Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-38)
Sodom and Gomorrah
Genesis 19:1-38
May 18, 2014
Throughout the ages, God has preserved one story
As very real snapshot of judgment.
Sodom and Gomorrah has become the pinnacle picture of God’s judgment,
Even really more so than the great flood.
While it is true that the flood killed far more people than were killed here,
God has promised that He will not flood the earth again.
2 Peter 3:5-7 “For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
So while the flood was greater in scope,
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a better picture
Of what is coming upon this world in the final judgment of God.
That is why God has chosen to preserve this example throughout the ages.
Jesus referenced them:
Matthew 11:23-24 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
Jude referenced them:
Jude 7 “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”
Peter referenced them:
2 Peter 2:6 “He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;”
And what Peter wrote really seems to be the main thrust of God’s purpose
In preserving this story.
God made them “an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter.”
Now last time we met we heard the Lord revealing to Abraham
How He was about to destroy Sodom.
And you remember the purpose.
Genesis 18:17-19 “The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
God was destroying Sodom for her sin and
He wanted to make sure Abraham knew about it.
Why?
Because after all the grace that Abraham had received it was important that
He still understand the importance of righteousness.
It was important that Abraham teach his children and grandchildren
The importance of righteousness.
And to help Abraham drive his point home to his descendants,
God would provide him with an unforgettable illustration.
After this event, Abraham could easily say,
“Be righteous, you don’t want to end up like Sodom and Gomorrah!”
That was the point.
W
ell, now it’s time to examine the story.
One of the most sudden and severe judgments recorded in the Bible, and as we look at it please let there be no doubt as to what God thinks of sin.
AND LET’S ALSO SEE THE DANGERS OF DABBLING IN IT.
There are 3 main points I want you to see here about Sodom,
And we’re going to have to break a couple of them down a little more.
#1 THE LEVEL OF THEIR INIQUITY
Genesis 19:1-11
Now obviously that is not a kid friendly story.
It is a level of sin and iniquity and depravity that is quite frankly shocking to us.
(and being that we live in America, that is really saying something)
We see the level of their iniquity in three ways.
1) THEIR UNSAFE CITY (1-3)
You notice of course that the two angelic messengers who had just dined with Abraham and Sarah have now made their way into Sodom.
They find Lot “sitting in the gate of Sodom”
This indicates that Lot had reached a certain level of prominence in the city. He was an elder or judge of sorts.
When you read that passage about the virtuous woman in Proverbs,
It speaks of her husband:
Proverbs 31:23 “Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.”
Lot was this type of man.
And this indicates to us that Lot was not just some insignificant,
Anonymous bystander in Sodom.
He was one in high position and esteem.
That even means to some degree
He is partly to blame for the condition of Sodom.
You cannot see the corruption of a society
And allow the leaders of that society to remain innocent.
Now it is true that Scripture refers to Lot as a righteous man in 2 Peter who felt his righteous soul tormented by the sin of that city.
He may have hated the sin,
But yet it is obvious he wasn’t doing anything to stop it.
At the very least he was tolerating it.
He was turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the corruption around him.
I’ve always loved a quote by Martin Luther:
“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is more flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
(sited in: MacArthur, John; The Truth War, Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception; [Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN; 2007] pg. 26)
That is certainly a depiction of Lot.
He was a righteous man, in the sense that God had declared him righteous,
But Lot was also a compromising man and that does not speak highly of him.
And yet Lot meets these angels at the gate and instantly knows there is more to them than meets the eye, for “he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.”
And you notice that Lot has some advice for the angels.
(2-3) “And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said however, “No, but we shall spend the night in the square.” Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.”
Now this is far more than hospitality.
The fact (as you will see) is that the square was an unsafe place to be.
And that speaks volumes of the city.
It wasn’t safe to be out in it.
We know of places like that even in the U.S. it was a vile city.
We also see the level of Sodom’s iniquity in:
2) THEIR UNBELIEVABLE REQUEST (4-9)
Before these angelic men could even go to bed, the men of Sodom surrounded the house and asked for those men to be sent outside so that they could have homosexual relations with them.
News must have traveled fast…
And how defiled was this place that the first sign of new blood and this is the first thing they can think of?
That is absolutely unbelievable.
We live in a nation where homosexual acceptance is definitely on the rise,
And yet we don’t even see this type of behavior yet.
And if that doesn’t shock you, then Lot’s answer surely will.
(6-8) “But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. “Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.”
I think it’s safe to say that this is not a “Father’s Day Sermon”.
• That is an unthinkable solution!
• How about trusting God, Lot?
• How about praying?
His solution is unbelievable.
And yet, even that is not acceptable to men of Sodom.
(9) “But they said, “Stand aside.” Furthermore, they said, “This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.” So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door.”
They didn’t like Lot’s offer, and did you notice
They accused him of judging them.
Lot had said, “do not act wickedly”
They didn’t appreciate him equating their homosexuality with wickedness
And so they cried, “Judge Not!”
(That’s not too far off America is it?)
The level of iniquity in Sodom is staggering.
Seen in their Unsafe City and in their Unbelievable Request
3) THEIR UNENDING SEARCH (10-11)
And that really takes the cake.
You’d think after being struck with blindness they would have at least
Figured out they were outmanned and given it up.
You would think it would say, “they wearied themselves trying to find their homes”
But no! Even though blind they still wanted their sin,
And they literally wore themselves out groping for Lot’s door in the dark.
That is a love of sin.
They won’t give it up even in the midst of judgment.
The level of Sodom’s iniquity is off the charts.
I think we can agree that this is
Not the type of place that anyone would desire to live.
And that brings a good question.
WHY DID PEOPLE LIVE THERE?
First, the Level of their Iniquity
#2 THE LURE OF THEIR LUXURY
Genesis 19:12-26
Often times in the Scripture we read about the dangers of the world.
The world (and particularly it’s riches or comforts or pleasures)
Are a dangerous trap that many fall in.
Love of the world can prevent salvation:
Matthew 19:21-22 “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.”
Matthew 13:22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Love of the world can secure judgment:
James 5:2 “Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.”
James 5:5 “You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.”
And even in a believer, love of the world can shipwreck your faith.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
2 Timothy 4:10 “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;”
And that is why a believer must always be
On guard against loving the world.
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
Paul told Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
And I think you get the point.
We live in a fallen world system.
• It is a world that calls good, evil and evil, good.
• It is a world that substitutes light for darkness.
• It is a world that loves and craves sin.
But, it is a world that can be very alluring,
And this is dangerous.
No picture in the Bible proves that more
Than this one of Sodom and Gomorrah.
For here we have a vile place on the brink of destruction,
And yet notice how difficult it is to get people to leave.
There was an undeniable lure to living in Sodom, let me show it to you.
It is seen in:
1) THE SCOFFING OF LOT’S CHILDREN (12-14)
Now Lot’s family consisted of:
• His wife
• His sons
• His daughters and their future husbands
We don’t know what his son’s response was, but it is apparent that
It was something similar to that of his son-in-laws.
And his son-in-law’s response is so very telling of the mindset of their day.
The angels are very straightforward with Lot as to what is coming.
“we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”
Their advice was that Lot should bring any of his loved ones out of that city.
Certain destruction is at hand…
The building is on fire (If you will)
Get your loved ones out before it is too late.
And when Lot went to warn his sons-in-law, notice their reaction.
“But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting.”
Now that doesn’t mean that Lot was being comical…
That doesn’t even imply that Lot was being unclear…
Rather it means that in their mind, the destruction of Sodom
Was neither warranted or possible.
They didn’t think it could happen.
The concept that Lot was proposing was so foreign to their expectation
That it seemed to them to be unbelievable.
Probably the best way I can describe it would be
The Pre 911 mindset of the United States.
For a time in the 80’s and 90’s America really did begin to feel invincible.
• Vietnam had become a memory
• Reagan really seemed to back down the Soviet Union
• Bush had silenced Middle Eastern threats
• We watched live as the Patriot missile shot down all attempts to attack the US
And from a military standpoint who would launch an attack on the US?
Our military was superior
Our economy was superior
Our intelligence was superior
If someone had come to us on September 10 and said
Someone is about to take out the World Trade Centers
We would have had a hard time taking them serious.
That was the mindset of Lot’s sons-in-law.
In their mind Sodom was just fine and was totally secure.
They had been lured to sleep by the prosperity of their city.
Listen: Just because things seem secure does not mean that they are.
As we read earlier:
1 Timothy 6:17 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
We also see the Lure of their Luxury in:
2) THE SLUGGISHNESS OF LOT (15-22)
Again the angles warn Lot.
It is obvious that his sons and his sons-in-law aren’t interested.
It is probable that his wife and daughters weren’t interested either,
But Lot would have had authority over them to make them do as he wished.
But notice Lot’s response:
(16) “But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.”
Lot hesitated.
He was having trouble leaving the comforts of his life behind.
It is reminiscent of the warning Jesus gave to those alive in the end times:
Matthew 24:15-21 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. “Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”
Don’t hang around, the house is coming down – FLEE
But Lot hesitated and so the angel physically removed him.
And that is not all.
In verse 17 the angels tell Lot to flee to the mountains for refuge,
But notice Lot’s answer:
(18-20) “But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! “Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.”
WHY WOULD LOT SAY THAT?
I’ll tell you why – he was soft.
He had grown accustomed to the luxuries of Sodom
And was therefore unprepared for the command to flee.
I’m not suggesting that we should all turn in to some sort of “Doomsday Preppers”, but you do understand that the mindset that the luxury you now enjoy will always be there is a foolish mindset.
The comforts of Sodom had made Lot soft
And so leaving the city was a very difficult thing.
It was vile, it was wicked, and yet Lot had learned
To overlook the wickedness and enjoy the luxury.
This willingness to grow comfortable with sin
Nearly caused Lot to partake in its judgment.
• Can you see the need for us to continually have the world washed off of us?
• Can you see why we must continually allow Jesus to wash our feet?
• Can you see why we must be “transformed by the renewing of our mind”?
• Can you see why we must be constantly discerning of the truth?
Lot had grown comfortable and it nearly destroyed him.
You see the Lure of Sodom’s luxury in
The scoffing of his sons-in-law, The sluggishness of Lot
3) THE SORROW OF LOT’S WIFE (23-26)
Well here, the fire actually falls.
It was a fire fall, picturesque of
What will come upon this whole world in much greater fashion.
2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”
Sodom was destroyed in an instant.
But notice the strange occurrence:
(26) “But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
WHY DID SHE LOOK BACK?
• Obviously she missed the place…
• Obviously she mourned its fall…
• She loved Sodom and resented being taken away…
Even now, with fire falling from heaven…
Even now, Lot’s wife could not quit longing for Sodom.
Sodom had won her heart.
• She loved it
• She loved its sin
• She loved its pleasures
• And even in the midst of judgment she did not want to let it go.
That is one of the best illustrations of lost today who may know the truth about judgment, and yet choose to love their sin anyway.
In fact, Jesus used her as tragic example:
Luke 17:26-33 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. “Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”
Could there be a clearer warning than this?
As a pinnacle example of the type of person who loves the world even to their own destruction, Jesus uttered just three sobering words:
“Remember Lot’s wife”
Sodom had infiltrated the hearts of Lot’s family.
• His children thought Sodom INVINCIBLE
• His wife thought Sodom DESIRABLE
• Even Lot thought leaving Sodom was REGRETTABLE
Do you see the dangers of the world?
It is a trap
Its luxuries are meant to lull you to sleep
It is full of bait meant to ensure your judgment
Do not love the world, it is a sinking ship, and it will take you down with it
The Level of Sodom’s Iniquity The Lure of Sodom’s Luxury
#3 THE LINGERING OF THEIR LEGACY
Genesis 19:27-38
It may have indeed been tough to get Lot of out of Sodom,
It was even tougher to get Sodom out of Lot.
For here, we find Lot delivered.
Oddly enough, now in the mountains where he once said he could not go.
And then again we find one of the most embarrassing
And awful incidents recorded in the Bible.
Lot’s daughters each take turns getting him drunk
And conceiving a child through him.
WHERE DID THEY LEARN SUCH BEHAVIOR?
• Maybe from a dad who was willing to push them to an angry mob?
• Maybe from a society with no morals?
• Maybe from future husbands who ignored truth?
• Maybe from a mother who loved sin?
The point was that even though Lot was spared the fire,
He was not spared the fallout.
Living in Sodom and growing comfortable with sin
Had consequences that could not be avoided.
The Israelites would continually be plagued by the Ammonites & Moabites.
Paul said it well when talking about the man
Who was sleeping with his father’s wife:
1 Corinthians 5:1-6 “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?”
Don’t assume that tolerance and comfort with sin
Comes without consequence.
It does not.
Let me say it again – the world is a dangerous thing
Loving the world not only puts you in risk of judgment,
But produces the risk of lingering effects.
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
Obviously Lot was in over his head.
But one more thing I want to show you this morning.
Let me show you the subtlety by which this all came about.
We have our vile spots in America today.
• Whether that be the Los Vegas Strip
• Or Bourbon Street in New Orleans
• Or Padre Island during Spring Break
Obviously we know better than to go to such places.
Hopefully none of us would have moved to Sodom while in such conditions.
But can I remind you how this all started?
Genesis 13:8-11 “So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.”Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere — this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah — like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.”
Lot made his decision based solely on the flesh.
Abraham made his decision based on faith.
Do you see how easy this begins?
• Lot wasn’t looking for immorality…
• Lot wasn’t looking for homosexuality…
But Lot wasn’t looking for the Lord either…
Lot was looking for water and prosperity.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
That warning seems much more real now doesn’t it?
WHAT YOU SEEK TODAY IS WHAT YOU WILL INHERIT TOMORROW
Seeking worldly comforts and pleasures landed Lot in Sodom.
Seeking God’s presence and blessing landed Abram in Canaan.
Be careful what you are chasing.
1 Timothy 6:11 “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”
Worldliness is not to be messed with.
IT WAS A DECISION THAT LOT NEVER FULLY RECOVERED FROM.
If you will remember, this story is for a purpose.
2 Peter 2:6 “He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;”
• If you don’t think righteousness is important to God, read Genesis 19.
• If you don’t think God judges sin, read Genesis 19.
• If you don’t think the world is dangerous, read Genesis 19.
This is such an important story because it reminds us
What God does to people who choose to live ungodly lives.
BE WARNED
