Lot ended up in Sodom because he chose the rich Jordan Valley when Abram gave him the choice, then gradually drifted toward the city.
Les Feldick points out that Lot had been to Egypt and had seen the material things of that culture. When Abram put the choice of the land before him, Lot lifted up his eyes on the well-watered plain of Jordan. He did not suddenly enter Sodom; he moved toward it step by step, eventually becoming so connected to the city that he sat at its gate as a leader.
Genesis 13:10 — Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld the well-watered plain of Jordan, the key choice that set his direction.
Genesis 13:12 — This verse records that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, showing the gradual movement into the city.
Genesis 13 records that Abram and Lot both had such great substance that the land could not bear them together, and their herdsmen caused strife. Abram generously gave Lot the first choice of direction. Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, well watered everywhere, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. He chose all the plain of Jordan and journeyed east, while Abram remained in the land of Canaan. The record then says that Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom, and that the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. These verses show that Lot's location began with a choice of the eye and a deliberate movement toward Sodom.
Les reminds his class that Lot had been to Egypt and had seen all the material things of Egypt. When Abram gave Lot the choice of the land, that memory of Egypt shaped what he saw in the Jordan Valley. Les also teaches from 2 Peter that Lot was a believer and a righteous man, yet he did not practice Sodom's lifestyle. Instead, he became interwoven with Sodom for monetary gain, his own wealth, and a sumptuous lifestyle. Les points out that Lot had become so much a part of Sodom that he sat at the gate, which in that culture meant he was one of the city leaders. Far from being a quick plunge, Lot's path was a gradual drift that ended with him as a prominent man in a city ripe for judgment.
Les specifically points out that Lot had been to Egypt with Abram. He says, 'Now, remember, where has Lot been? He'd been to Egypt. And he sees all the things of a material Egypt.' When Abram then told Lot to choose his direction, the memory of Egypt's material wealth was still before him, and he lifted up his eyes on the well-watered plain of Jordan.
Les points to 2 Peter 2, where Scripture calls Lot 'just Lot' and 'that righteous man.' He says Lot was a believer, just as Abram was, but he was vexed by the filthy conversation of the wicked. Les argues that Lot did not actually practice the lifestyle of Sodom, but he was so interwoven with it for monetary gain and for his own wealth and sumptuous lifestyle that he stayed.
Les explains that when the two angels arrived at Sodom at sundown, Lot was sitting in the gate. In that setting, to sit in the gate meant that Lot was one of the city leaders. Les says Lot had become such a part and parcel of Sodom that he was, if not the city manager, at least on the council. This shows how deeply enmeshed in Sodom he had become.
Les points to Lot's response to the men of Sodom as evidence of his decline. When the crowd demanded the two angelic visitors, Lot went out and offered his two daughters to them. Les says this shows 'how far down the ladder Lot had slipped,' because a father could even think of throwing his own virgin daughters to the wolves rather than surrendering his guests.
Lot's Egypt Connection and His Choice
Les points out that Lot had been to Egypt and had seen material things; that background shaped the choice he made when Abram gave him first pick of the land.
What the Bible Says About Sodom, Lot, and Judgment (Romans 1)
Now we may have areas that are getting close, but at least it still has not enveloped a whole city. On the other hand, of course, Sodom is not near the size of a San Francisco or New York. But whatever, Sodom had come to the place where the whole population was wrapped up in this immoral, rotten lifestyle.
Lot at the Gate
Les explains that Lot had become so much a part of Sodom that he sat at the gate, the place where city leaders sat, and he recognized the danger the angels would face.
Righteous but Entangled
Les teaches from 2 Peter that Lot was a righteous believer, yet he was interwoven with Sodom for monetary gain and his own wealth.
Lot Called Righteous in 2 Peter
Les shows that Scripture itself calls Lot a righteous man and a believer, even though he was surrounded by Sodom's wickedness.
Lot as a Leading Citizen
Les explains that sitting in the gate meant Lot had become one of Sodom's leading citizens, perhaps the city manager or at least a member of the council.
What the Bible Says About Sodom, Lot, and Judgment (Romans 1)
But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. Well, what we have here, and for many, many years, I would almost try to circumvent chapter 19. I didn't even like to bring it up, especially in a mixed class.
Lot's Terrible Compromise
Les uses Lot's offer of his two daughters to show how far Lot had slipped in his spiritual walk and how deep his compromise with Sodom had become.
Genesis 13:10: And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
This verse records what Lot saw when Abram gave him the choice, showing the visual appeal that drew him toward the Jordan Valley.
Genesis 13:11: Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
This verse records Lot's actual choice of the entire plain of Jordan.
Genesis 13:12: Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
This verse shows the direction of Lot's life: he dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
2 Peter 2:7: And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
This verse shows that Lot was 'just,' which Les uses to show that Lot was a believer even though he was in Sodom.
2 Peter 2:8: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds:)
This verse reinforces that Lot was a righteous man whose soul was vexed by Sodom's behavior.
Yes. When Abram gave Lot the choice, Lot lifted up his eyes and chose all the plain of Jordan. The biblical record then says he pitched his tent toward Sodom, and eventually he dwelt in the cities of the plain. It was a deliberate direction that became a gradual slide.
Yes. Les points to 2 Peter, where Scripture calls Lot 'just' and 'righteous.' Les says Lot did not practice Sodom's lifestyle, but he became so entangled with the city for his own financial gain and comfort that he stayed.
Les explains that by the time the angels arrived, Lot was sitting at the gate, which was the place of the city leaders. He had become so much a part of Sodom that he was a leading citizen, perhaps even on the city council.
Watch the Teaching: Why Abram Failed in Egypt & God Restored Him | Genesis 12-14