Our story begins with Abraham. "Abraham traveled from there," the verse tells us (Genesis 20:1). But where was he going, and why? Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations of Genesis, sees a deeper meaning in this seemingly simple statement.
"The wise-hearted will take mitzvot," Proverbs 10:8 teaches. And Bereshit Rabbah connects this to Abraham. You see, the area of Sodom had just been destroyed. Travel in and out of the region had stopped. Abraham, a man known for his incredible hospitality, suddenly found himself with a surplus. He had plenty in his storage houses. He could have just hoarded it all, hunkered down, and waited for the world to sort itself out.
But that wasn't Abraham. He thought, "Shall I allow the practice of benevolence to cease from my house?" He refused to let the destruction around him extinguish his commitment to kindness. Instead, "He went and pitched a tent for himself in Gerar," continuing to offer food and shelter to travelers. He understood that even – or especially – in times of crisis, the mitzvah, the good deed, must continue.
Now, let's contrast that with Lot. The same verse in Proverbs continues, "But one with foolish lips, he will be disgraced." And who does Bereshit Rabbah apply this to? You guessed it: Lot.
Lot, after escaping Sodom, found himself in a cave with his daughters. And, well, the story takes a dark turn (Genesis 19:30-38). The text implies that Lot should have spoken up, should have questioned the actions of his daughters. As Bereshit Rabbah puts it, "Are we going to perform the very act for which the world was stricken?"
Instead, "he will be disgraced." What did he cause to happen to himself? He brought upon himself disgrace upon disgrace. As it is stated elsewhere, regarding the Temple, “anyone impure may not enter” (II Chronicles 23:19), so, too, here: “An Amonite or a Moavite shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 23:4). Lot's actions, or rather, his lack of action and words, had lasting consequences. His descendants, the Ammonites and Moabites, were forever barred from joining the Israelite community.
The contrast is stark, isn't it? Abraham, in the face of devastation, chooses to increase his acts of kindness. Lot, faced with a moral dilemma, remains silent and brings about lasting shame.
What does this tell us? Perhaps that true character isn't revealed in times of ease, but in moments of crisis. It's about choosing to be wise-hearted like Abraham, actively seeking opportunities for good, rather than being foolish of lip like Lot, and allowing darkness to take hold.
And it begs the question: when the world feels like it's crumbling, which path will we choose?