Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. (Gen 19,18-19)
It seems incredible, but Lot is really serious, really bargaining with God! Let us recall again that Lot had no idea of the situation he was in, did not understand anything, not even himself, and therefore could not save a single member of his family. And now, when God sends His messengers to him with the intention of saving him, and they tell him what to do and where to go - Lot argues with Him that this is wrong, and it would be better to go elsewhere. As if it weren't obvious that God has good intentions for him - only Lot doesn't like those very much, his own opinion seems better tohim. How often in life we witness that the one who cannot see on the contrary thinks he can see much further than others...
In Lot's case, it is not the result of excitement or fatigue. On the contrary, in extreme situations, when life is at stake, many people come out of their lethargy and act very decisively. But Lot seems to remain all the time in a kind of lethargy How is this possible?
It is necessary to realize that what we are today is not determined by the present moment, but is the result of a long process of the past. Back then, often in difficult situations, our character was formed by having to make certain choices, to overcome discomfort, to grow. Two people can be in the same situations - and yet, one grows because he faces them, the other does not, because he runs away from them, avoids every discomfort. The first has become internally stronger in them, the other has remained unchanged.
Lot was with Abram for a long time. However, he did not choose the Abram´s way, the higher one, and so he remained without inner change. Because he was prosperous in his business and basically everything he stood for in life was working out, he did not have to work on himself. Now the time of crisis had come, and the truth about him was revealed. Lot is now reaping the fruits of his past, and it turns out that he doesn't have a lot of them.
