act come to pass. The Israelites are famished so they begin eating the spoils of war without draining the blood. God commanded us not to eat the blood of the animals from the time Noah stepped off the ark in Genesis 9, so this wasn't just a breach of the Israelite covenant, but a breach all the way back to the first covenant! To remedy the issue, Saul builds an altar to properly sacrifice the animals; though, technically, he wasn't supposed to offer sacrifices away from the tabernacle. More than likely this was considered ok due to circumstance. God allowed the Israelites to kill animals for food within their own towns since it would have been a burden for some of them to get to the tabernacle. However, they still were forbidden from consuming the blood.^[2][3][4][5]
Top

Another Battle

Saul suggests they conquer the remaining Philistines at night. Both Saul and the priests consult God before acting on this decision; this shows a much needed return to godliness in Israel. When Saul cannot hear an answer from God, he is convinced sin is in the camp. As Saul attempts to get rid of the sin within the camp, none of the soldiers rat out Jonathan. This is an interesting show of loyalty. The soldiers knew that Jonathan's sin, though unintentional, was likely the cause of God's silence, but they also knew it was an accident and did not want to see Jonathan harmed.

Determined to get to the bottom of the issue, Saul casts lots. He first separates the army from him and his son to see if it's the army or family. When the lot lands on he and Jonathan, he knows that it is one of them that has sinned. Saul casts lots once again to reveal that it is Jonathan who has sinned. Jonathan does not make up excuses or run from his actions, instead he confesses that he ate the honey. Saul, true to his oath, announces that his son must die. Once again the soldiers come to Jonathan's defense. Because of their protests, Jonathan is spared.

Saul does not fight the Philistines at this moment, likely because God never answered due to Jonathan's sin. Saul does however fight many battles during his reign. Saul defeats the Amalekites. He also wars with Moab, Edom, Ammon, and Zobah. The war between Israel and Philistine continues throughout his reign as well.
Top

Saul's Family

The last few verses of 1 Samuel 14 give us information on Saul's descendants. We learn that he had three sons and two daughters. The sons were Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua and the daughters, Merab and Michal. Saul married a woman named Ahinoam. The captain of Saul's army, Abner, was his 1^st cousin. None of these people succeed Saul when he loses the crown.
Top

References

1. "America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans". Info Please. 2016
2. Leviticus 17:2-4
3. Deuteronomy 12:5-7
4. Deuteronomy 12:15
5. Mike. "Where in the Bible does it say that sacrifice can only be done on the temple?". Christianity Stack Exchange. February 2013

Ruth 4: The Legacy

The final chapter of Ruth concludes the narrative with Ruth's "happily ever after" and the legacy of the couple.

Introduction

The final chapter of Ruth concludes the narrative with Ruth's "happily ever after" and the legacy of the couple. It also contains the story of the unnamed relative who was first in line to redeem Ruth and Namoi. This is yet another subtle message in this narrative.
Top

The Significance of the Unnamed Man

The nearest kin of Ruth, with whom Boaz requests an audience to discuss the issue of Ruth's redemption, is all for buying the property but fears a marriage to Ruth. This fear isn't because she's a Moabite, but because he is afraid no one will remember his name if he continues Mahlon's line Ruth. Talk about ironic! Boaz is the prototype for the perfect husband and known to millions of people over 3,000 years later. The Bible doesn't even record this near kinsman's name! Had this man said yes, it would have been his name we remembered throughout history as an ancestors of David and Jesus.

This is one of those moments that reminds you of how real the story really is. Think about it, if you were making up this story, why would you tack on this kind of ending after the climax? The entire issue of the unnamed kinsmen is wrapped up in a few verses; it doesn't really add to the plot. Remember, the book of Ruth isn't written such that at this point Ruth and Boaz are madly in love and this unnamed man is looming as a threat to destroy their love. There may have been some feelings brewing, but none of that is recorded; thus, from a literary standpoint there is no purpose for the inclusion of this information. The whole plot of the unnamed kinsmen is like watching all of Cinderella and after the prince discovers Cinderella's identity he says "well, I'd love to marry you but there's this other guy—oh, you don't want to marry her? Great, Cinderella let's get married." That being said, the reality TV shows of today would have a field day with such "drama." Scripted by one of these producers there would have been an all out brawl over who would get the honor of marrying Ruth. Shakespeare would have made sure everyone died... Instead, we are given a matter-of-fact rehashing of events with no emotional appeal. Clearly, God had a reason for including this information, and not for entertainment or suspense.
Top

The Fear of Losing Self

What stands out once again is why we are given this information. The Old Testament is both prophetic and historical. From it we learn about the history of the Israelites and their relationship with God, as well as what to expect concerning the first and second comings of the Messiah. We've already established that the overall story of Ruth fits in as an example of Christ's relationship with the Church, but how does the unnamed man's denial of Ruth connect to all of this. Why did God tell the author of Ruth to add this information?

Think about it, this part of the narrative could have been simplified to "after discussing the matter with the nearer kinsmen it was decided that Boaz would be the redeemer." Instead, we get Boaz's delivery of this "setback" to Ruth, followed by him setting up the meeting, the denial of Ruth by the man, a reference to him taking off his shoe (see Deuteronomy 25:5-10) and Boaz boasting his victory after the fact. There has to be some significance.

Let's start with why the man refused Ruth. This man's fear was that he would not be remembered. He thought that by doing something God instructed, he would lose part of himself. While it may be true that you lose parts of yourself by honoring God's Will, it is also true that the parts you lose are the dead branches that bear rotten fruit, i.e. the parts you shouldn't want to keep.

The man did not want to marry Ruth because he would then lose what he had just redeemed to any children they produced. He would have spent money to buy the land or at least to keep up the land, followed by any money needed to raise the child (and take care of Ruth), only for all of that investment to fall under Mahlon's name. From a worldly perspective, particularly in a time where God is not the forefront of every issue (like today and during the Judges era that this occurred), you can see why this man was not willing to take on this responsibility. From a logical standpoint, most would come to the conclusion that it would ultimately be a financial loss, especially if Ruth was in her early 20s as I presumed earlier in the book. This meant that even without God's divine intervention she had a good 10 more years left of childbearing capabilities. He might not just produce one heir but multiple heirs! Of course, it is unclear if after the first son the other sons could be considered his or if they were still to be considered Mahlon's...

The lesson to be learned from this seemingly random part of the story is to be careful in these situations. One can easily see how a worldly mindset could lead you to conclude that redeeming Ruth and the land was not a prudent decision. Today, many of us try to use our mind to think through issues and arrive at a logical conclusion. Sometimes that logical conclusion is against what God has commanded; this part of the narrative is an example of this. In choosing what he thought was best for himself and ignoring God's commandments, he brought upon himself the one thing he feared: a forgotten existence. Similarly, when we choose popularity or wealth over God we too will lose out in the end.

Note, too, that by changing his perspective, everything changes. By redeeming Elimelech's land and marrying Ruth, the man stood to inherit more land. Yes, it was possible that Ruth could produce an heir who would claim that extra land, thus resulting in a loss of his investments, but he may have produce an heir of his own too who would inherit the land he already had. Furthermore, while name and land seemed to be a big deal to them, I can't imagine his name would have completely disappeared from the situation. I never remember Ruth's first husband's name, so even though Ruth and Boaz's son was to be attributed to Elimelech through Mahlon (Ruth's first husband), I still think of Boaz first. I'm quite sure the people of the town were the same. The lineage given in the last verses and in Matthew all list Boaz as the ancestor, not Mahlon.

A modern example can be witnessed in my own family. My mother was raised by her aunt and uncle. She always retained the surname of her parents, yet most people in the town I grew up in have no idea that the people I called grandma and grandpa weren't actually my grandparents. Similarly, I'm sure that while Elimelech's name would be thrown in the mix somehow, people would have known this child as the nameless man's son, just as we know Obed to be Boaz's son.
Top

Allegory for the Jesus as an Intercessory

In relation to the allegory with Christ, I wonder if this nameless man is an allegory for Christ's conversation with God the Father about us. We are covered in sin and unable to approach the Father directly, so Christ intervenes. By allowing Jesus to come in this world as a man and die for our sins, God gave Christ the right to redeem us—He handed Him the sandal and said redeem your bride (the Church). The main difference is the motivation. God isn't worried about His name disappearing; He's God, the beginning and the end, His name can't disappear. Though an argument could possibly be made for Him defending His inheritance (Heaven) from those who are not worthy.
Top

The Number 10

When Boaz confronts the nearest kinsman, he conducts the matter as a formal business proceeding with 10 witnesses. This represented the quorum needed to carry the transaction and make it legal. It is also the number of kingdoms that will exist at the end of the world when Jesus comes to retrieve His bride.^[1] Those 10 kingdoms will witness the transaction of Jesus taking His nation (the Church) as his bride. I don't think this is a coincidence, do you?
Top

Legacy

Photocredit: ShutterStock.com/Monkey Business Image

Most people don't need to be told that Boaz and Ruth's union paved the way for King David, which is the lineage of Christ. The last few verses of chapter 4 take us from Judah and Tamar's son Pharez, through Ruth and Boaz, to King David. It's interesting to remember that Tamar was also a foreign woman who's husband died before she produced an heir. Judah sent his second son to fulfill the levirate marriage, but he died too. After this, Judah was reluctant to send his final son to Tamar and became a bit like the unnamed man. However, God already knew that Jesus was to descend from this line and He was working to make sure an heir was produced. Judah is eventually tricked into sleeping with Tamar when he mistakes her for a prostitute and hires her! Nevermind the obvious that Judah hired a prostitute, but this union produces Pharez who is the ancestor of Boaz. Reference is even made to Tamar and Judah in Ruth 4:12 when the town is pronouncing blessings on Ruth and Boaz.

Obed, Ruth and Boaz's son, is named by the people not Ruth and Boaz, which is interesting. His name means "servant" which may have been a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah through his lineage.^[1]

We can learn a lot from the lineage given here. Note that through this lineage we see that not only did the line start with a Gentile (Tamar), but Salmon, the father of Boaz according to Ruth 4:21, is the man who married Rahab, the harlot, another Gentile (see Matthew 1:5, bare in mind the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New in Greek, this is the cause for the changes in spelling). Also, we see that Nahshon who was a prince of the tribe of Judah, as told in Numbers 7, is also a descendant of Boaz, King David, and Jesus. There are clearly a lot of notable ancestors in this lineage. Most importantly, we see the inclusion of Gentiles in this important line.
Top

References

1. Cayce, Ken. "Ruth Chapter 4". Discover Books of the Bible. 2016
2. Deffinbaugh, Robert L. "Redeemed (Ruth 4)". Bible.org. 2016

Ruth 1: In the Land of Moab

In Ruth 1, we are introduced to the family of Elimelech (Ruth's in-laws) and Ruth.

Introduction

The first chapter of Ruth gives us the backstory of how Ruth ends up in Israel gleaning fields, which centers around a family from Bethlehem-judah, who leave Israel during a famine. This family consists of Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. It is through this family that Ruth winds up in the land of Judah.
Top

Joining the Family

Photocredit: ShutterStock.com/Monkey Business Images

During the famine in the land of Judah, Elimelech moves his family to Moab. After his death, Elimelech's sons take wives amongst the Moabite women. Chilion marries a woman named Orpah and Mahlon marries Ruth.^[1][2] The families are together for 10 years before Mahlon and Chilion join their father in death. This leaves all three women as widows.
Top

Naomi's Perspective

Naomi hears that the Lord has returned to Israel and is giving the Israelites "bread" to end the famine. This was the word spreading in Moab about the magnificence of Israel's God who was delivering them from famine. This inspires Naomi to return to her home. She suggests her daughter-in-laws return to their respective homes as well.

The love for their mother-in-law shows in that both women weep when she tries to bid them farewell. We see that this must have been a tightly knit family from the reactions. Initially both Orpah and Ruth declare that they will return to Judah with Naomi. It does not seem like many of the families today that would go through extreme lengths to get rid of their in-laws. When we marry and acquire in-laws, we should be willing to stick it out with them the same way Ruth and Orpah were with Naomi.

Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.Ruth 1:13 KJV

Naomi, however, was against the two women joining her. Knowing that the Israelites were not supposed to marry Moabites, Naomi blames the deaths and her fate on the fact that she allowed her sons to marry Moabite women and suggests that God is against her. It is possible Naomi expected the Israelites in Judah to ostracize the two women and was looking out for their best interest in refusing their offer.

Another reason Naomi lists is their prospects for husbands. Levirate marriages were popular during this time period, but Naomi didn't have any more sons for the women to marry. Note that if the women were 20 years old when they married Naomi's sons, which is probably a bit old for the time period, they would have been 30 at the time of their husband's death. It was much more likely that Ruth and Orpah were young teens at the time of their marriage and in their early 20's at the time of their husband's deaths.^[3][4] Either way, This is quite young to be a widow or single for the rest of your life, hence Naomi's urging that they go back to their own homes and find new husbands. We also see a possible reason for the closeness of these women to Naomi; she would have been like a real mother to them if they had been teenagers when they married into the family.
Top

Ruth's Determination

¹⁶And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: ¹⁷Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.Ruth 1:16-17 KJV

Orpah is eventually persuaded to return to her family, but Ruth is determined to stay with Naomi. Ruth boldly declares that she will not leave Naomi; her declaration is so powerful that Noami simply stops talking—she can't argue with Ruth's vow. Unable to deter Ruth, Naomi sets out for her hometown of Bethlehem with company. The two women return to the city during the barley harvest, which explains why later on we see Ruth gleaning barley.

Upon their arrival, the people recognize Naomi and call her by name. Naomi shuns her name, however, and asks that the people call her Mara. The name Naomi means "pleasant,"^[5] something Naomi certainly was not feeling. Instead she wishes to be called a name that means "bitter,"^[5] what she actually feels. Top

Relating to Today

In this chapter we see a great contrast between the two women. Naomi is quite sullen and bitter; her outlook on the world is negative. Ruth on the other hand is much younger and still views the world with optimism. Each of us goes through trials in life and we each have the option to react like Naomi or like Ruth. The older we become, the easier it is to react the way Naomi did.

A personal example is in the similar issue of finding a spouse. When I was in middle school and high school, I had an abundance of hope that (1) I would become popular and (2) new students (specifically male students) would pop up at my school so that (3) I would find that special someone. While my attitude had changed slightly in college, I still felt very hopeful that "the one" was lurking around the corner. The peak of this optimism came sometime during my Master's degree. Since the age of 25 it has become much easier to fall into Naomi's rut and believe I won't meet anyone.

Fortunately, we are not doomed to stay in a bitter mood forever; even Naomi cheers up by the end of the book. What we need is the ability to recognize this slump and pull ourselves out of it. Whether we are down about potential mates or our job or something else all together, we know that God has promised to take care of us, to provide for us, and to be our rock. Why then should we allow bitterness to cloud our view of the future? The story of Ruth proves that when one door closes, God opens another door for us.

References

1. Ruth 1:4
2. Ruth 4:10
3. West, Jim. "Ancient Israelite Marriage Customs". Quartz Hill School of Theology. 2016
4. Lemos, Tracey M. "Weddings and Marriage Traditions in Ancient Israel". Society of Biblical Literature. 2016
5. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 460. 2016

Judges 3: Othniel & Ehud

Judges 3 covers the victories of Othniel and Ehud, two of the first judges of Israel

Introduction

God expects the Israelites to prove themselves by defeating the Canaanites. Only when they believed in God and followed His ways would they be able to rise up against the more powerful armies. Throughout judges, the question is always "Will the people follow God or will they chase idols?".

Judges 3 follows two cycles of unrest in Israel. The first period of unrest is ended by Othniel, the nephew of Caleb whom we met in Joshua. The second judge to lead Israel is Ehud, from the tribe of Benjamin.
Top

Decisions and Consequences

Growing up, my dad's mantra was that in life we have choices, and we always have to live with the consequences of those choices. When it was time to make a decision about something, he would remind me of this and expect me to make the choice that had the best consequences. This is crucial when we make decisions concerning our walk with God. Each act should be proceeded with the question "how will this effect my relationship with God?" and the answer to that question should determine your actions.

The Israelites decided to live amongst the people of the land, despite God telling them to do the opposite. As a consequence, they began to intermarry with the Canaanites, which led to idol worship of Baal and Asherah. Note, that in the King James Version of the Bible, the word "groves" refers to a pole for worshiping Asherah. Naturally, this disobendience infuriates God. As retribution, God turns them over to Chushanrishathaim, a king from Mesopotamia. Under his rule they are forced into servitude for 8 years.
Top

Implications of Marriages

I've probably discussed this elsewhere on the blog, but just in case, I want to make a point about God's stance on marriage between the Israelites and the Canaanites. For a long time, people used verses like those condemning the intermarrying of the Israelites and Canaanites to justify anti-miscegenation laws. From these verses, people decided interracial dating was forbidden, but that isn't what God was stating here.

While there are several instances of people marrying within their own people (i.e. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.), there are also examples of people marrying from other tribes/nations (i.e. Moses and Joseph). There was no such thing as "race" during the time period we're reading about. God did not consider color of skin or texture of hair to be a sign of someone's worth. This is confirmed in both the New and Old Testament with statements confirming that we were all created in God's image, that we all descend from Adam and Eve, and that we all have a chance to live in the Kingdom of God.

God's concern was with the heart of the people. We see this when Rahab is given sanctuary and the ability to live amongst the people of Israel. She isn't an Israelite, but she marries an Israelite and becomes an ancestor to Jesus! The reason God didn't want the Israelites to marry the Canaanites was not because they were descended from Ham and thus a "different race" or because the were "inferior." It all boiled down to idolatry and paganism. The Canaanites were deeply pagan and God didn't want that rubbing off on the Israelites. It's much easier to participate in drunken pagan rituals than to follow the more straight-laced commandments of God. Which is exactly what we see when these marriages take place.
Top

Othniel

Eventually, the Israelites plead to God for deliverance, just as they had in Egypt. God shows that He is merciful and loving when He calls upon an the first judge to deliver them: Othniel. This is the same Othniel that won the hand of Caleb's daughter. We are told that the Spirit of God—I assume this is the Holy Spirit—empowers Othniel to rise up and overthrow Chushanrishathaim. During Othniel's leadership, the Israelites experience 40 years of peace. Once Othniel dies, however, the Israelites fall back into idolatry.
Top

Ehud

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Brian Lary

When the Israelites fall back into idolatry, the king of Moab, Elgon, partners with the Amorites and Amalekites to capture Jericho (known as the city of palm trees). Elgon keeps Israel in submission for 18 years; it is in this 18^th year that Ehud is raised up. Ehud was a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. The Bible notes his left-handedness because during that time period left-handedness was seen as a handicap or disfigurement. Today, this seems like unnecessary detail, but the Israelites who witnessed Ehud's victories (and up until quite recently, anyone who read this passage), would have understood this as a show of God's ability to raise up someone no one expected to be victorious and make them victorious.

Ehud uses his atypical handedness to his advantage. When searching for a weapon, guards would check the left thigh, where a right handed person would find it more natural to retrieve a weapon. However, Ehud hid his weapon on his right thigh, allowing him access to the king while in possession of a weapon.

Using trickery to gain alone time with the king, Ehud claims to have a special gift or secret for the king. In the king's greed for the gift, he dismisses everyone else and brings about his own death. In possibly the most abrupt and modern-action-movie-esque moments of the Bible, Ehud rams the knife into the king's gut. Ehud stabs the king in such a manner that the dagger remains in the fat of the king and the "dirt" of his intestines spill out. "Dirt" most likely refers to whatever was in his intestines.^[1]

When Ehud escapes, he locks the door behind him. The king's servants return but assume the king has locked the door for privacy and do not enter or bother him. By the time the servants decide to open the door, the king is dead and Ehud has safely escaped to Seirath.
Top

Defeating Moab with Ephraim

Ehud blows a trumpet upon enter the tribe of Ephraim's territory. He calls them all to war and they are successful at killing about 10,000 men, subsequently defeating the reign of Moab. 80 years of peace follow Ehud's victory.
Top

An Observation

Othniel responds immediately to God's call and carries out his task diligently. Ehud, while dabbling in trickery, also carries out God's plan without any protestations. Most of the other judges are just like the Israelites and do not leap at the chance to serve God.
Top

Minor Judges

The closing verses of Judges 3 tell us about a minor judge who might have been acting during the same time as Othniel and Ehud or directly after: Shamgar. It is thought that perhaps Shamgar was actually a pagan. He is described as son of Anath, which suggests he worshipped the Canaanite goddess of war who was named Anath. The structure of his name is also not Hebrew, further implying he was a foreigner.^[1] Continuing the gory tone of the book, we are told that with God's help, Shamgar is able to defeat 600 Philistines with an ox goad. This is just another example of God raising up unexpected people to deliver Israel.
Top

References

1. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg 417-420. 2014

Joshua 12&13: Conquered Lands

Joshua 12 lists the conquests of Moses and Joshua, while the beginning of Joshua 13 details the promised lands that still awaited them.

Introduction

Chapter 12 outlines first the conquests and territories won by Moses, followed by the conquests and territories won by Joshua. This may not seem to be of great importance to us today, but there is a lot to be gleaned from it. For one, it explains a lot of the turmoil surrounding modern Israel. It also shows us the exact borders promised to Israel (which is much greater than that of modern Israel). Another interesting point is that many of the cities listed can easily be identified on a modern map!
Top

Land Conquered by Moses

The Wadi Mujib
Photocredit: Flickr.com/Raed Shomali

Moses conquers land East of the Jordan river. This land is given to the Israelites, despite not being part of the promise, after the kings of the land attack Israel. Israel was ordered not to attack the people of these lands, however the people of the land chose to attack Israel, which left them no choice but to fight back. The territories won by Moses are now part of southeastern Syria and northeastern Jordan.

At the time, the land was inhabited by the Amorites, led by king Sihon and Og king of Bashan, and the Ammonites. Moses defeats both kings swiftly and the land is given to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and 1/2 of Manasseh. Landmarks given to identify this land include the Arnon River, the Jabbok River, Gilead, and the Dead Sea (called the Salt Sea Biblically). The Arnon River is known as the Wadi Mujib today and located in Jordan just south of Dhiban.^[1][2]
Top

Land Conquered by Joshua

Joshua conquers a great deal of Canaan west of the Jordan River. Remember how God promised that He would deliver the kings of Canaan into Israel's hand? Well, Joshua defeats and kills 31 kings from the land of Canaan; they are listed in Joshua 12:9-24. The listing structure used in these verses has been likened to Egyptian reports of that era by some scholars.^[3] The similarity could be explained as a continuation of Egypt's defeat at the hands of Israel. The Israelites were taking Egypt's place as the dominant nation in the land—where people would have murmured about the greatness of Egypt before, Israel was on the forefront of their minds, now. Perhaps, this is why the author of Joshua chose to list their victories in such a manner; it is also possible that this was just a holdover of Egyptian culture that followed them to Israel.
Top

Not Yet Conquered

At this point in history, Joshua 13:1 tells us that Joshua had become too old to continue in battle. As such, God lists the land that should be conquered by Israel in the future, after someone else is leading the people. The lands listed by God are all on the outskirts of Israel and include the hotly debated territories of today: Philistine (Palestine) and Gaza. In this list of land to be conquered later, God also lists Lebanon. Note that in Joshua 1:3-5, He gives the Euphrates River as the northern (well north-eastern) border of Israel. For Israel to extend to the Euphrates River, it would have to include Lebanon and parts of Syria. To this day, Israel has not yet had possession of this land.^[5] Some claim that this territory included all of Syria and Jordan along with parts of Iraq and Saudi Arabia.^[6] This is because they use the Euphrates River as the complete eastern border. However, God explicitly says that the land of Moab, Edom, and Ammon were not to be taken for Israel (Deuteronomy 2). The only reason the Israelites had any land east of the Jordan was because the kings of those lands attacked Israel. Therefore the notion that the entire Euphrates delineates an eastern border is incorrect. This large chunk of the Middle East is called "Greater Israel" by some and is the reason many Arab nations fear Israel.^[7]

Many forget that while the land was given to Israel, God foretells that they will be ejected from the land if they do not obey His commandments. As long as the Israelites strayed from God, they could not possess the full potential of the land, as evidenced in their defeat at Ai. The Israelites had difficulty keeping the law pretty much for the entirety of their existence which is likely why the land has never been claimed by them. Without recognizing Jesus (or rebuilding the Temple), it's impossible to carry out the law, and thus impossible for the Jews of today to claim that much of the land. Some think that during Jesus' 1000-year reign the land will be claimed.^[5] Jesus made it clear that He did not rule an Earthly kingdom (John 18:36), so perhaps it was simply a gift the Israelites rejected.
Top

References

1. "Wadi Mujib Map". Google Maps. 2016
2. Jastrow, M. Jr., McCurdy, J.F., Jastrow, M., Ginzberg, L. "Arnon". Jewish Encyclopedia. 1906
3. "Arnon". Bible History. 2016
4. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 386-387. 2014
5. "Has Israel’s territory ever encompassed the promise in Joshua 1:4?". GotQuestions.org. 2016
6. Sizer, Stephen. "The Promised Land - From the Nile to the Euphrates? ". Christian Zionism. 2016
7. Pipes, Daniel. "Imperial Israel: The Nile-to-Euphrates Calumny". Middle East Quarterly. March 1994

Lot

Lot is one of the Biblical figures with quite the questionable character. There are 3 main topics that come to mind when thinking of Lot: him being spared from the destruction, him offering his daughters to the mob, and his daughters raping him. The sons of Lot and his daughters establish the nations of Moab and Ammon.

Introduction

Disclaimer: Liberty taken with the depiction of Lot.
Please remember the Bible does not
specify a description for most individuals.

Lot is the focal character when we learn about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He is the nephew of Abraham and the father of the Moabite and Ammonite nations. During the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot loses his wife, who turns into a pillar of salt because she disobeyed the angels and looked back.
Top

Memorable Moments for Lot

There are 3 main topics that come to mind when thinking of Lot: him being spared from the destruction, him offering his daughters to the mob, and his daughters raping him.
Top

God Spares Lot

We know that generations earlier, Noah was spared due to his righteousness, but Lot isn't exactly described as righteous during the passage. So why did God spare him?

In the context of the passage, we know that Abraham pleaded for the salvation of city. This prompted God to promise not to destroy the city if 10 righteous people could be found in the city. Some may argue that God's conversation with Abraham prompted Him to spare Lot, because Lot was the only righteous person in the city and He had promised not to destroy the righteous. Of course this isn't explicitly said. It doesn't seem like Lot was so righteous God felt compelled to save him.

Another possibility is that Lot earned his salvation by protecting the angels. The angels did not go to Sodom seeking Lot, which hints that it wasn't in the original plan to spare him. They were content to stay outside in the city as homeless people do, but Lot forcefully persuaded them to stay with him. Lot knew that they would not be safe if they stayed outside. Not only does Lot provide them with shelter and food, when the mob of men come for the angels, Lot stands in their way. Regardless of Lot's method to protect the men, he shows both bravery and a strong faith to stand against so many men. Perhaps this is what convinced God to spare him. After all, it isn't until after this ordeal that he is told to leave the city.

A final possibility is God's favoritism at work. God favored Abraham, and Lot was Abraham's nephew. It is possible that during the intercession, Abraham asked God to save his nephew. Today, when we hear bad news about a certain location, our first instinct is always to pray for family and friends we know in that area. Abraham was in such a position with God that God may have granted his request. This seems likely when we look at Genesis 19:29.
Top

Lot Offers Up His Daughters

One of the craziest things to wrap your head around when reading the Bible, is Lot offering his daughters up for what reads to be gang rape. Many non-believers (and ex-believers) site this as one of the "more gruesome" passages in the Bible. As I try to explain to people when discussing the Bible, you can't take one passage and make a conclusion. The Bible is intricately layered and a continuous story. People often treat it like a series of stand alone short stories, but that's not really how the text is meant to be read. There are several passages after the story of Sodom and Gomorrah that condemn rape, as well as, premarital sex. Note, while Lot is spared it is strongly implied that he is spared because of Abraham, not himself. The text never claims Lot to be perfect in his actions.

This is an important layer of this passage; people often get distracted by the theme of homosexuality in the destruction of the city. This leaves people at a loss when the topic of the Lot's daughters comes up. In most cases, believers have no explanation or come back for this problem. Some try to excuse Lot's behavior, or use it to further condemn homosexuality by suggesting Lot's alternative is "better" than homosexuality. Others lose faith because they agree that Lot's treatment of his daughters is horrible. Then there are those who simply ignore the issue all together! Yet, there is a clear explanation in the Bible.

In Deuteronomy 22, God explains the punishments for sexual encounters between a betrothed woman and a man who is not her betrothed. From rape to consensual sex, God makes it clear that none of these are to occur (rape is blamed on the man and consensual sex carried the death penalty for both parties). Genesis 19 mentions Lot's son-in-laws, which mean his daughters were either betrothed or already married at the time. If they were already married Lot lied (he says they are virgins), and offered them up for adultery. If they were simply betrothed, he still offered them up for adultery based upon Deuteronomy 22:23-26. Either way, the God condemns Lot's behavior, His condemnation just isn't found right there in Genesis 19.

Lot's "alternative" is not a good versus bad; it is still defined as bad. Many try to turn this into the lesser of two evils, but evil is evil in God's eyesight. Both homosexuality and adultery were punishable by death in God's law, so Lot's actions don't reflect God's wishes at all. What we see is Lot trying to protect his guests. Perhaps Lot was aware of their angelic status and chose to protect them over his daughters, or perhaps it was out of custom (letting harm come to a guest in your home was not proper). For all we knew, Lot expected the angels to protect his daughters and never intended to give up his daughters. Regardless of motive, we know that Lot's choice is not one that God would agree with.
Top

Lot's Daughters Commit Incest

Lot became a man of questionable character when he offered up his daughters to be gang raped, which makes it seem like poetic justice that in the end his daughters end up raping him. Each daughter gets their father sufficiently drunk enough to seduce him in the hopes that they will become pregnant to carry on their father's line.

When Noah escaped the flood, he and his children were the only people left alive, but when Lot and his daughters left Sodom, there were still people in various locations outside the city. Genesis 19:27-28 confirms that Abraham was close enough to see the fire reigning down on the city. Abraham was also close enough to Ur to send his servant there in search of a wife for Isaac. Why were Lot's daughters convinced there were no men to marry them and produce heirs? This whole scenario sounds like something we would watch unfold on daytime TV or something.

In his drunkenness, Lot fathers sons for both of his daughters: Moab and Benammi. Moab's descendants became the Moabites, while Benammi's descendants became the Ammonites. Neither group was particularly liked by God, though there are a few famous Moabites throughout the Bible.
Top

Character of Lot

The above already establishes the questionable nature of Lot's character, but we also see that Lot doesn't want to leave behind the sin-filled city-life. When told to escape to the mountains, Lot bargains his way to escape to Zoar, a suburb of Sodom,^[1] instead of to the mountains as instructed (eventually he leaves Zoar for the mountains). Lot is described as just in 2 Peter 2:7. From the English version it is possible that just is used to mean only, as in "And delivered [only] Lot;" however, the original greek uses the word δίκαιον which means "righteous."^[2][3]

The description of Lot as righteous can be hard for a believer to accept. We ask why is this man who did just a thing considered righteous? Throughout the Bible God gives us plenty of examples of righteous men who are just as much guilty of sin as the next person. The only man not to commit a sin was Jesus. Noah gets drunk, Abraham lies, Moses doubts, Jacob steals... What made these men righteous is not that they were perfect and everything they did was correct, but their enduring faith in God.

Like the others mentioned, Lot had the option to do a lot worse than what he actually did. He could have left the angels in the street overnight. He could have handed them over to the mob instead of offering up his daughters (that was basically a lose-lose situation). When the angels told Lot to leave, he wasn't sold on his ability to get to the mountains which reflects doubt in God's ability to make it possible, but he left nonetheless. He convinced the Lord to allow him a smaller journey, just as Moses convinced Him to let Aaron be the mouthpiece. In the end, however, Lot got up the next morning and left. He didn't stick around doubting that judgement would come.

These are all traits that make Lot righteous. I think Lot is a great example of a person who meant to do right, but his actions came out a bit muddled. Lot was raised in a city of confusion and sin, so it makes sense that some of his ideas would be warped as well. This is important for us today; we live in a secular society that teaches us many things that God declares evil are actually good. In our earnest to do good, we are also likely to do or say something that is not in agreement with God. The good news is, like Lot, God will meet us where we are. If our heart is right, He will show us our misguidance and set us on the right path. When it tough situations we must call upon God and think through the whole situation before offering up our daughters, so to speak.
Top

Other Posts About Lot

Top

References

1. MacDonald, William. Farstad, A. ed. Believer's Bible Commentary. 1995
2. "2 Peter 2:7". Bible Hub. 2016
3. "1342. dikaios". Bible Hub. 2016