09 DECEMBER

AND IT HAPPENED: A SHAMEFUL ACT

“It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, “Indeed I lay with my father last night;

 let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.

(Genesis 19:34, NKJV)

What a shameful act from these daughters of Lot, who had just been saved with their father from God’s destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for sodomy! However, who do we blame?

Their father, Lot, had become accustomed to the lifestyle of luxury in Sodom. He had married one of their women, and had even offered these same girls to the Sodomite men to rape as substitutes for his angelic visitors. He obviously had not taught his children true godly morals that he had learnt from his uncle Abraham.

Their mother, a top class socialite in Sodom, had lived that part and could not imagine life outside Sodom. She must have thought that the stories of righteousness that Lot told her were fairy tales as he did not live the part. The daughters themselves had been born into a godless society, where homosexuality was the order of the day. Besides, neither their father who talked righteousness nor their mother who had no pretences about a life of constant fun, lived an exemplary life.

Even though the girls were very resentful of their dad for his lack of love and care for them, they felt it was important to keep their lineage. For all they knew, everyone else but them and their dad was dead, even their mum. Their dad might not agree to their plans; so the deed was done without his help – with no shame or remorse. But the consequences of disgrace, disaster and death outlived them all.

Do we sometimes excuse ourselves – with no regrets for shameful acts – for reasons that seem plausible to us? The consequences may be grave and long-lasting. Some people go to any length to have a child and some steal other people’s babies to fulfil this need. Is it worth the pains and eternal death?

ACTION: Choose to show your children true love and care, to live an exemplary life before them, and to diligently teach them God’s way. 

PRAYER: Help me Lord to be a good example of godliness to my children. Keep them away from evil influences that could ruin their destinies.