SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Remember when Abram and Lot parted ways, the nephew going toward what looked like the good grass for his sheep and his uncle taking what was left?
When we tune back in to the adventures of Lot, we find he is now a city boy, living in Sodom, one of twin towns to the East of the Dead Sea.

Also remember the three guys in last weeks' lesson who showed up to talk with Abram and change his name? They repeated the promise of a son for Sarah and added the requirement of circumcision. In today's lesson, before they move on, they announce that the Lord was about to destroy the towns where Lot lived. The cries of the victims had come up before Him.

Two of the guys moved on, but the third one remained. To Him, Abraham expressed concern over the innocents in Sodom. What if 50 righteous or just men lived in Sodom, would they be killed along with the wicked? The Lord agreed to spare the city if there were 50. Abraham continues to bargain for fewer and fewer innocents, and the Lord agrees until they stop at 10! Apparently, there were less than that, perhaps only Lot himself. We shall see when he tried to compel his sons-in-law to come with him and escape, they refuse. Only Lot and his daughters and wife escape. Well, his wife almost escapes.

Who were these three men? My vote is they were angels of the Lord. Historically some have called these men the Trinity, but scripture says no one has seen God at any time. In the OT one or more angels of God come to earth appearing as men. Two of the men go to Sodom and meet Lot, who invites them to his house for the night.

Now you must understand that in the Middle East of that day – and in some places still – hospitality was the chief virtue. The land was mostly desert, and travelers often went a long way between stops. So the custom was that people took care of each other, even to their own inconvenience. Lot demonstrates his virtue by insisting the two men become his guests for the night.

The wickedness of the city immediately became apparent, as the men of the town surrounded Lot's house. They demanded Lot surrender his visitors, so they could rape and probably kill them. When he went outside to reason with them, they tried to seize him, and his guests rescued him! They were perfectly capable of taking care of both themselves and Lot, and they blinded those closest to the door. Note Lot had offered to bring out his two daughters instead, and the townsmen refused. Before criticizing Lot for offering the girls, use it as an example of how seriously they took hospitality as important. Caring for your guests was of extreme importance in that society. We should also notice that while their sexual lust is obvious, to that society their denying hospitality would be as bad.

The townsmen refused Lot's offer and tried to press into the house when he tried to go back in. The angels themselves intervened, shoving the men back and blinding those around the door. They then tell Lot it's time to go, to gather his family. He tries to bring his sons-in-law with them, but they refuse. So the angels grab his wife and their girls by the hand and led the four of them out of town. They escaped to a small village named Zoar, but Lot's wife looked back against orders and suddenly became a statue of salt!

The two cities were destroyed by fire and brinstone. Some believe the Lord did this through volcanic eruption, comparable to Pompeii. Others believe he rained down fire directly from heaven. This was God's response to a city whose wickedness matched the world before the flood: every imagination of their hearts was only evil continually.

Actions have consequences. Some feel our world is becoming so wicked the Lord must be ready to come back in wrath. What do you think? And what is the proper Christian response?