Was Lot righteous?

However, when we read of Lot, we find that he offered his own daughters to a mob, became drunk, and committed incest (Genesis 19:8, 30-36).

Response

The Bible says Lot was “just,” a “righteous man,” and by implication, “godly” (II Peter 2:7-9).

Regarding his offering his daughters to the mob, the Bible never says this was actually his intention.  The Bible merely records that Lot said this to the mob; he was lying to them, trying to buy some time to come up with another plan; after all, he had (foolishly) opened the door to his house and stepped outside, and the only way he could get back in was if he tricked them.  He probably wanted to get back inside, shut the door, and then think of some other plan.

About his getting drunk, the Bible says that his daughters “made their father drink wine that night”.  It is certainly possible that Lot was in so much sorrow after losing his wife that he did not realize that his daughters were giving him so much strong drink, and he was not thinking too clearly, either.  In our culture, people need to be careful at parties that others do not put drugs in their drinks.  Likewise, from the Bible it appears that Lot did not intentionally get drunk—this was the intention of his daughters.  Likewise, it was never his intention to commit incest; this, too, was the plan of his daughters.  The Bible says that Lot did not even perceive what happened (Genesis 19:33).