Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/150

118 1. Note, When we have prayed, we must look after our prayers, and observe the success of them; we must direct our prayer as a letter, and then look up for an answer; direct our prayer as an arrow, and then look up to see whether it reach the mark, Ps. 5. 3. Our inquiries after news must be in expectation of an answer to our prayers. (2.) An awful observation of it; he looked toward Sodom, (v. 28.) not as Lot's wife did, tacitly reflecting upon the divine severity: but humbly adoring it, and acquiescing in it. Thus the saints, when they see the smoke of Babylon's torment rising up for ever, (like Sodom's here,) will say again and again, Alleluia, Rev. 19. 3. Those that have, in the day of grace, most earnestly interceded for sinners, will, in the day of judgment, be content to see them perish, and will glorify God in it.

2. Here is God's favourable regard to Abraham, v. 29. As before, when Abraham prayed for Ishmael, God heard him for Isaac; so now, when he prayed for Sodom, he heard him for Lot. He remembered Abraham, and, for his sake, sent Lot out of the overthrow. Note, (1.) God will certainly give an answer of peace to the prayer of faith, in his own way and time; though, for a while, it seem to be forgotten, yet, sooner or later, it will appear to be remembered. (2.) The relations and friends of godly people fare the better for their interest in God, and intercessions with him; it was out of respect to Abraham that Lot was rescued: perhaps this word encouraged Moses long afterward to pray, Exod. 32. 13, Lord, remember Abraham; and see Isa. 33. 11.

30. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31. And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth. 32. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37. And the first-born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Here is,

I. The great trouble and distress that Lot was brought into, after his deliverance, v. 30. 1. He was frightened out of Zoar, durst not dwell there; either, because he was conscious to himself that it was a refuge of his own choosing, and that therein he had foolishly prescribed to God, and therefore he could not but distrust his safety in it; or, because he found it as wicked as Sodom, and therefore concluded it could not long survive it; or, perhaps, he observed the rise and increase of those waters, which, after the conflagration, perhaps from Jordan, began to overflow the plain, and which, mixing with the ruins, by degrees made the Dead Sea; in those waters he concluded Zoar must needs perish (though it had escaped the fire,) because it stood upon the same flat. Note, Settlements and shelters of our own choosing, and in which we do not follow God, commonly prove uneasy to us. 2. He was forced to betake himself to the mountain, and to take up with a cave for his habitation there. Methinks, it was strange that he did not return to Abraham, and put himself under his protection, to whom he had once and again owed his safety: but the truth is, there are some good men, that are not wise enough to know what is best for themselves. Observe, (1.) He was now glad to go to the mountain, the place which God had appointed for his shelter. Note, It is well, if disappointment in our way drive us at last to God's way. (2.) He that, a while ago, could not find room enough for himself and his stock in the whole land, but must justle with Abraham, and get as far from him as he could, is now confined to a hole in a hill, where he has scarcely room to turn him, and there he is solitary and trembling. Note, It is just with God to reduce those to poverty and restraint, who have abused their liberty and plenty. See also in Lot what those bring themselves to, at last, that forsake the communion of saints for secular advantages; they will be beaten with their own rod.

II. The great sin that Lot and his daughters were guilty of, when they were in this desolate place. It is a sad story:

1. His daughters laid a very wicked plot to bring him to sin; and their's was, doubtless the greater guilt. They contrived, under pretext of cheering up the spirits of their father in his present condition, to make him drunk, and then to lie with him, v. 31, 32. (1.) Some think that their pretence was plausible; their father had no sons, they had no husbands, nor knew they where to have any of the holy seed; or, if they had children by others, their father's name would not be preserved in them; some think that they had the Messiah in their eye, who they hoped, might descend from their father; for he came from Terah's elder son, was separated from the rest of Shem's posterity, as well as Abraham, and was now signally delivered out of Sodom. Their mother, and the rest of the family were gone, they might not marry with the cursed Canaanites; and therefore they supposed that the end they aimed at, and the extremity they were brought to, would excuse the irregularity. Thus the learned Monsieur Allix. Note, Good intentions are often abused to patronise bad actions. But, (2.) Whatever their pretence was, it is certain that their project was very wicked and vile, and an impudent affront to the very light and law of nature. Note, [1.] The sight of God's most tremendous judgments upon sinners, will not, of itself, without the grace of God, restrain evil hearts from evil practices: one would wonder how the fire of lust could possibly kindle upon them, who had so lately been the eye-witnesses of Sodom's flames. [2.] Solitude has its temptations as well as company, and particularly to uncleanness. When Joseph was alone with his mistress, he was in danger, ch. 39. 11. Relations that dwell together, especially if solitary, have