Salvation and Judgment

Genesis 19:1-29

Immanuel – 3/5/23

To properly understand Genesis 19 – where we find ourselves today – we need to remember some important details from the preceding chapter.

1. Abraham was a perfect host.

When the three heavenly visitors appeared, Abraham eagerly attended to their every need and put a lavish feast before them.

2. Covenant promises were reaffirmed to Abraham.

The Lord again promised a son, a son that would be born of Sarah. This son would be the covenant bearer and locus blessing.

3. God chose to bless Abraham.

Abraham’s righteousness came from God’s elective purposes, not from anything Abraham did to earn God’s favor.

4. Abraham debated with God over the judgment of Sodom.

Through a back-and-forth dialogue, Abraham pleaded with God to spare the righteous of Sodom from the coming judgment. God was more than willing, going so far as to say if 10 righteous people are found in Sodom, He will also spare all the wicked in the city too. God demonstrated His abounding righteousness, justice, and mercy.

Purpose

1. Draw out spiritual significance of Sodom’s destruction.

2. I want you to see the contradiction that is Lot

Disclaimer: This week and next the text presents us with some very adult themes. I will not speak in an explicit manner, but we cannot avoid the deviant sexual behavior.

Read Genesis 19:1-29

The Lord and His two angels first appeared to Abraham during the heat of the day – let’s say around noon. The two angels arrived in Sodom in the evening. Now, the exact historical location of Sodom is hotly debated, but locating it in the Valley of Siddim, the city would have been 20-30 miles away from Abraham’s camp.

So it’s unclear if Genesis 19 picks up one day after the events of Genesis 18, about the time it would take to walk 20-30 miles; or if it’s all happening on the same day, meaning the angels transported to Sodom. Regardless, less than 48 hours have elapsed.

But either way, the evening they show up Lot is sitting at the city gate.

Read vs 1a

In the ancient world the gates of a city were built to be impressive – a display of power and wealth. They were the most ornate and attractive portions of a city’s fortifications.

As you passed through one of these ancient gates you would enter a plaza or courtyard. There you would see seated the ruling men of the city: the elders, chiefs, or nobles. From there they governed, they dispensed judgments regarding people’s disputes, and they watched for suspicious strangers.

The noble woman of Proverbs 31 had a noble husband.

Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

-Proverbs 31:23

Sodom’s Hold

Lot has come a long way, now sitting “in the gate.” When he separated from Abraham in chapter 13, he camped outside of Sodom’s walls. In chapter 14, he has moved into Sodom. Now, more than a decade later, Lot has become one of the ruling men of the city. Not only has he integrated into Sodomite culture, he is one of their leaders.

When the heavenly visitors appeared, Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent. Lot sits at the entrance of the city. Intentionally linking the two men, both immediately respond with hospitality.

Read vs 1b-2

Unlike Abraham, Lot does not seem to recognize that these two men are heavenly visitors. He addresses them as “my lords;” certainly a title of respect, but not how you would expect a person to address angelic beings.

Even still, Lot respectfully bows himself before them and insists on taking them in as guests. His greeting is like Abraham’s, but with less intensity and intentionality. Lot may have become a Sodomite, but his desire to demonstrate hospitality links him to the righteousness of Abraham.

The two angelic men deny Lot’s request. Breaking with the custom of the day, they prefer to sleep in the square. This itself appears to be a test of the city’s righteousness or wickedness. If they can safely stay in the square through the night, would that not be evidence in Sodom’s favor? But if it proves dangerous, then Sodom’s evils would be revealed.

I wonder, would you sleep in the open of Oneida Square? How about in the middle of Syracuse or Albany? What does that tell you about the state of those cities? Are they bastions of righteousness or wickedness? Perhaps a night of danger and fear is not enough to deem a city entirely wicked, but it is certainly a mark against it.

Lot, possessing an intimate knowledge of Sodom, now argues with the two strangers.

Read vs 3

The text is trying to force a question. With evening turning to night, is Lot showing genuine hospitality, or does he merely anticipate the wickedness of his neighbors?

Upon Lot’s strong insistence the two men relent and enter his home. It says that Lot baked them a feast, but this is not on the same level as the feast with Abraham. Remember, Abraham had Sarah make the heavenly visitors cakes (18:6). Cakes are fluffy and decadent. Lot baked unleavened bread.

Unleavened bread was something you made if you were in a hurry. Remember that first Passover; God commanded the Israelites to make unleavened bread, quickly eat it while standing, dressed for travel, just before fleeing Egypt (Exodus 12:8,11). Lot’s guests were treated to this hastily made, flat and relatively bland, meal of unleavened bread. Lot’s hospitality does not measure up to his uncle’s.

As was the custom, after the meal they would turn in for sleep.

Read vs 4-5

Lot anticipated the danger of the city. Now danger has come to his house and is ready to break into all out violence.

Notice how the men of Sodom surround the house before they speak. They clearly have come with hostile intentions. And it’s the men of Sodom, the same phrasing as in 13:13 which we reviewed last week. It’s the males of Sodom that have come to lay siege against Lot’s house.

They effectively cry out, “Where are the men!” But they know the answer; for without waiting for a reply they demand, “Bring them out to us, that we may know them!”

The hostile, male crowd wants to know the men. This is the same kind of knowing that the Bible uses between sexual partners.

Now Adam knew Eve, his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain.

-Genesis 4:1

In other words, the Sodomites are demanding to have sex with the two men. They have no shame in their wickedness. It is immediately clear that the men of Sodom desire two vile sins: homosexuality and rape. Committed together in one violent act must warrant the most severe punishment.

Of this theologian Bruce Waltke writes:

“These men have degraded the intimacy of marriage to the lowest level of sexual intercourse; they know nothing of true intimate commitment. They rape the mind, emotions, and body, trivialize the sacred, and legitimize the vulgar. Homosexuality is a capital offense of the Old Testament. The sin of Sodom’s act is presumable the worst sort of sexual offense: homosexual gang rape.”1

Look again at verse 4: the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man. Young and old – this evil is generational, taught from father to son. Every single man in the city is ravenous for sexual wickedness.

Read vs 6-8

In a moment of valor Lot steps into the fray, shuts the door behind him, and makes a three-part appeal to the besiegers.

First, Lot identifies himself with the Sodomites by calling them, “my brothers.” Then, with this first appeal, he begs them not to commit such “wicked acts.” And though he calls them brothers, his correct assessment of the evil at hand sets him apart. In the moral contrast, Lot’s vestiges of a righteous morality are revealed. What a shame that it took such a night of sin.

And if there was any doubt, the New Testament even attests to Lot’s righteousness.

By turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes [God] condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if He rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials. -2 Peter 2:6-9

But Lot’s righteousness is not so straightforward, for his second appeal is deeply troubling. He offers his two virgin daughters to the mob that they would be abused rather than his guests. To be clear, though Lot retains vestiges of righteousness, this is far from a righteous offer.

Exercising a common principle, God forbid any parent from forcing a daughter into prostitution.

Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity. -Leviticus 19:29

Lot’s third appeal is that the Sodomite men do nothing to his guests, for by taking them into his house he is responsible for them. The mob would be violating the sacred code of hospitality. Apparently, he is still unaware of their heavenly origin and the powers they possess.

With Lot’s home surrounded and escape cut off, all paths before him are now evil. Handing over the visitors would be evil. Offering himself would leave his family unprotected – certainly an evil. Offering a trade is evil. Lot’s moral compass is now spinning wildly. Woefully he offers the trade, his daughters instead of the visitors. In next week’s passage we’ll see this decision contributes to further evil consequences.

Like its own fiery judgment, the consequences of Lot’s tragic choice have come crashing home; for he chose to establish his home amidst the pleasures of Sodom rather than the tents of covenantal blessing. He has become a living contradiction, a righteous man unconcerned with a wicked world – unconcerned until this very night. It is clear now, Sodom has made a home in Lot.

Read vs 9

It seems that the only thing the men of Sodom heard was Lot calling their inevitable actions wicked. In their minds they see Lot judging them! They ridicule him. Though Lot had become one of their nobility, now he was an unwelcome immigrant. How dare he look down on them! How dare he claim the moral high ground!

Now they threaten to strip him of his dignity and his clothes. The mob effectively shouts, “If you thought what we were going to do to your guests was wicked, wait ‘til you see what we do with you!” They press in hungry to violate.

In a very real sense, when Lot calls their actions evil, he speaks for God. With the most deprave intentions, they are so clearly evil. This is their last chance to repent. Here, right on the brink of oblivion, God extends His hand one final time. One last moment to turn away from evil.

Instead, they reject and mock. But it is Lot, after speaking evils of his own, that is saved from extended hands.

Read vs 10-11

The two men pull Lot inside and finally reveal their identity. The two witnesses have heard enough. With the power of heaven, they strike the men blind!

But the men of Sodom, now blind, persist. When God confused language at Babel, all the builders dispersed. Language is important, but sight! Imagine if you suddenly went blind. Wouldn’t you stop everything, whether good or evil? Wouldn’t you absolutely freak out?

Not the men of Sodom. They were not deterred. In the dark they kept groping for the door, fixated on their degenerate passions, devoting all their energies to find that door. How long would it take for such an activity to exhaust you? Hours? Apparently, most of the night. How truly wicked are these men!

When the angels blind the violent crowd, it is only the first stroke of judgment. They have come to Sodom to see if the outcry against it is just. It is. The countdown to destruction has begun.

Read vs 12-14

The Brink of Judgment

As agents of the Almighty, the two angels declare Sodom’s end. But before the city is destroyed, they are concerned that all of Lot’s family be saved.

We learn that Lot’s daughters are engaged, so Lot runs out of his house in search of them. Since verse 4 told us that all the men of Sodom, to the last man, surrounded Lot’s house, does that also mean the sons-in-law were there too, groping in the dark?

Wherever they were, Lot finds them and urges them to leave. These family members receive even greater opportunity to repent of Sodom’s evils. He speaks of coming judgment and presents the path of salvation.

They think he is joking. Even after a crowd was miraculously struck blind, still they found it too impossible to believe. A theme we see throughout scripture, miracles do not automatically produce faith.

O how much of our world is reflected in Sodom?! How many have heard of salvation but laugh at a coming judgment? How close to the brink have we cast ourselves?

Read vs 15-17

The Lord promised Abraham He would spare Sodom for 10 righteous people. Only 4 are found. Soon we realize that it’s only Lot.

With the utmost urgency, the angels command Lot to gather his wife and two daughters and get out!

But despite everything Lot has seen, despite angelic announcements of doom, verse 16 says that Lot lingered. He hesitated. Even on the brink of hell, Lot feels more secure within the city than without.

A battle of wills ensues. When Lot hesitates, the text says that the angels seize Lot and his family, pulling them away, and set them outside of the city. It’s so important to see the rationale in verse 16. The angels did this because the Lord was being merciful to Lot. Having observed the power of God and knowing destruction is coming, Lot does absolutely nothing to save himself. It is all God.

The angels tell Lot not to go anywhere in the valley. This is the first hint in chapter 19 that it is in not just Sodom slated for destruction, but all the cities in the Valley of Siddim, the same cities that formed an alliance in Genesis 14 – Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar.

And yet, because of Lot, one of these cities is spared.

Read vs 18-22

Lot argues with the angels, citing his inability to escape the valley. Was he rescued from Sodom only to be destroyed because he could not reach the hills? No! Clearly the angels were holding back judgment until Lot was safe. How unbelief sows irrational fears! Rather, I think there is an underlying fear of urban separation. He hates the idea of losing all the comforts and pleasures he has come to so enjoy. He thinks he needs it.

See the stark contrast between Lot and Abraham. In 18:3 Abraham said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight.” Here Lot says, “Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight.” Abraham operates from humility, Lot from presumption.

And he presumes that he need not obey the angel’s command, but asks to go to Zoar. Why? Because it’s such a little city. The implication is that Sodom’s evil is so big, but Zoar, being a small city, only has accumulated small sins.

Sadly, how relatable this is! Don’t we do the same with God? It’s only a small sin, do I really have to leave? Do I really need to forsake it? Though all these other bigger sins so clearly deserve judgment, can’t I make a home with this little one?

Have you rejected the adultery of Sodom for the pornography of Zoar, or said no to drugs while you reach for another bag of chips, or any other reasoning that would allow us to justify a small sin while we pat ourselves on the back for rejecting the greater.

The angel, demonstrating the unending patience and grace of God, grants Lot his selfish request. God’s grace towards imperfect people should bring all of us to our knees. For not only does Lot get to go to Zoar, but also the population of Zoar is spared from fire and brimstone.

Read vs 23-26

There is so much debate that rages over the scientific elements of what happened in the Valley of Siddim: an earthquake, a comet, something else. But no matter the mechanics, it was God. Sodom’s opportunity for repentance had passed and their wickedness has reached its fullness – the wicked mob was proof enough. Fire and sulfur rained down from His hand alone.

And looking back upon Sodom’s inferno, Lot’s wife was likewise consumed. Since she hasn’t been mentioned before this chapter, it’s very likely Sodom was her home. She is not destroyed simply because she wanted to see the spectacle, but because she identified herself with Sodom, she looked back with longing. Sodom was her life, and she never wanted to leave it behind.

Corroborating this, Jesus said:

Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. -Luke 17:32-33

Read vs 27-29

From some 30 miles away, Abraham observes hot, black smoke billowing out of the Valley of Siddim. The only way he could know Lot is safe is through faith, trusting that the Lord has made good on His promise: preserving the righteous from the judgments of the wicked.

And here, at the very end, it is finally revealed that Lot was saved not because of his own righteousness, but because of Abraham’s. Abraham was blessed, and His blessing is effective enough to save Lot. Twice now, Abraham has saved Lot.

When it comes to Abraham and Lot, I think we are much more like Lot. We continually inch our way closer to compromise. We presume and hesitate and make bad decisions. And it turns out that we all have Sodom in our hearts.

But thanks be to God that He has sent us a rescuer, to pull us from the fire, to save us when we would linger! Just as Lot was saved by the intercession of Abraham, so are we saved by the intercession of Jesus!

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy.

-Titus 3:4-5

But let us make no mistake, there is no home in Zoar – and Lot soon discovers it. All those cities must be abandoned; for if destruction does not come today, then its fires lie just over the horizon.

Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. -Jude 7

Sodom and Gomorrah stand as an enduring example of a coming judgment. If your home is in that city, you must flee! Run, and let those comforts and pleasures and identities burn. Better to cut them off than be thrown into the everlasting fires!

As Jesus said, “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.”

Jesus is Abraham who intercedes for you. He is the covenant through which you will be blessed. He is heaven’s power that binds the enemy. He is the hand who pulls you out of Sodom and sends you to salvation. And He is the fire that brings ruin to the unrepentant. He is your shield, your refuge, your only hope.

Go to Him and be saved. Run to Him and live.

1 Waltke, B. (2001). Genesis: A Commentary. Pg 276. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic