By all accounts, Lot was a total failure.

He was raised by his uncle Abraham, and he still ended up as a failure.

He moved to the most corrupt city in the world, Sodom, opting to raise his children in a G‑dless hell.

He married a shrew of a wife who made his life miserable and bitter, and ended her bitter life by turning (not ironically) into a pillar of salt.

Was he a complete disappointment, or did some of Abraham’s education trickle in after all?Later, after he was saved by angels from the apocalypse, he escaped to a cave, drank and drank, and ended up fathering children with his very own daughters. His deeds were considered repulsive even in the immoral society of that day; his uncle Abraham was compelled to relocate to avoid the ensuing shame.

Not the type of guy you would invite over for a beer.

But did I miss something here? Was he a complete disappointment, or did some of the education of living in Abraham’s household actually trickle in after all?

Let us rewind and review part of Lot’s life story again.

Two angels, disguised as men, come to planet Earth to destroy Sodom and her suburbs. They enter the city because they must first rescue Abraham’s nephew and his family. But in this depraved locale, where guests are regularly mutilated (or worse), there is no one who will show them the path to the house of Lot.

Luckily for Lot, he is the city magistrate that night. He is supposed to ensure that no foreigners enter.

But Lot was educated by Abraham and Sarah; he grew up in a tent with doors that were open in all directions, a tent that welcomed anyone and everyone.

And that education hit home! Although he discarded most of what he was taught, a habit of hospitality remained. He cannot leave the homeless homeless.

As teachers, parents, friends, coaches, mentors and therapists, we sometimes encounter a “hopeless case”So he invites them to his home. Unbeknownst to him, he ushers into his home the ones who will save his life.

As teachers, parents, friends, coaches, mentors and therapists, we sometimes encounter a “hopeless case.” All the effort, time and money that we expend in order to instigate change seem to have no effect. “There’s nobody home.”

Why, we sometimes ask ourselves, should we keep spending time on this impossible cause, when we can instead invest in success stories?

Ask Lot.