The Downward Spiral

UV 3466/10000 The Downward Spiral
Now Lot went up from Zoar, and lived in the mountain together with his two daughters, for he was afraid to stay (any longer) in Zoar; and he lived in a cave with his two daughters.

Genesis 19 v 30

Lot was saved from Sodom. He sought refuge in Zoar, a small town the angels spared from the destruction visited upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Though the Lord had redeemed him from the fire, the serpent leader inspired fear in him and caused him to move away from the town of Zoar to an isolated cave in the mountains. The serpent leader also sowed the seed of fear in the two daughters that they would not obtain husbands and would not have children as they lived away from civilization. This caused them to do the most uncivilized deeds in getting their father Lot drunk and in a state of intoxication, he lay with his daughters committing incest though unwittingly. The descendants of the sons born to them are the Moabites and Ammonites.

The serpent leader leads many astray by imprisoning them with the habit of drinking alcohol. They lose their sense of judgement, dignity and responsibility and do deeds that are unworthy. The Servant Leader, Jesus teaches us morals and precepts that preserve our lives and our dignity. He transforms our lives even as the serpent leader debases our lives. Jesus ennobles and enables people to seek the best version of themselves. The serpent leader, in contrast, entangles people in all kinds of wrong decisions driven by fear, anger, lust and the baser emotions and desires.

Lot made a series of decisions that proved to be unwise in the long run. He settled down in the prosperous town of Sodom and was forced to flee from it eventually. He was asked to go to the mountains but he chose to go to the small town of Zoar. His fear drove him from there to dwelling in a cave with his daughters. Their desperation for preserving the family line drove them to get him intoxicated to commit incest with them. Often, one wrong decision in our lives leads to another in a downward spiral into sin, misery, failure and hopelessness. The Servant Leader gives us hope even in hopeless situations. He imparts the wisdom to take the right decisions in accordance with the will and word of God. He gives us the grace or strength to follow through on our choices.