Law of the Nazarites and the Lord's Blessing to His People

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Numbers 6:1) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (2) “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘When either man or woman separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves to the LORD, (3) He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.'"

In the last chapter and post, the Lord told the people to remove sin and the unclean from their camps.  Now He began explaining the law of the Nazarite which also demonstrated the separateness of God's holy people.  The Lord instructed Moses to now talk to the people about when a man or woman chose to separate himself (or herself) and make the vow of a Nazarite.  The word Nazarite is a form of the original word "nazar" which meant "to separate, set apart, devote, or consecrate".  Upon taking the vow of a Nazarite, a man or woman chose to separate himself from the world and dedicate himself to the Lord.  He was to separate himself from wine and strong drink.  Another definition of the word "nazar" was "abstain".  A person who separated himself for the Lord would necessarily abstain from any impurities; in this case he was instructed to abstain from any wine or strong drink, which included all forms of grapes and their juices, which in their various degrees of fermentation could cause varying degrees of intoxication, or at the very least some degree of impurity or reduced lucidity.

I don't believe this proves that a Christian must totally abstain from drinking.  On the contrary, in listing the blessings of the Lord, Psalm 104:15 lists wine "that makes glad the heart of man".  Jesus even used wine to represent His blood!  If wine was an impure thing of itself, it would have never been used to represent something so precious as Jesus's blood!  Of course, there are many admonitions against drunkenness in the scriptures, as well as numerous examples of times when a person should abstain from wine, but it can in no way be concluded that drinking wine is sinful.  In this case, Nazarites who devoted themselves totally to the Lord, would likewise devote their totally clear thinking minds and pure hearts to the Lord.

(4) "‘All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the kernels even to the husk.'"

All the days that a person separated himself to the Lord, not only was he not to drink any form of grape juice or wine, he was also not to eat any part of the grapevine.  Although some people were Nazarites for life, others were so for just a certain amount of time, and by their own volition, and it is probably concerning them that these rules were given regarding "the days of separation".

(5) "‘All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.'"

All the days that a Nazarite separated himself to the Lord, he was not to use a razor on his head.  This would also include scissors or anything that he might use to cut or pluck his hair, as he was to let the locks of his hair grow.  This was one of the ways in which he would separate himself from the world and be holy to the Lord.  Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, pointed out in scripture that an abundance of hair "was considered to betoken physical strength and perfection (compare 2Sa 14:25-26), and baldness was regarded as a grave blemish (compare...2Ki 2:23; Isa 3:24). Thus, the free growth of the hair on the head of the Nazarite represented the dedication of the man with all his strength and powers to the service of God."

(6) "‘All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body.'"

All the days that a Nazarite separated himself to the Lord he was not to go near a dead body, which would include burying the dead or perhaps even attending a funeral. 

(7) "‘He shall not make himself unclean for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because the consecration of his God is upon his head.'"

A Nazarite was not even to come close to the dead body of a close family member because the dedication to his God was upon his head, which might refer to his long locks that were emblematic of his separation to the Lord; or if not literal, might just mean that because he was separated and consecrated to the Lord, he must not go near any dead body.

(8) "'All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.'"

All the days of his separation a Nazarite was considered holy to the Lord, and must refrain and abstain from the things listed above, separating himself from the world in total dedication to his Lord.

(9) "'And if any man dies very suddenly by him, and he has defiled his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it.'"

In the event that someone died suddenly and unexpectedly in his presence, then his consecrated head would be defiled, and he must shave his head on the seventh day of his cleansing.  Like some of the other ways a person might become unclean as described in Leviticus, we will find in later verses in Numbers that a person who touched a dead body would be considered unclean for seven days.  He was to go through a purification process and then would be considered clean on the seventh day.  Apparently it was after this purification process for seven days that he must shave his head.

(10) "'And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.'"

After the seven days of purification, and after shaving his head, on the eighth day he was to bring either two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest to the door of the tabernacle.

(11) "'And the priest shall offer one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, because he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.'"

The priest was to offer one of the birds for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to make atonement for him.  Although he did not willfully sin, the person dying in his presence caused him to be unclean which is the effect of sin, and atonement must be made for him.  After this, his head would be hallowed and again consecrated to the Lord, and he could begin growing his hair again.

(12) "'And he shall consecrate to the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering; but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.'"

I believe the meaning is that he would rededicate to the Lord the number of days in service to the Lord that he had first vowed.  He was to bring a lamb in its first year as a trespass offering, and would begin again "the days of his separation"; all the days he had separated himself for the Lord before he became defiled by the dead were lost and he had to start over.  Wow!  What a sobering thought that even if we don't willfully sin, we become polluted and defiled by the sin around us!  It is only by the love and mercy of our sweet Lord in that He gave us Jesus Christ to be an atoning sacrifice for all.

(13) "'And this is the law of the Nazarite when the days of his separation are fulfilled; he shall be brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.'"

This was the law of the Nazarite.  The verse can be interpreted two different ways, depending on the punctuation which varies with different translations.  Everything preceding comprised the law of the Nazarite, or what was to follow was to be considered the law of the Nazarite.  Obviously both were part of the law as both had been instructed by the Lord.  When the days of the Nazarite's separation for the Lord were completed, he was to be brought to the door of the tabernacle.

(14) "'And he shall offer his offering to the LORD, one male lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings, (15) And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings.'"

He was to present at the door of the tabernacle his offering of a male lamb in its first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering, an unblemished ewe lamb in its first year for a sin offering, and one unblemished ram for peace offerings.  Think about this!  Even though he probably had not sinned while in complete dedication to the Lord, he brought a sin offering.  I believe this shows that there is unknown and secret sin in all of us!  The words of Psalm 139:23-24 come to mind:  "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  We are born into a life of sin in a sinful world; we are polluted by sin all around us and by sin in our hearts, feelings, and thoughts.  Before Jesus Christ came to cover all those sins, even the most righteous men before God had to make offerings for their sins.  Burnt offerings, sin offerings, peace offerings!  All sorts of offerings were offered on the occasion of the Nazarite completing his period of separation.  There was also a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, along with the grain offering and drink offerings which generally accompanied the sacrifices.

(16) "'And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering and his burnt offering. (17) And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall also offer his grain offering and his drink offering.'"

The priest was to bring all the Nazarite's offerings before the Lord.  He would offer the sin and burnt offerings, the ram for the peace offerings, the basket of unleavened bread, and the grain and drink offering.

(18) "'And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.'"

After having let his hair grow during the time of his vow as a symbol of his dedication to the Lord, at the end of the time of his vow, he was to shave his head at the door of the tabernacle.  He was to take that hair, the symbol of his vow, and offer it to his God by placing it in the fire that was under the sacrifice of the peace offerings which was the ram that was boiling in a pot or cauldron.

(19) "‘And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite after the hair of his separation is shaved. (20) And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD; this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder; and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.'"

Then the priest was to take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer and put them upon the hands of the Nazarite.  Putting his hands under the Nazarite's, he would wave them to and fro (wave) and up and down (heave) as an offering to the Lord.  This shoulder of the ram was to be holy to the priest, set apart for him alone to eat, as was the wave breast and heave shoulder that was given him by another law stated in Leviticus 7:34.  After all this, the Nazarite would be allowed to drink wine, which meant he could return to his previous way of living.  Again I see this as proof that there is no sin in drinking wine; a Nazarite was allowed to drink wine.  He certainly wouldn't have been told that it was now okay to sin!

(21) “'This is the law of the Nazarite who has vowed, and of his offering to the LORD for his separation, besides that which his hand shall get; according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.'"

The preceding described the law of the Nazarite and his offering to the Lord for his separation, the very least he was obliged to do when his period of separation was fulfilled.  This was besides that which he may have voluntarily vowed; whatever he had vowed, he must do according to the law of the Nazarite, in addition to what was previously commanded above.

(22) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (23) “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘In this way you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them, (24) “The LORD bless you and keep you; (25) The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; (26) The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace."'"

The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons, the priests, to bless the children of Israel with a beautiful blessing:  "The Lord bless you and keep you", meaning may the Lord bestow on His people His blessings and keep them from Satan and sin and the evil of the world; "the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you", meaning that the Lord cause Himself to shine His everlasting light on them, giving them spiritual light and knowledge of Him, and may He pour out large measures of His grace on them; and "the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace," probably meaning that He look upon them with a cheerful and pleasant countenance, as one who was well pleased with them and their service to Him, and thus give them peace.

The old commentaries that I study pointed out something I was not able to see in my study of the original words.  I am only able to see the original word used, not the accents.  Dr. John Gill, among others, wrote that "the LORD", or "Yehovah", in the three parts of the blessing, although the same word being used, had a different accent on each use of the word.  The commentators said this denoted three distinct persons in the one Jehovah!  In the words of Dr. Gill, "...each of them concerned in the blessing of the Lord's people, the spiritual Israel of God; Jehovah the Father blesses with all spiritual blessings, with electing, adopting, justifying, and pardoning grace, with regenerating and calling, and persevering grace, and with eternal life: Jehovah the Son blesses particularly with redeeming grace, and has a concern in all the other blessings; the saints are blessed with them in him, they are all in his hands, they are procured by him, come through him, and are the gifts of his grace: and Jehovah the Spirit blesses as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification, as the spirit of faith, as a comforter, as the spirit of adoption, and as the earnest and sealer of the saints unto the day of redemption."

(27) "And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them."

There are two possible meanings for putting the Lord's name upon the children of Israel, as is often the case with multiple meanings for individual scriptures.  They shall put the Lord's name on the people; the children of Israel will be His special people called by His name.  Also they were to pronounce the blessing on them in the name of the Lord; in effect, it was permission to use His sacred name to bless them.  The Lord promised He would indeed bless them.

Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, pointed out that the law for a Nazarite was an illustration of what it is to be a Christian:

1.  Every genuine Christian is a true Nazarite. He is separated from the world, and dedicated solely to the service of God.
2.  His life is a life of self-denial; he mortifies and keeps the flesh in obedience to the Spirit.
3.  All this enters into the spirit of his baptismal vow; for in that he promises to renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh - to keep God’s holy word and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of his life.
4.  The person who is faithful has the blessing of God entailed upon him. Thus shall ye bless the children of Israel, etc.

I would add that just like the Nazarite who became defiled, a Christian who has fallen may pick himself up and start anew in following Christ.  Isn't that wonderful?!  It's not, "Sorry, you failed," but He welcomes us back with loving open arms.  It's true that we start over in the sense that the good deeds from before don't cover what comes after when we backslide, but the beauty is that the coming to Christ even late in life can cover all the sins of a lifetime before:

“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed shall not be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live...But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be mentioned; in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die...When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive." - Ezekiel 18:21-22, 24, 26-27

Unlike the people in the Old Testament who had only the law, we are now saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, but the same principle applies:

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more." - Hebrews 10:16-17

"Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” - Hebrews 10:38

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” - Romans 4:7-8

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:12

"For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them." - 2 Peter 2:20-21

I believe there is a difference between backsliding into sin and totally turning away and rejecting Christ.  God knows the heart of man.  David sinned; he committed adultery and murder, but God called him a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).  God, in His mercy, will draw us back to life in Him, but there are warnings that He will not do this indefinitely:

"Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." - Isaiah 55:6 (emphasis on "while" is mine)

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting." - Romans 1:28

Unexpected Lessons in the Life of Lot

Continuing my chronological Bible study:

(Genesis 19:1) And there came two angels to Sodom at evening, and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them, rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

We might assume that these are two of the three angels who just left Abraham in chapter 18.  As Abraham did, Lot waited to invite strangers to his house for refreshment.  However, while Abraham waited at his tent door, Lot waited at the gate of Sodom.  This might be merely because Lot lived within a busy city, whereas tents were fewer and farther between where Abraham lived, but it might also be that Lot sought to make sure strangers did not fall into the hands of the wicked Sodomites, who might abuse them.  At this point, we may assume that Lot bowed merely out of respect and not because he recognized the men as angels.

(2) And he said, "Behold now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; and you will rise up early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will abide in the street all night." (3) And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in to him and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

"My lords" is a term of respect.  There is no reason to assume that Lot knew these were angels at this point.  Just as Abraham was a righteous man who willingly gave to strangers, so it appears Lot is.  This was not merely show with Lot, as he "pressed" upon the strangers to stay with him.

(4) But 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. (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."

There is very little doubt that the phrase "know them" means to have sexual relations with them.  The phrase is first used in this sense in Genesis 4:1 when Adam knew his wife, Eve, and she conceived and bore a son.  As we will see shortly by Lot's answer, it is very evident that he knew this is what they meant.  Isaiah 3:9 spoke of the people of Sodom as declaring their sin and not trying to hide it.  Imagine the depravity of a city that all the people from the city surround the house to get to the "new" men!  It's like wild dogs surrounding a slab of meat!

(6) And Lot went out at the door to them, and shut the door after him, (7) And said, "Please, brethren, do not do so wickedly! (8) Behold now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, bring them out to you, and you do to them as is good in your eyes; only do nothing to these men, for therefore they came under the shadow of my roof."

This certainly was an unconscionable act of Lot's to offer his daughters to these depraved men.  All that can be said in any sort of defense of him is that he must have considered their intended sodomy to be a much greater evil than his pimping of his virgin daughters.  I suppose it can also be said that he placed the rights of hospitality in very high regard and took them very seriously.  It is said that a man who had taken a stranger under his care and protection, was bound to defend him even at the expense of his own life, but I'm not sure that means the lives of his daughters.  Lot probably did not realize it would come to their lives, but acted foolishly in haste to avert what he saw as a greater evil.

(9) And they said, "Stand back!" And they said, "This one came in to sojourn, and he wants to be a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them." And they pressed greatly against the man Lot, and came near to break the door.

Lot was not a native citizen of Sodom, but was perceived as a stranger who had come to their city and now set himself as judge against them.  They vowed to deal worse with him than what they had intended to do with the visiting men; we can only assume this meant violence and sexual abuse.  Lot was outside the door talking to the men, and they pressed against him and came at the door to break it down.

(10) But the men put forth their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. (11) And they struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door.

The men showed themselves to be more than just mere men and rescued Lot from the depraved men of Sodom.  They struck those at the door with blindness.  "Both small and great" appears to be said of the blindness, which seems to be a plural of the word, so the men were struck with small and great blindnesses.  This may mean both a blindness of sight and a mental confusion or some other such condition, because if they were already pressed in toward the door, it seems that they could have found the door even if visually impaired.  But these men completely tired themselves out trying to find the door, and we know that is because the angels of the Lord prevented them from getting to it.

(12) And the men said to Lot, "Have you any others besides you here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of this place. (13) For we will destroy this place, because the cry against them is waxed great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it."

Obviously angels of the Lord know the members of Lot's family who are in the city, so this is said for Lot's benefit that they regard his kindness toward them and for his sake would save all in his family if they would take the benefit of their protection.  "Son-in-law" as singular may be part of the question, as in "Do you have a son-in-law here?"  Then it is more of a statement for Lot to take his sons and his daughters and anyone else he has in the city and get them out of there, for they are going to destroy it.  

(14) And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who 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 as one who joked.

There may have been other daughters of Lot's besides the two in his house that had not known men because in the next verse the angels of the Lord speak of his daughters "who are here".  It has also been speculated by Biblical scholars that the daughters were espoused to Lot's future sons-in-law, but the marriages were not yet consummated.  His daughters "who were there" is in contrast to the sons-in-law who were not, as they did not take Lot seriously.

(15) And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city." (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.

In the morning the angels urgently hurried Lot and his family out of the city so that they would not be destroyed with the city.  They apparently dawdled, but God in His mercy, had the angels take hold of their hands and they brought them forth out of the city.

(17) And 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 consumed."

"They", the angels, brought Lot and his family outside of the city, and "He", the Lord Himself probably speaking through another angel of the Lord, but distinguished from the angels sent to destroy Sodom, spoke to Lot. John Wesley has a beautiful commentary of this scripture, describing it as a perfect picture of what we are called to do when rescued from sin.  Don't look back to the sinful world (Sodom), don't rest in the world (the plain), but constantly reach up to Christ and heaven (the mountains).

(18) And Lot said unto them, "Oh, not so, my Lord; (19) Behold now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified 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. (20) Behold now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one; oh, let me escape there, is it not a little one? And my soul shall live."

Lot actually argued with the angels of the Lord who were saving his life!  He does recognize that the Lord has been extraordinarily merciful to him, but he saw himself physically incapable of making it to the mountains, and asked if he might be allowed to flee to a little city and be safe there.  I suppose a little city, as opposed to a big one, he thought couldn't possibly be as bad as the rest.  Some scholars suggest that perhaps it is not the city that Lot is suggesting is a little one, but maybe what is meant is that Lot says his request is just a small thing that he asked.  Either way, Lot is showing great weakness of faith.  Could he not see that the Lord who personally grabbed his hand and hurried him out of Sodom was well able to carry him safely to the mountains if he tired?  God would not have given him a command that he was unable to fulfill.  Oh, but I suppose this is a perfect illustration of how we now can be guilty of this and forget what God has done for us and lose faith that He can deliver us out of (or carry us through) any trouble.

(21) And He said to him, "See, I have accepted you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. (22) Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you come there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

The Lord confirmed to Lot that He had accepted Lot's prayer and granted his request.  Isn't it wonderful to know that even in our weakness, God is so patient and merciful with us?!  It even sounds as if He must delay His plans of destruction until Lot gets safely to the small city.  Zoar means "little".

(23) The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. (24) Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of heaven. (25) And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground.

The Lord rained fire and brimstone onto the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the plain (except Zoar as we know from the previous verses), and destroyed all the inhabitants and all trees and vegetation on the ground.  This area is what now forms the Dead Sea or the Salt Sea.  It is said the sea is much saltier than normal salty waters and that not many fish can live in it.  Interestingly, there were frequent eruptions of a bituminous matter from the bottom of the sea that gave the illusion that the sea continued to bubble and burn long after God destroyed the region.

(26) But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Lot's wife apparently didn't make it to Zoar.  From the text, it sounds as if she tarried behind Lot, so perhaps she was not so eager to leave.  Then she disobeyed the Lord and looked back to Sodom and Gomorrah, at which time she became a pillar of salt.  Whether she was struck by the lightning and brimstone that was pelting the plain because she lingered too far back and suffered the same salty fate as the rest of the plain, or whether she was instantly struck by God because she disobeyed, I believe the moral of the story is the same.  Lot's wife lingered behind and looked back, probably because she did not really want to leave, and God left her with her wish.  I feel very comfortable in this assumption because we have already seen that God was merciful with Lot even though his faith was weak.  Lot petitioned the Lord, recognizing how merciful the Lord had been with him.  If Lot's wife's heart was toward the Lord, I have no doubt that the Lord would have been as patient with her.

(27) And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. (28) And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and he beheld that the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Abraham went to the same place where he had petitioned the Lord to save Sodom and Gomorrah if He could find at least ten righteous people there.  Seeing the smoke of the destruction, he must have surely felt that God had not found that small number of righteous people.

(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.

But God did answer Abraham's prayer.  Even though He obviously did not find ten righteous, He brought Lot and those members of Lot's family who wished to be brought out of the cities before destroying them.

(30) And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.

So Lot was able to get the mountains after all!  He was afraid to dwell in Zoar probably because he now realized that God's first advice was probably better than his own.  Then again God had promised to spare the little city, so it seems that Lot once again showed a lack of faith.  These are perfect illustrations of how we often choose our own wisdom over God's.  John Wesley points out that it is also an illustration of those who finally bring themselves to the Lord at last, who for a long time "forsake the communion of saints for secular advantages".

(31) And 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 manner of all the earth."

Lot's older daughter observed to the younger daughter that their father was old (and may not last long, I suppose) and that there were no other men on the earth to marry them and make children with them which was the manner of the propagation of mankind in the earth.  It seemed to them that the entire earth had been destroyed by fire.  They had just left the small city of Zoar, so either it was also engulfed with fire after they left it, or perhaps the older daughter meant there were no other men of their own kind that they felt lawful to marry, as they could not marry wicked men who had been destined to destruction and were only spared because of Lot.

(32) "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father."

The older daughter reasoned that they must get their father drunk because otherwise he would have never agreed to such a thing, so on some level, she knew it was wrong.  However, it was probably not a totally wicked lustful act on her part, but she may have genuinely believed it was the only way to preserve their family line.  As did her father, she showed a lack of faith, or at least impatience, for once again, could not the Lord who brought them out of the total destruction they observed, not bring them righteous men to marry?

(33) And 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, nor when she arose.

The girls did succeed in making their father so drunk that he did not realize that his oldest daughter lay with him that night.

(34) And it came to pass on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, "Behold, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father." (35) And 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.

The younger daughter succeeded in accomplishing the same the next night.

(36) Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.

Dr. John Gill wrote a sensible observation on the life of Lot and how we should learn from it.  Lot was a good and righteous man, deserving of salvation, as the Lord did save him from the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  However, he often looked to his own human understanding, rather than to the Lord, and it made his life messy.  Dr. Gill reminds us that it was Lot who offered his pure daughters to the men of Sodom, and now in an ironic twist, it was he who impregnated them both.  Although Lot was not totally to blame as far as the incestual act, he did drink excessively and allow himself to become so drunk that he did not know what happened to him.  That is why drinking to excess must be avoided as it can lead to sinful behavior to which one might not otherwise succumb. 

(37) And the firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.

"Moab" is a form of a word meaning "of the father" indicating that the daughter was not ashamed of what she had done, so she had done it for what she thought to be just reasons.  However, because it was a godless act done without the Lord's guidance, it became quite a thorn in the side of God's people, as the Moabites became a wicked people often troublesome to the Israelites.

(38) And the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.

"Ben-Ammi" means "son of my people".  Likewise, the younger daughter demonstrated with the name of her child that she merely intended to preserve her father's family.  However, the children of Ammon also were enemies to the children of God.

Thus we learn from the life of Lot what can happen to righteous men when they choose to live too intimately with the world's people and customs and do not seek God first in all they do.  Evidently, Lot's heart was right with his Lord.  He surely loved the Lord, as he was saved and was even referred to in the New Testament as "just".  However, from that scripture in the New Testament, we learn that "just Lot" was worn down by his surroundings:

"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked" - 2 Peter 2:7

That is why we should avoid being unequally yoked with the wicked:

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

Once again, it must be emphasized that Lot was a righteous man of God, but because he allowed himself to be so involved within the lives and customs of the wicked, he often did not see the truth of God clearly.  Indeed, his heart was right with God, but his life was not one that furthered the kingdom of God on earth.  Boy, what a lesson this has been for me!  There may be many "just Lots" among us in this world today!  Only God can judge the heart and motives of people, so we must be careful not to judge.  However, we can see in the life of Lot what can happen to a people who do not consciously seek God in all they do.  At the very least, they do nothing to further the cause of God, and they can unconsciously do things that complicate it!  At most, they can become lost in the world, slowly fading into the world.  I think of the lines of a song by Casting Crowns:

Be careful little eyes what you see,
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings.
Be careful little feet where you go.
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow.

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away.
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray.
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid,
When you give yourself away.
People never crumble in a day.
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade.

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking.
Be careful if you think you stand,
You just might be sinking.

It's how people can justify removing God from the public square because they've slowly begun to accept that it's proper to separate God and government.  It's how people come to accept an act God called an abomination and one of the things for which He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah as "marriage equality".  It's how we can accept the murder of innocent babies as a woman's right to her own body.  It's how we can continue to vote for leaders who would even take that a step further and kill innocent babies who are born alive because they have accidentally survived abortions.

Although I have learned a great lesson in that I must not judge all who have faded into some of these beliefs as being lost and Godless, I recognize there is a great danger in allowing our minds to accept the world's gray view of things and not to arm ourselves continually with God's black and white truth. Romans 1 tells of the progressive downward spiral of a people who reject the truth of God:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.- Romans 1:18-32

Does this not sound like what is happening in our country today?  We are a country founded on God and Christian principles.  We have no excuse!  We didn't glorify God, but pushed Him aside, in our schools and in the public square.  We allowed ourselves to believe it was loftier to imagine a world without Christ where all people worship the same God, but not the one true God of the Bible, but one they imagined for themselves.  We serve God's creation "Mother Earth" more than we do Him. And for this reason God has given them over to their vile affections and reprobate, or morally unprincipled minds.  That is when they begin to lust after those of the same sex.  Then comes every imaginable sin and strife.  Think of this scenario in our country today - a self-righteous people, knowing the judgment of God, openly defy His Word, and even if they personally might not partake in something like same-sex relationships, rejoice in the "right" of same-sex "marriage", calling it marriage equality!  Or they rejoice in free speech that blasphemes God or in "art" that shows a crucifix in a jar of urine!

At what point can "just Lots" become lost as the people described above?  Maybe they don't.  Maybe that is where the "once saved, always saved" argument comes in, but that's not the point.  "Just Lots" do nothing to further the kingdom of God on earth.  They can be lukewarm, and God hates that! (Rev. 3:16)  They can become part of the strife and debate!  What is happening in this country today is a direct result of a people who have first rejected God, or more specifically, Christ, because He is the only way to God, and then we see the downward spiral.  Fighting the individual sins within the spiral does nothing to help.  People have to be shown salvation in Christ!  Jesus is the ONLY answer to our country's problems - God's Good News Gift to a lost and dying world!

Once God gives a person over to a reprobate mind, I don't know if He ever brings him back. Indeed Isaiah 55:6 says, "Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while he is near", indicating there will be a time when He won't be found.  The idea of God giving up on a person and leaving him to himself is a terrible thought!  But God did not leave us defenseless and without a clue.  Besides the fact that God constantly makes Himself known in His creation and in His Spirit who calls us, God has left us His Word!  He left us a historical record of flawed people screwing up just like we all do, but shows us the way out through Jesus Christ.  He left us countless insights into His love, mercy, and majesty.  He left us His guide for living!  He left us with a tangible hold-in-our-hands way to get close to Him when things get tough and we need a little peace and wisdom.  It is why I have tried to turn this blog mainly into a Bible study rather than being part of the constant strife.  It's not that I have changed my mind about any of the Godless issues that plague our country, but I have come to realize that it's not the Godless acts that will bring about God's wrath and the loss of His blessings on this country, but it's because we first turned our backs on God and rejected Him by pushing Him out that we are naturally on this decline, as described in Romans above.  It's important that we Christians turn back to God and that we show Christ to an unsaved world.  I need the constant help from the Lord's guide and my desire in posting these pages is that someone else might find something that will draw him/her to God's Word.  I know once people get into God's Word, He will take them from there!  Actually, I know that He can bring His lost sheep to Himself in any way, but I suppose because I first came to Him by investigating His Word, I have the desire to encourage others to seek Him that way.  I will close with these thoughts from my Lord's Word:

"Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life..." - Philippians 2:14-16a