Genesis 14:10, 12 – And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there…And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Lot is a type of lukewarm believer who doesn’t approve of the world but doesn’t leave it either. In this passage he gets caught up in a war and is taken captive. Providentially, Abram comes to his rescue, but not before the valley of sin does its damage.
The course to this valley was one of rebellion (vs. 4). The source of which is Satan, who said, “I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:14). But sin is the root of rebellion, first tasted by man in the Garden of Eden. It was there Adam refused to obey what God said, following his wife instead of his Creator. The steps of Lot’s rebellion began with what he saw (Gen. 13:10), then what he selected (Gen. 13:11), then in the direction he slanted (Gen. 13:12), followed by where he settled (Gen. 14:12), and finally manifested by him selling out (Gen. 19:1).
The crisis in the valley of sin is never a good experience. One old preacher used to say, “Sin never leaves a man any better than it finds him.” They got stuck in the slimepits (vs. 10). Saying “I’ll quit anytime” and actually getting out are two different things. Many folks are just spinning their wheels in the slimepits of sin, going no where year after year. They also were robbed (vs. 11). They were sitting ducks for the enemy. And then Lot was taken captive (vs. 12) as a slave.
The consequences of going through this valley at first do not seem so bad. Lot is rescued by his uncle and the enemy is defeated. You would think Lot would have learned his lesson in this valley, but he goes right back to Sodom! We need to learn the lessons of the valley of sin so we are not destined to return again.
