Genesis - 39 - Gen. 19:1-16 Lot Sat in the Gates in Sodom - Assimilation?

OK, Lot, Abraham’s nephew.  He’s got to be an OK guy, right?  I mean look at his uncle.  Abraham!  I mean come on.  But, right from the get go we see that theirs is something wrong with Lot.  This becomes clear when Lot’s shepherds and herdsmen started arguing with the shepherds and herdsmen of his uncle.  Lot didn’t stop it as he was supposed to.  We are beginning to see that in that culture near 4000 years ago, Lot was supposed to support his uncle and Abraham’s house 100%.  For more on this check out lesson 29 – link = https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5ynaz-f97c87  Make sure if you listen to lesson 29 before clicking to listen first click on “view more” and read the intro to the lesson.  If not, you will miss lots of info and links for further study.

Now Lot is in Sodom and Gomorrah.  And, we find him sitting in the gate! 

Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." (Gen 19:1-2)

If this guy is righteous then he surely is NOT living up to his uncle Abraham’s expectations and what God would require of us to be His righteous followers.  Sitting in the gate means Lot is now part of the upper wealthy class of the evil pagan community of Sodom.  It’s like Lot compromised his faith and walk with God.  It's as if Lot assimilated into the culture of Sodom.

Gen_19:1-3. sitting at the gate. In ancient cities the gate area functioned as a public square. Its constant flow of people made it the ideal place for businessmen to set up their booths and for judges to hear cases. The fact that Lot is sitting in the gate suggests he was doing business there and had been accepted in the community of Sodom.  (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Copyright © 2000 by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas)

Here’s a link to a great article on ancient city gates.  One needs to understand this archaeological fact of those ancient days to even begin to grasp the full aspects of these events.  Here’s the link for the article - https://www.gotquestions.org/city-gate.html

Here’s another link to an article by Lois Tverberg (if you haven’t connected with Lois, her website, and have not read her books, you are missing out on learning from one truly brilliant Bible historical scholar – here’s her website link - https://ourrabbijesus.com/

And here’s the link to the article Lois did on Lot and his poor decisions.  She helps us see that there is something wrong with this guy.  Link - https://engediresourcecenter.com/2015/07/03/lots-choice/

But before you start looking down on Lot consider the application of this story to us today.  We are witnessing the failure of the church and the rejection of what the church is “preaching” by the Millennials, Generation Xers, and the turning away of our youth, Generation Z.  Something has gone wrong and the data coming our from the Barna Group (website - https://www.barna.com/) supports this.  We live in Sodom and Gomorrah, we live in decadent, chaotic, violent, deadly, and evils times.  And it seems that like Lot we have a view that we should “go along to get along” – in other words many many Christians would chose to “sit in the gate” and compromise their walk as disciples of Rabbi Yeshua.  Join us in this podcast and in lesson 40 coming soon.  Let us learn the truth, the truth that sets us free, and see that the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah is so applicable to today. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? (Ferret - teaching His word on a mountain)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0