E asked me the other day how Lot could be considered righteous (2 Peter 2:7,8) if he had really offered his virgin daughters up to the men of Sodom to do whatever they wished with them (Genesis 19:8).  To answer this, we really need to look at the exchange between Yahweh and Abraham.

The happenings of Genesis 19 must be read in light of the theme in Genesis 18 and preceding. Abraham asks Yahweh repeatedly: "Will you not deal rightously?" "Will you not spare the city on account of the righteous?" Abraham believed God to be faithful to his covenant promises. Abraham knew the consequences of not following the stipulations of the coenant, but he knew that God's patience and mercy runs deep, and he knew deep down in his bones that God would deal justly. The dialogue in the preceding chapter 18 is not a bargaining ploy. It is Abraham getting reassurance that his God is a faithful, just, patient, merciful, righteous God. God shows his faithful, patient mercy by assuring Abraham if there only ten righteous people in the city, it would be spared. Of course, as this familiar story unfolds, we realize there aren't ten righteous, there aren't even five. There are only Lot and his immediate family.  I will continue this a bit later.