There’s lots of juicy stuff in a single chapter. None of it makes sense. It reeks of an arbitrary and capricious God. Two angels are in Lot’s house, and when the townspeople come to rape them, Lot offers his virgin daughters instead. But still, Lot is saved from the destruction of Sodom. His wife doesn’t fare well in the bargain. For the sin of looking back at the destruction, she’s a pillar of salt. What general lesson should we learn from this, other than to obey God’s tiniest whim?

Later in the same chapter, Lot and his daughters are living in a cave, and the daughters get Dad drunk and get themselves impregnated. The children become great nations. Again, is this an appropriate family relationship? Don’t they hold grudges for being offered to the townsfolk?

Next chapter, Abraham and Sarah play the brother/sister trick again, but this time it doesn’t work as well. Abimelech doesn’t sleep with Sarah the first night, so he gets warned by God in a dream, and not punished. However, he still pays off Abraham for the almost-sin. The more interesting factoid is that Sarah actually is Abraham’s half-sister. Cool, so it’s okay to marry your half-sister. Now we know.

Third chapter, Isaac is born. I already know how close he’s going to come to an early grave. But that’s for tomorrow.

Tomorrow: Genesis 22-24