23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he hadstood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.
29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, Godremembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.
Genesis 19:23-29
The account of God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most familiar in all of Scripture. It is recognized by both believers and unbelievers alike and is frequently mentioned in regards to the sin of homosexuality. While this is certainly an important aspect of the account, the author’s primary purpose is to compare and contrast Abraham and Lot. For this reason, the events of Ch. 19 must be considered in light of those of Ch. 18.
In Gen. 18 the Lord and two angels came to Abraham in the form of human travelers. They were greeted by Abraham who we find has continued to dwell as a sojourner in the land that the Lord has given to him. He greeted the men and implored them to come and be guests in his home. While dining with Abraham, the Lord declared that one year from that time he and Sarah will have the son that has been promised to them. Sarah, unable to comprehend this blessing, responded with laughter.
The following morning the two angels set out for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah but the Lord stayed and conversed with Abraham. It is in this passage that we come to see the reason that the events of Gen. 19 are to occur. The Lord declares in Gen. 18:19 that what He is going to do to Sodom and Gomorrah must not be hidden from Abraham because he has been chosen to command his descendants “to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.” For him to do this, Abraham must understand the consequences of rejecting God.
Genesis 19 portrays in vivid detail what those consequences will be. Abraham’s nephew Lot, though a believer, has settled down into the wicked city of Sodom and is attempting to raise a family there. The wickedness of the city is placed on full display as the men of the city come to sexually assault Lot’s guests. After striking the crowd with blindness, the angels tell Lot and his family to escape before the city is destroyed. Despite Lot’s hesitancy, they do leave the city but not before Lot’s wife becomes a casualty of the judgment.
Abraham’s life of faith in God’s promises is contrasted with Lot’s embrace of his life of comfort in Sodom. While Abraham was not a perfect man, his willingness to trust God and to sojourn throughout the land that God had given him contrasted with Lot who chose the wealth of Sodom over the promises of God. The account of Lot and his daughters further emphasizes the consequences of his decision to raise his family in such a wicked place. In spite of this, however, God’s redemptive work can overcome even the worst sins of His people. This is beautifully illustrated in that Ruth, a descendant of Lot, has a prominent place both in the history of Israel and the lineage of Christ. God is faithful and the Seed who was promised to Abraham would come to deliver His people despite their own sins and shortcomings.
Join with us this Sunday as we worship Jesus who was born into this world to deliver us from our past sins. We gather in His name to worship Him and to be continually changed into His image all for His glory!
Soli Deo Gloria.
-Thomas