Genesis 19:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, now that, by God's grace, our faith has reached new heights, and in the words of the blessed Apostle Paul, ‘the form of this world passes away’ (1 Cor. 7:31), we ought to establish a lasting legacy through our good deeds. This way, even after we depart from this life, the virtues of our lives can serve as a guiding light and inspiration for those who remember us. Those who uphold virtue and maintain purity can significantly impact those who admire their example, even beyond their earthly journey. Consider how many centuries have elapsed, and whenever we seek to inspire zeal for purity, we frequently reference the young and handsome Joseph, who demonstrated remarkable strength in preserving his chastity at such a tender age. Can one adequately express astonishment at this blessed man, who, in service and at the peak of his youth, when passion raged most intensely, resisted such fierce temptation when confronted by his mistress? He exhibited extraordinary courage and steadfastly committed himself to the pursuit of chastity, fleeing from the brazen advances of the woman, losing his garments yet safeguarding his purity. Here we encounter something both unique and astonishing: the lamb found itself in the jaws of the lioness and was able to escape her grasp. Just as the dove eludes danger from the hawk, so too did this righteous soul evade the clutches of temptation. I am less astounded by the three youths prevailing over the flames of the Babylonian furnace, emerging unscathed, than by the fact that this virtuous man, thrust into an even fiercer furnace—namely, the immoral advances of the Egyptian woman—emerged unblemished, his garment of chastity untouched. Yet, do not be astonished, dear friends; for although he exerted every effort on his part, he also benefited from divine assistance, which extinguished the flames of temptation and granted him refreshing dew from the Holy Spirit amidst the fiery trial. Do you perceive how the virtuous serve as paramount examples for us, both during their lives and after they have departed? We hold up Joseph as a model for all to emulate. Therefore, let us strive to emulate him and rise above the allurements of earthly desires. Aware that ‘our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world’ (Eph. 6:12), let us arm ourselves accordingly. Realizing that we, though clothed in flesh, must battle unseen foes, the God who loves mankind has equipped us with spiritual armor to triumph over our adversaries’ nature. Let us trust in the strength of these invisible weapons and diligently employ everything necessary on our part; then, safeguarded by this spiritual armor, we will have the ability to confront the devil head-on. He cannot withstand the brilliance of such a weapon; any attempt to resist will leave him blinded. The grace of the Spirit is abundantly present where purity, integrity, and other virtues coexist; thus, Paul reminds us to ‘strive for peace with everybody and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord’ (Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14). Therefore, I urge you to cleanse our hearts and minds, so that, liberated from all impure thoughts, we might attract the grace of the Spirit, triumph over the devil’s schemes, and partake in the enjoyment of eternal, indescribable blessings, granted to us through the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom be glory to the Father, along with the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

It is understandable that the daughters, thinking the entire world had perished, were deceived. In contrast, Lot received a direct warning from the angels regarding the fate of their specific region. Hence, we see that drunkenness must be avoided, as it can lead one to commit sins unawares. What we prudently avoid when sober can be transgressed in a state of inebriation. Wine not only stirs up desires and passions but also clouds judgment and emboldens the spirit, leading the mind to lose its awareness. Those who indulge too heavily in wine are unaware of their utterings and may as well be conquered by slumber. If they err in guilt, wise judges may view their actions leniently, while the offenders bear reproach for their thoughtlessness. How disgraceful is their unsteady gait and careless demeanor! Many consider themselves strong, but are they indeed stronger than Lot, or more restrained than Noah? Scripture does not seek to expose the failings of the patriarchs, who, as recorded, succumbed to wine; rather, it instructs us on what to avoid. One patriarch lay uncovered, while the other permitted his daughters to be misled. Even the righteous Noah was caught off guard, unaware of wine's potent influence. Yet, you have been forewarned against such ignorance! Lot, trusting his daughters, became complacent with age and wine, allowing incest to occur without his realization. Therefore, you must partake of drink with the wisdom to avoid falling into sin. The patriarchs serve as warnings, not solely to educate you, but to keep you from straying. This is why the account of intoxication recurs, underscoring the necessity for vigilance.

Observing the devastation around them and anticipating the frailties of old age, they aimed to preserve the lineage and provide themselves with some solace. With these thoughts in mind, and not driven by desire, they offered wine to their father, and through its excessive consumption, they clouded his consciousness, leading him to unknowingly father children with them.

Why did God permit this unlawful incest? He was aware of the depravity that characterized that generation, as the Moabites worshipped Chemosh and the Ammonites Moloch. Therefore, to prevent the Israelites from being influenced by the wickedness of these neighboring nations, as they had been by their relatives, He sought to hinder such illicit unions, intending to render them detestable to the Jewish people. This was communicated by God through Moses, the lawgiver, who commanded: "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord, even to the tenth generation..." (Deuteronomy 23:3).