| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

Genesis Chapter Nineteen

I. Content of the Chapter

Lot Was Delivered from the Destruction of Sodom

A. Lot received the two angels (v.1-3);

B. The Sodomites schemed to kill them (v.4-11);

C. The sons-in-law of Lot disbelieved the warning of the destruction of the city (v.12-14);

D. The angels pulled the hands of Lot’s family of four (v.15-22);

E. The two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed and the wife of Lot became a pillar of salt because of looking back (v.23-28);

F. Lot and his two daughters bore the sons on the mountain because of the incestuous relationship (v.29-38);

II. Verse by Verse Commentary

Gen. 19:1 “Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.”

YLT: “And two of the messengers come towards Sodom at even, and Lot is sitting at the gate of Sodom, and Lot seeth, and riseth to meet them, and boweth himself -- face to the earth,”

Meaning of Words: “Sodom”: burning, chains;

The Background: in the old times, the “gate of a city” was an open place in the regions of the Middle East, just like a market. And people dealt with the cases of lawsuit or commercial transaction there (Ruth 4:1). Since Lot sat in the gate of the city, probably he had become a man of status and reputation in the city of Sodom (see v.9).

Literal Meaning: “was sitting in the gate of Sodom”, it suggested that he had obtained a remarkable position in the world (see v.9).

“Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground”, it indicated that he was humble and hospitable.

Note that there was an obvious contract between Gen. 18:1 and this verse: 1) one was in the evening, and the other is in the heat of the day; 2) Lot was sitting “in the gate of Sodom” and Abraham was sitting in “the tent door”.

Spiritual Meaning: “the two angels came to Sodom in the evening”, Sodom typifies the sinful world. The evil things recorded in the city of Sodom here happened “in the evening”, which typified that the sinful world was of the night (1Thess. 5:5).

“Lot” typifies the defeated believers, who abide in the world because of being drawn by the splendor of the world (Gen. 13:10-13).

Enlightenment in the Word: may we not be found “sitting in the gate of the evil world” when the Lord comes again.

Gen. 19:2 “And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square."”

YLT: “and he saith, `Lo, I pray you, my lords, turn aside, I pray you, unto the house of your servant, and lodge, and wash your feet -- then ye have risen early and gone on your way;' and they say, `Nay, but in the broad place we do lodge.'”

Literal Meaning: “spend the night”, “abiding with one another” is the best fellowship. If you want to know someone, you’d better abide with him for a period.

“In the open square”, it refers to the open area near the gate of the city. The answer of the angels might try the sincerity of Lot.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) He who entertains strangers in love has unwittingly entertains angels (Heb. 13:2).

2) The world and the angels are both beholding the conversations of believers (1Cor. 4:9). If we have fallen into evil circumstances, even though we desire to be good by heart, we will still not be respected.

Gen. 19:3 “But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.”

YLT: “And he presseth on them greatly, and they turn aside unto him, and come in unto his house; and he maketh for them a banquet, and hath baked unleavened things; and they do eat.”

Literal Meaning: “unleavened bread”, a kind of round thin pancake baked in a short time;

Spiritual Meaning: “unleavened bread” typifies the holy and sincere Christ, who is the spiritual food of believers (1Cor. 5:6-8).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If we do not continue steadfastly in prayer, we may lose the opportunity of being granted.

2) In such a sinful world, let believers partake of the unleavened bread of truth and sincerity ---- lead a sinless life by partaking of Christ.

Gen. 19:4 “Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house.”

YLT: “Before they lie down, the men of the city -- men of Sodom -- have come round about against the house, from young even unto aged, all the people from the extremity;”

Literal Meaning: “the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter”, it had fully exposed that the whole city was full of sins (John 8:7-9).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Sin is of unparalleled transmissibility. Whoever lives in the evil environment, few can be free from the “evil tide” while associating with them.

2) Those who are under the power of darkness are shameless about their brazen sins.

Gen. 19:5 “And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally."”

YLT: “and they call unto Lot and say to him, `Where the men who have come in unto thee to-night? bring them out unto us, and we know them.'”

Literal Meaning: “that we may know them carnally”, the Sodomites lusted for having sex with male, which was one of the reasons why God would destroy the city (Lev. 18:22, 29). The word “sodomy” stems from the word “Sodom”.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Since those who are in darkness do not fear God (ungodly), they will offend others in many things (unrighteousness) (Rom. 1:18-28).

2) He who hurts others to satisfy him has built his own happiness upon the sorrow of others. This is sin upon sin.

Gen. 19:6 “So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him,”

YLT: “And Lot goeth out unto them, to the opening, and the door hath shut behind him,”

Gen. 19:7 “and said, "Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!”

YLT: “and saith, `Do not, I pray you, my brethren, do evil;”

Spiritual Meaning: in verse six and seven, Lot locked the angels inside the door and he himself contacted with the people in the city. This is a symbolic picture: Lot represents a group of believers who misunderstand the word of the apostle Paul, thinking that as long as Christians keep their inner purity, they can place them in the evil environment and associate with sinners all day and even call each other brothers with sinners ---- they become all things to all men (1Cor. 9:20-22) ---- but finally they hurt themselves.

Gen. 19:8 “See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof."”

YLT: “lo, I pray you, I have two daughters, who have not known any one; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do to them as good in your eyes; only to these men do not anything, for therefore have they come in within the shadow of my roof.'”

The Background: “they have come under the shadow of my roof”, the ancient hospitality was that the hosts had to protect the guests at any case.

Literal Meaning: we can see from this verse that the Sodomites had committed wicked and adulterous sins.

Spiritual Meaning: Lot was even unsparing of the virginity of his daughters. It is much unconscionable of such suggestion. There must be spiritual intentions of the record here. Lot’ daughters represent “the principles of truth” he had known (Gal. 4:22-31). Therefore, Lot did not hesitate to sacrifice the principles of the truth and was ready to make a concession in truth to avoid troubles and seek a compromise with the world

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Many believers in the sinful environment are influenced by the thoughts of sinners day and night, and are decreased in their moral criterion unconsciously. Thus they become senseless in conscience when sinning against God.

2) Let believers hold fast the principles of the truth rather than make a concession in truth or even betray the truth (e.g. dare not to confess or preach some biblical truth, or even oppose some biblical facts in public).

3) Some groups of the Christianity adopt the fashionable way of the world like popular music to draw the young people. However, few are truly changed in life.

Gen. 19:9 “And they said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them." So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door.”

YLT: “And they say, `Come nigh hither;' they say also, `This one hath come in to sojourn, and he certainly judgeth! now, we do evil to thee more than them;' and they press against the man, against Lot greatly, and come nigh to break the door.”

Literal Meaning: “now we will deal worse with you than with them”, the Sodomites harmed others by not only fornication but also murder.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The word of believers who live in evil environment may not be influential. They cannot be respected and even ask for insult.

2) If believers keep company with sinners all day, they will be afraid that the inner doors of their hearts should be attacked by them.

Gen. 19:10 “But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.”

YLT: “And the men put forth their hand, and bring in Lot unto them, into the house, and have shut the door;”

Gen. 19:11 “And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.”

YLT: “and the men who at the opening of the house they have smitten with blindness, from small even unto great, and they weary themselves to find the opening.”

Spiritual Meaning: this two verses (v.10-11) are also a symbolic picture (Phil. 1:19), indicating that believers are preserved because of intercession of others (Gen. 18) as well as the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Let each believer take heed of the door of his inner heart (Pro. 4:23). And let us never allow sinners or sins to encroach our hearts.

2) Whoever forsakes God and commits sins lives in darkness and is blind of his inner eyes and seeks the abnormal way of life.

Gen. 19:12 “Then the men said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city--take them out of this place!”

YLT: “And the men say unto Lot, `Whom hast thou here still? son-in-law, thy sons also, and thy daughters, and all whom thou hast in the city, bring out from this place;”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The salvation of God is based on the unit of family ---- He saves not only us individuals but also the whole family and all those who are of us (Acts 16:17).

2) Let believers take all those who are of us “out of” the world as possible as we can.

3) It is one thing of leading one to be saved and it is another of bringing him out of the world.

Gen. 19:13 “For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it."”

YLT: “for we are destroying this place, for their cry hath been great the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth send us to destroy it.'”

Enlightenment in the Word: the righteous God will not be indifferent to man’s sins. All the evil men have done will come into the ears of God (James 5:4). He will reveal His righteous judgment at His appointed time (Rom. 2:5).

Gen. 19:14 “So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.”

YLT: “And Lot goeth out, and speaketh unto his sons-in-law, those taking his daughters, and saith, `Rise, go out from this place, for Jehovah is destroying the city;' and he is as mocking in the eyes of his sons-in-law.”

Literal Meaning: “but to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking”, it indicated that Lot was careless in his daily speaking and was wanting in testimony in daily life, and even his family members disbelieved his warning.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Let believers’ walking worthy of Christ’s gospel (Phil. 1:27). Otherwise, it is not trustworthy enough to preach by mouth only.

2) Believers shall pay heed to the word in daily life so that it will become effective in due time (Col. 4:5-6).

3) Believers often think it is most difficult to preach the gospel to family members. It is because we have lost the living testimony in daily life before them.

Gen. 19:15 “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city."”

YLT: “And when the dawn hath ascended, then the messengers press upon Lot, saying, `Rise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters who are found present, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.'”

Meaning of Words: “consume”: shave away, destroy;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is at the crack of dawn now, and the judgment is impending. Let believers go out of the sinful world quickly lest we should be destroyed with the sinful world together.

2) Since the judgment of God must be upon the world and will burn it into ashes, believers who stay therein just avail nothing and yet torment their soul in vain (see 2Pet. 2:6-8).

3) May the Spirit of God also “urge” us so that we will not lead a befuddled life.

Gen. 19:16 “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.”

YLT: “And he lingereth, and the men lay hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, through the mercy of Jehovah unto him, and they bring him out, and cause him to rest without the city.”

Literal Meaning: “while he lingered”, probably he was still attached to the world and grudged giving up so much wealth, fame and status.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God does not please that believers linger in wrong groups or positions. Therefore, we have to come out and be separated from them so that He will accept us (see 2Cor. 6:14-18).

2) Many times, we are powerless to run the heavenly way, but the mercy of God pulls our hands out of the world.

Gen. 19:17 “So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."”

YLT: “And it cometh to pass when he hath brought them out without, that he saith, `Escape for thy life; look not expectingly behind thee, nor stand thou in all the circuit; to the mountain escape, lest thou be consumed.'”

Spiritual Meaning: “do not look behind you”, do not be attached to anything or anyone of the world.

“Nor stay anywhere in the plain”, do not be under the influence of the world, nor be entangled in the physical need.

“Escape to the mountains”, pay a price to seek the spiritual and heavenly things;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Even though sometimes believers have come out of the world, they may still linger in the world and be influenced by it and thus stay in an abnormal condition.

2) The right attitudes of believers’ escaping from the world is: do not “stay” or “walk slowly”, for it is “escaping your life”!

3) Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb. 12:1).

Gen. 19:18 “Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!”

YLT: “And Lot saith unto them, `Not , I pray thee, my lord;”

Enlightenment in the Word: sometimes we are so frail that we pray, “Lord, do not drive me so hard and let me walk by myself” (see Gen. 33:13-14)! However, the consequence is even worse when we show sympathy for us.

Gen. 19:19 “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.”

YLT: “lo, I pray thee, thy servant hath found grace in thine eyes, and thou dost make great thy kindness which thou hast done with me by saving my life, and I am unable to escape to the mountain, lest the evil cleave me, and I have died;”

Spiritual Meaning: “but I cannot escape to the mountains”, he thought it was much difficult to climb up to the superior spiritual realm. .

“Lest some evil overtake me and I die”, he only sought the deliverance from eternal wrath rather than God’s reward.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If a man thinks he “has already” got the grace of God, he will be unwilling to press on. Satisfaction with the present grace is the obstacle to one’s further advancement (Phil. 3:12-13).

2) It is the root of believers’ failure that they are unwilling pursue with diligence pursuit by the excuse that “I can not” this or that.

3) Seriously speaking, believers can achieve nothing by themselves. However, by the grace of God, we shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint (Is. 40:31).

Gen. 19:20 “See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."”

YLT: “lo, I pray thee, this city near to flee thither, and it little; let me escape, I pray thee, thither, (is it not little?) and my soul doth live.'”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Lot had escaped from a big city and yet entered into a small city. God wants us to flee to the mountain, but we think it makes no matter of the small world. Secular Christians often like to bargain with God.

2) Many believers often think they need only forsake serious sins. And as for some common and unobvious sins, God will forgive them.

3) It is a common mistake that believers often make that they are unwilling to price great cost and seek only what is “near” and “easy” (e.g. be unwilling to seek spiritual things with diligence by reading the Scriptures and praying and attending the meetings).

4) Many believers often think it is quite enough if “my soul shall live” ---- I have got the eternal life already. However, they do not care how they live in this age.

Gen. 19:21 “And he said to him, "See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken.”

YLT: “And he saith unto him, `Lo, I have accepted thy face also for this thing, without overthrowing the city which thou hast spoken;”

Literal Meaning: it was not the original will of God of fleeing to Zoar. Lot would flee to the mountain sooner or later (see v.30).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Sometimes, God has to “answer” our supplication and allow us temporarily because of our immaturity and weakness. However, it does not mean God has changed His will.

2) When believers seek the will of God and wonder whether God will allow or not allow one certain thing, we’d better see the original will of God (Matt. 19:8).

Gen. 19:22 “Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.”

YLT: “haste, escape thither, for I am not able to do anything till thine entering thither;' therefore hath he calleth the name of the city Zoar.”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God’s works are often limited by us. If we are unwilling to cooperate with God, God may “be unable to do anything”.

2) God’s power is great and infinite. However, He is only restricted with a “small” realm for our sake.

Gen. 19:23 “The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.”

YLT: “The sun hath gone out on the earth, and Lot hath entered into Zoar,”

Spiritual Meaning: “the sun had risen upon the earth”, it typifies that the end of God’s judgment has come (Rom. 13:11-12; 2Pet. 3:10).

Gen. 19:24 “Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.”

YLT: “and Jehovah hath rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah, from the heavens;”

Literal Meaning: “brimstone and fire”, the hell is called “the lake of fire and brimstone” (Rev. 20:10). Therefore, this judgment is the judgment of hell.

“From the LORD out of the heavens…”, probably it was the volcanic explosion, and the burning magma covered the two cities. However it was appointed by God, so here it recorded it was from the LORD out of the heavens.

Spiritual Meaning: when the day of God comes, the evil world shall be melted with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2Pet. 3:10, 12). The origin of sins ---- the devil and sinful power ---- death and hell and all sinners (Rev. 20:10, 14; 21:8) shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10, 14; 21:8).

Gen. 19:25 “So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

YLT: “and He overthroweth these cities, and all the circuit, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which is shooting up from the ground.”

Literal Meaning: this verse shows the universality of judgment. All the world may become guilty before God (Rom. 3:19). And no one and nothing can flee from the judgment.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The form of the world is passing away (1Cor. 7:31). Do not be deceived by it.

2) When judgment comes, no one can hide from the wrath of God (Rev. 6:15-17).

Gen. 19:26 “But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

YLT: “And his wife looketh expectingly from behind him, and she is -- a pillar of salt!”

Literal Meaning: the Lord Jesus asks us to remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32), so it is much related to us.

“Looked back”, what she looked was what she minded, which indicated she spared her children and properties etc. in the city of Sodom.

Spiritual Meaning: “became a pillar of salt”, it showed that she lost the power and activities of life and became useless salt (Matt. 5:13). Besides, her end became a shameful sign of warning to others (Luke 17:32) and appeared to be an everlasting passive testimony to believers (“salt” in the Scriptures means “eternity”, see Num. 18:19).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).

2) Believers are the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13), which is able to prevent and eliminate sins. However, if believers love the world, they will become useless pillar of salt and be mocked by the world.

3) Though believers have been saved, if there is no good testimony in the world, they will be ashamed before the judgment seat of Christ on that day.

4) Whoever seeks the satisfaction of soul in this age will lose the satisfaction of soul in the coming age. Whoever forsakes the satisfaction of soul in this age for the Lord’s sake will obtain the satisfaction of soul in the coming age (Matt. 16:25).

Gen. 19:27 “And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.”

YLT: “And Abraham riseth early in the morning, unto the place where he hath stood the face of Jehovah;”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Each one who serves God shall “get up early in the morning” everyday and come to the place where he prays (namely, to keep the morning watch before God everyday).

2) The first habit that believers shall get into is “getting up early in the morning” to draw near to God.

Gen. 19:28 “Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.”

YLT: “and he looketh on the face of Sodom and Gomorrah, and on all the face of the land of the circuit, and seeth, and lo, the smoke of the land went up as smoke of the furnace.”

Literal Meaning: “behold”, it showed that Abraham though God did not hear his prayer. In fact, God fulfilled Abraham’s prayer as he prayed.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers shall not only pray for others but also “behold” the effect after prayer.

2) God does not answer our prayer according to all that we ask or think, but above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).

Gen. 19:29 “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.”

YLT: “And it cometh to pass, in God's destroying the cities of the circuit, that God remembereth Abraham, and sendeth Lot out of the midst of the overthrow in the overthrowing of the cities in which Lot dwelt.”

Literal Meaning: “that God remembered Abraham”, here it indicated that Lot was delivered from the destruction because of Abraham’s prayer.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The effective and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

2) Let believers care for the spiritual condition of others and pray for one another (Eph. 6:18).

Gen. 19:30 “Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.”

YLT: “And Lot goeth up out of Zoar, and dwelleth in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he hath been afraid of dwelling in Zoar, and he dwelleth in a cave, he and his two daughters.”

Literal Meaning: “went up out of Zoar”, probably he feared the inhabitants of Zoar thought the destruction of the two cities was related to Lot.

Spiritual Meaning: Lot represents the earthly believer. He dwells in the sinful and bustling city and seeks physical enjoyment first. Finally he flees to the care and become lonely.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is a good thing for believers to be separated from the world. However, it is still not good if we escape because of fear (e.g. the monk retreats the mountain for fear of being enticed by the world).

2) We’d better be drawn by the Lord to seek the Lord joyfully (Song 1:4).

Gen. 19:31 “Now the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth.”

YLT: “And the first-born saith unto the younger, `Our father old, and a man there is not in the earth to come in unto us, as the way of all the earth;”

Gen. 19:32 “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father."”

YLT: “come, we cause our father to drink wine, and lie with him, and preserve from our father -- a seed.'”

Gen. 19:33 “So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.”

YLT: “And they cause their father to drink wine on that night; and the first-born goeth in, and lieth with her father, and he hath not known in her lying down, or in her rising up.”

Gen. 19:34 “It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, "Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father."”

YLT: “And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the first-born saith unto the younger, `Lo, I have lain yesterday-night with my father: we cause him to drink wine also to-night, and go thou in, lie with him, and we preserve from our father -- a seed.'”

Gen. 19:35 “Then 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.”

YLT: “And they cause their father to drink wine on that night also, and the younger riseth and lieth with him, and he hath not known in her lying down, or in her rising up.”

Gen. 19:36 “Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.”

YLT: “And the two daughters of Lot conceive from their father,”

Enlightenment in the Word: it records the details of the incest of Lot and his daughters from verse thirty-one to thirty-six, providing the lessons for believers to learn:

1) They did not go to have fellowship with Abraham or others that were of God and would rather walk in solitude. Finally they fell into abnormal condition. Today, there are also some lofty Christianity groups that refuse to have intercourse with other Christians. However, they fall unconsciously in the end.

2) They got even wine on the mountain. They might flee with wine or have learnt the skill of wine-making in Sodom. Anyway, they brought the method they had got in the world to the church (e.g. administer the church by worldly methods).

3) They not only drank wine but also even got drunk. Today, there are also some Christianity groups focusing on the manners of activities (e.g. the movement of speaking tongues intensely) to stir up men’s soul and satisfy soul. However, they regard the indulgence of soul as being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

4) Lot did not even spare his daughters’ virginity for the sake of the angels (see v.8), which was possibly the main element that they lost the views of moral human relations and sense of shame. Today, some Christianity groups try all sorts of tricks to gain the end and do also even some shameful things in spite of the principles of truth, but they still feel at ease (e.g. some believers are unwilling to present their wives or daughters to the leads for lusts).

5) Lot got severely drunk. The elder firstborn proposed and the younger submitted without demur. Leaders of some Christianity groups are ignorant and let the assistants around direct wantonly. And the common followers also join in disturbance blindly (Phil. 1:9-10).

6) They cared only about the offspring for their own families at all costs. Today, there are also some Christianity groups that only care for the maintenance of their own groups. Therefore, they preach the gospel zealously then compass the sea and the dry to make one proselyte, but finally make him son of hell (Matt. 23:15).

7) Incest has disobeyed the principles appointed by God. He who commits incest is lawless. Today, there are also some Christians who “say Lord, Lord and prophesy and cast out demons and do many works of power by the name of the Lord”. However, the Lord says they are “workers of lawlessness” and do not approve them (Matt. 7:21-23, the original).

Gen. 19:37 “The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.”

YLT: “and the first-born beareth a son, and calleth his name Moab; he father of Moab unto this day;”

Meaning of Words: “Moab”: born of the father, the water of the father;

Gen. 19:38 “And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.”

YLT: “as to the younger, she also hath born a son, and calleth his name Ben-Ammi: he father of the Beni-Ammon unto this day.”

Meaning of Words: “Ben-Ammi”: the son of my father, the son of my people; “Ammon”: vague, natural, faithful;

Spiritual Meaning: “Moabites” and “Ammon” (Deut. 23:3) typify that the people of God have committed spiritual fornication if they imitate the secular and sinful way in spite of the principles of the truth, and heresies are thus generated. Finally they bring serious troubles to the true people of God (Num. 22:2-6; 25:1-3; Rev. 2:14).

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

How to Be Separated from the World?

A. Arise and go out (v.15);

B. Do not linger (v.16);

C. Run ahead (v.17);

D. Do not look back (v.17);

E. Do not stay anywhere in the plain (v.17);

F. Escape to the mountains (v.17);

Reasons for Believers’ Failure

A. Be satisfied the present grace only (v.19);

B. Be weak in faith and regard powerless to go ahead (v.19);

C. Think that “small city” (small sins) is nothing (v.20);

D. Be unwilling to pay a price and seek only what is approachable and easy (v.20);

E. Ignore the condition of soul life and spiritual life (v.20);

F. Linger and look back the world (v.26);

G. Be motivated by passive fear, not positive love (v.30);

── Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible Commentary Series》

Translated by Mary Zhou