The presence of incest in the Bible, particularly in the narratives of the Old Testament, serves several purposes within the scripture, reflecting the complexities of human behavior and the unfolding of God’s plan for humanity. These stories are not endorsements of such actions but rather honest accounts of human sinfulness and the consequences of those sins. They also serve to highlight the need for God’s guidance and the transformative power of His laws and teachings.

For example, the story of Lot and his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38) is told within the context of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, illustrating the depths of human depravity and the far-reaching consequences of sin. This narrative, like others, underscores the need for the moral and legal frameworks later provided in the Law of Moses, which explicitly forbids incestuous relationships (Leviticus 18).

Throughout the Bible, the emphasis is on God’s redemption and purification of humanity. From the chaos and brokenness depicted in some of these early stories, there emerges a narrative of hope, restoration, and the ultimate demonstration of God’s love through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the midst of human failure, the Bible continually points us towards God’s perfect standard of holiness, the need for repentance, and the power of God’s grace to redeem and transform lives. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).