Question

In Genesis 19:5-8,  is Lot actually offering his daughters to a mob of rapists?

Answer

Thanks for taking the time to find out the truth about God's precious Word. Your questions are good, for I asked the same ones years ago right after I
became a Christian.  I too could not justify what I read with what I expected from a loving God.  Here's my understanding of those passages in question:

"They called to Lot, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.'  Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, 'No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.  Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.'" (Genesis 19:5-8)

Yes, Lot is offering his two virgin daughters to a crowd of rapists!  The towns of Sodom and Gomorrah were very wicked.  They had degenerated in their societies to gross sexual sins, such as Homosexuality. God's patience with them had run out and He sent angels down to judge them.

Now Lot, was having a great struggle.  We know from other passages that he was a "righteous" person, ". . . Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men."  [2 Peter 2:7], and yet he was human and made mistakes in his "Christian walk."  The culture he was in gave great honor and protection to guests.  And then these guests were "angels" so Lot was under a lot of pressure.  Offering his virgin daughters to these wicked, lusting men was
not the right thing to do.  A man (and Father) is to protect women and children (especially his family), offering his life for theirs.  The answer is simple as we look back, all Lot had to do was to trust God for a solution.  We saw moments later that the angels had the power to inflict blindness, and then to destroy the whole city--so God did have a solution that would work, and not exposing the two young girls to rape.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Tony Capoccia's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 314
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986