I had to go back and re-read Genesis 19 a couple of times…from three different Bibles. I’m bothered. I mean, I knew this story. But I forgot the mentions before and after it. You know, the part where Lot offers up his daughters like a car salesman, “They’re VIRGINS, y’all!”
Or the part after where Lot’s wife looks back just once and whammo – gets turned to stone. I feel bad for her. It was one little directive in the midst of fear and chaos. And she was probably still writhing that her husband had brought strangers home when she hadn’t had dinner ready, and then that Lot offered up her daughters to the mob outside. She was probably plotting her lecture to Lot (Think: “Oh, he’s gonna hear about this when we get to somewhere safe and the girls are asleep.”) when those angels mentioned ever so slightly to not look back. Sigh.
This story is a reminder to me how toxic relationships can fester and snowball into a lifestyle of mean and toxic family units.
And all people read from all of that is: don’t be gay. Really? THAT’S why God struck down the towns of Sodom & Gomorrah? I don’t think so.
A few weeks ago, we had a friend knock on our door begging for our help. We let her in. What became apparent was her life had festered into chaos, some of her own doing, some not. The violence and the lies and anger – it scared me and almost seemed fake because I could not conceive a life like that. Her tone of anger, probably resembled what I imagine Lot’s to have been. Very odd mentions of what she thought was righteous based on her very angry and chaotic living environment.
You see, I have a confession to make (this is the best place to make it, y’all) I think I might have morphed right on into Polyanna meets June Cleaver meets Snow White. I have a castle, I sleep with Prince Charming, and although I don’t cook with an apron or pearls on, my biggest concern is getting a healthy dinner on the table.
Indeed, it’s become ever apparent to me lately that I’ve got a good safe little bubble here in Leslie Land.
So, when I read Genesis 19, I don’t like the environment of violence and complete disregard for humanity – the nonchalance of that side story. The whole point of this story is extend how bad the environment in its entirety had become. That Lot offered up his daughters to rape in place of raping his guests suggests just how violent and outrageous the environment got to necessitate God to send a couple of angels out there to destroy the cities to get out of said environment, and live a calm and safe life.
God spared Lot’s life. I get that. But Lot was forced out of a toxic environment of anger and chaos. There’s no doubt that although Lot made some kind concessions – hospitality to the strangers, and then protecting them from the mob. But he was still jaded by his environment – offering his daughters to the mob among other things, I’m sure.
My friend who needed help that day, hopefully she just needed someone willing to let her in. I hope she absorbed some of the calm and peace and happiness in our home. And I hope she leaves behind all that toxic lifestyle, (none of which has anything to do with homosexuality, just like the Bible story of Sodom & Gomorrah). And I pray that she never looks back, it just may turn her to stone.
Moreso, it’s our community that Dr. James Forbes spoke of – are we a mob at the door suggesting our own violence. Or are we going to turn our backs to the entire festering chaos and hatred and return it with love?
So, as I finish typing, this song plays randomly on my Pandora station
“With Love” by Elbow
Your dome filled up with love
With love
With love
Fill your eyes with love
With love
With love
Love will find you out
Be sure love will find you out
Love will find you out
Be sure love will find you out
As anybody with a kind word would know
Gonna find you
Love will find you out
Be sure love will find you out
As anybody with a kind word would know
Gonna find you
Love will find you out
Be sure love will find you out
Fill your boots
Fill your spine
Fill your dome
Fill your eyes with love
Love will find you out
Be sure love will find you out
With love
I think Lot’s story is especially jarring for 21st century Americans. The degree to which Lot elevates the safety and security of his guests, “the others,” is pretty mind-boggling to me. But maybe that’s the point. Lot rushes out to greet the strangers, insists they eat and sleep at his home, protects them from the angry mob at the expense of his own flesh and blood…and most of the time, I won’t even answer the door if a stranger comes knocking. Hmmm….
Hi Mary Ann,
My sentiments exactly. And if I DO answer the door for a stranger, if they are selling something, I explain how dangerous it could be going door-to-door. That’s hospitality, right?
About Lot’s wife… Yes, it is a tragic story and seems so punishing. However, she was turned into a pillar of salt. My understanding is that salt was a rather precious commodity back in those days. Her life had value. Perhaps part of the lesson is just that. Life has value. Those who devalue it (by whatever means) are not living as God intends for us all.